The four letter word, that immediately makes your head itch.

It's that time of year again. 

The time of year when our kids wear jackets and hats to school, then take them off. They all go to the same hooks next to everyone else's jackets. Then there are the days of indoor recess for rain or the most recent smokey weather. Our kids keep their friends close, by resting heads on shoulders. All are prime ways for them to share these scalp loving critters (Lice).

Did your head start itching? I know mine did. 

Ok, so I remember having lice so bad when I was 10 that we had to give me a super short hair cut. It was a nightmare that didn't seem to end. (obviously it did)

So when my child said one night that her head was itchy, I immediately went to look at her scalp. The problem: I knew I was looking for bugs and eggs, but never really knew what these bugs or eggs looked like. That night, I saw some sand from their play earlier in the day, but nothing else that caught my eye. 

Then we get to a couple days later... She complains again that her head itches. Again I look, not knowing what I'm looking for. I see a couple of these white things like mini sesame seeds on the shaft of the hair near the scalp and make a note to self that its different. Then I see one... yes a louse an adult lice. Except the Bachelors Degree prepared mama isn't sure what this bug is. Embarrassingly enough I put it on the counter to take a photo. Total face palm moment here. Then I decide to Google Lice... First image to result is the critter on my counter. Gag!!

Louse- Adult Lice

Nits: Lice eggs on the shaft of the hair. You won't necessarily see this many, you might just see one in a section of hair. Nits adhere to the hair and do not flake off, they have to pulled off.

Some of the things I learned or relearned about lice: They do not jump or fly, they crawl. The shampoos are becoming increasingly resistant to killing some of them. The eggs/nits are not killed by the shampoo. Those must be combed or picked out. So you want to check twice daily to ensure that they are all removed. Heat also kills them, so make sure to wash high head contact articles on high heat and dry for at least 20 minutes.  We were taught to bag toys, vacuum like a mad woman... More information is being presented that the louse does not live off of a host for more than 15-24 hours.  More information from the Mayo Clinic. 

Local Treatment Places:

Sacramento Lice Removal Service : Super Lice Lady brings the salon to you providing 100% natural and effective methods of lice and nit removal, so you can "Breathe Easy."

Lice Doctors: Sacramento uses an all natural treatment that will leave you lice-free.

Lice Clinics of America: Sacramento a revolutionary new way to kill head lice and their eggs without using pesticides or other chemicals. 

Over the Counter:

Nix, RID, and other Store Brands. Can be found at Walgreens, CVS, Target, Walmart and other locations. 

Prevention:

One Love Refill Station in Placerville makes a prevention spray. 

Fairy Tales Hair Products creates a prevention and treatment line with more natural products than other over the counter products. 

Although not FDA approved because "natural" is not regulated by the FDA. Many have found the use of Tea Tree oil to be a staple in lice repelling and prevention. 

You can find lots of DIY Tea Tree oil sprays online. 

The Fairy Tales Terminator Lice Comb was recommended by a friend to have on hand to do frequent checks. 

Unfortunately schools often times do not notify parents anymore so make sure to do random checks on your children to ensure if they have received the "gift" from a friend that you can combat it quickly. 

I hope you find this information helpful and that if these creepy crawlies find their way to your home, that you don't feel alone. It's not just sharing brushes, or hats. It's kids loving on their friends, and often times the way jackets are stored in the classrooms. I will personally be opting to change our shampoo to a tea tree containing product as well as a repelling spray during these colder months. 

*images purchased from www.shutterstock.com Do not reproduce the images without their permission. 

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