Help for Head Lice!

Lice.  I could end it here and leave the remainder open to discussion of your own lice stories, but not everyone has a story yet, or theirs is just being written.  So for the future warriors... 

According to Wikipedia:
The head louse is an obligate ectoparasite of humans that causes pediculosis capitis.  Head lice are wingless insects spending their entire life on the human scalp and feeding exclusively on human blood.

So they're a parasite.  Do you know that most parasites do not want to leave their host?  They have a slew of ways to make sure they stay put.  Lice are no exception.  Their eggs stick to the base of the hair shaft with the insect equivalent of super glue.  They have become treatment resistant to the caustic chemical combinations carried on drugstore shelves.  They are rapid breeders and can easily transfer from one host to another (ie: from your head to your parent, spouse, friend, etc) by hugging, sharing hats, brushes, and hair accessories, and from not properly laundering all fabrics that come in contact with the head of someone who is a carrier.

Rarely do lice go away with one treatment.  The best way to remove lice is to comb them out.  And if you purchased a kit from the drugstore, I don't mean comb out the lice with the cheap plastic comb inside.  Do yourself a huge favor a spring for a metal lice removal comb.  Honestly, when you take a prenatal parenting class, the instructor should include a metal lice comb in the take home kit because odds are good you'll need one at some point.

This metal comb will effectively remove lice from the scalp and hair.  Comb one small section at a time, and comb in each direction before moving on to the next section of hair.

Most OTC Lice Removal Shampoos are caustic, chemical compounds that are designed to:

1. Kill the lice
2. In killing the lice, they can also cause your hair and scalp to "die", which presents as a chemical burn
3. The chemicals can also cause respiratory distress to the human host

Please read all labels before applying (hell, read them before purchasing!).  And know that there are chemical free options available that also work.  If you prefer to take a more natural approach to lice removal, there are excellent choices available:

• Ladibugs
• This kit comes with a metal comb.  Please note that there is enough for one application.  It is likely more than one application is necessary to treat lice (see below for more detail on lice removal at home).  Ladibugs is carried at your local Great Clips.
• Lice Knowing You
• Based in the Northwestern United States, Lice Knowing You has a long product list.  They use natural ingredients.  If you aren't local, they do offer overnight shipping.
• Fairy Tales
• They offer a variety of products to remove and prevent lice.

If you want to go even further with the use-what-we-have-at-home approach, the following plan worked for us:

• Alternate the following daily:
• Day 1:  Coconut Oil
• Cover whole head in Coconut Oil.  Purchase from Costco- it's organic, and only $25 for two large buckets.  It melts with contact of skin, so easy to apply.  Be generous in application.  Let sit for 30 minutes.  With metal comb, comb whole head.  (When combing, go in each direction over same location before moving to next section of hair.)
• Day 2:  Dawn Dish Soap
• Lather into hair and scalp.  This will dry out hair and scalp, but the same chemicals (petroleum base) that allow this to remove oil from oceanic life also help to release the bond between the eggs and the hair shaft.  Comb with metal comb while dawn is still in hair.  Due to the drying out process, you may want to follow with coconut oil, or a thick coconut base conditioner.
• Day 3:  Coconut Shampoo/Conditioner with Tea Tree essential oil added
• Suave works just fine here.  Don't break the bank.  Aura Cacia Tea Tree essential oil can be found at your local natural foods store, or here.
• Repeat.

It's also important to wash all linens daily.  This includes (but is not limited to) bed sheets, blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, all clothing, and towels.  Also, any blankets or throw pillows in common areas of the house.  Vacuum any fabric furniture, especially head and arm rests (places where heads are likely to lay) on a daily basis.  Carpet does not need to be vacuumed as frequently unless child or other members of household typically lay on bare floor.  If something can not be laundered, it should be bagged for two weeks, or (when below freezing outside) bagged and placed outside for 6+ hours.
If a parent acquires head lice from their child, or in the case of long hair that you don't want to cut, it is important to note that the metal comb can and will pull hair.  Take caution.  If combing dry hair, this can potentially cause hair to break midshaft.  

Great Clips offers free lice checks.  They do not treat for head lice.  Studios that offer lice removal services are becoming more common place, especially in large cities.  The services offered are very costly, and do not all work.  Be sure to read their policy on complete lice elimination.  If they don't insist on treatment and checks for the entire household, then take your business (and money) elsewhere.  A studio like Lice Knowing You in the Seattle and Portland communities is reputable, but a trip there may not be in your future, and especially not just for lice. 

I would recommend having everyone in the household checked for lice.  They can easily spread from one individual to another.  If you have treatment resistant lice, and do not want to take the time necessary to comb out the live bugs, there are prescriptive treatments that can be written by a Dermatologist.  These are chemicals you will apply to your scalp (or your child's head).  You can avoid chemicals if you adhere to the following:

• Daily combing
• Daily treatment (as outlined above)
• Practice Prevention
• Clean linens (bedding, clothing, hats, coats, etc)

When you combine all these factors, you are more likely to win the battle against lice.  Of course, close quarters of gear in school is another issue.  Bringing gear home daily, and laundering this as well- or placing outside when temps are below freezing- will help (coats, hats, scarves, etc). 

Lice do not usually make the jump from person to pet, although it doesn't hurt to give Fido a once over.  If you don't know what to look for, check out the photo below for details on how small lice and their nits (eggs) are.  As small as (or smaller than) gnats, these flightless, parasitic bugs will become your obsession for at least 6 weeks if you discover them on a family member in your home.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to send an email our way.

p.s. Having just learned about Natroba and it's ability to eliminate lice (85% effective without combing!), if you've tried this item, please share your experience in the comments.  While it seems too good to be true, the research to back this product up doesn't lie.