Logical Life

How to Tell How Long You Have Had Lice & Why It Matters

How to Tell How Long You Have Had Lice & Why It Matters

Many parents do not realize their kids have a head lice infestation until it becomes severe. That is because only some people experience an itchy scalp and feel a crawling or tickling sensation on their head when they have lice.

So, it is surprisingly very common to have no idea your child is carrying around a large living and breathing lice colony on their head! In fact, this happens to unsuspecting moms and dads all the time, especially those parents who are new to the headache of headlice. They are surprised and amazed they did not notice the lice and lice eggs (which are called nits), on their children sooner, and they suddenly find themselves in a race against time to treat and get rid of lice. This is because lice multiply exponentially and quickly and will not go away on their own. Also, head lice are easily spread to other family members and close contacts, including siblings, moms, dads, caregivers, friends and classmates, so time is always of the essence.

HERE ARE SOME GENERAL TIPS TO GUAGE HOW LONG YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN INFESTED WITH LICE:

If you find just a few nits and one louse: Less than 2 weeks. If you only find one living louse and a few eggs on the hair closest to the scalp, most likely a pregnant adult louse crawled onto the head and started to lay approximately 6 to 10 lice eggs a day. These nits took about 6-7 days to mature and hatch, (but could be slightly longer by a day or two). So, it’s likely that you’ve caught lice in the earlier stages and had them for less than 2 weeks.

  • If you find mostly nits and baby lice, which are also called nymphs: 1.5 to 2 weeks. If you see nits and small moving lice, you’ve likely had lice for 1.5 to 2 weeks. This is because you aren’t seeing a lot of adult lice but are still seeing tiny freshly hatched nymphs.
  • If you find generations of head lice, meaning different sizes including nits, nymphs, and adult lice: 2 weeks or longer. If you’re seeing different sizes of lice, you are looking at a lice infestation of at least 2 weeks, but more than likely 4 – 6 weeks, or possibly longer.

If you find nits glued onto the hair shaft ¼ inch or more from the scalp: This is a sign of a long-term infestation. These nits have already hatched into lice and have continued their lice life cycle on the head, closer to the scalp. These nit-casings are empty lice egg sacs and are still attached to the hair strand because female lice glue their eggs onto the hair shaft with a sticky, waterproof substance their bodies naturally secrete, called “nit glue”. Nits and nit-casings must be manually removed, as they will not wash away or fall out of the hair on their own. Since nits need the heat of the scalp to incubate and hatch, the further down the hair shaft you find nit casings, the longer the lice infestation has been present.

WHY DOES IT MATTER HOW LONG SOMEONE HAS LICE?

It matters because, the longer the infestation has continued, the more lice and nits there will be to get rid of, the more difficult and time-consuming it will be to treat, and the more it will spread to others. Human head lice multiply exponentially and quickly. The average louse lays anywhere from 50 – 150 eggs during its’ adult lifetime.

It is important to treat head lice as soon as you discover it: Stopping the spread and life-cycle of lice on the human hosts hair and scalp can only be done with effective lice removal and treatment. We recommend using our LiceLogic Clear & Free Shampoo or Mousse and LiceLogic Clear & Free Eliminator Nit comb for safe and non-toxic lice elimination.

Lice will not go away on their own: Treat Lice right away to stop the growth and spread of head lice infestation and eliminate it spreading to others – both in the home and at school.

Multiple head lice treatments should be done every 2 – 3 days until you are lice free: Continue to do lice treatments until all the lice are gone. Also continue to inspect the scalp and hair closest to the scalp for nymphs and nits.

Continue to do a regular head-lice check for the next 10-14 days: Ensure all lice are gone for good by checking every member of the family. Use a good lice comb with stainless steel teeth that are close together and will not bend out of place, and run it through small sections of the hair, from root to tip, in one continuous motion. Inspect the nit comb under bright light to check for lice, nymphs and nits. Wipe the nit comb on a damp white paper towel to make it easier to see any lice and nits embedded on the lice comb.

Notify the school and close contacts: When you discover your school age child has a case of lice, please notify their teacher so they can alert other parents. Schools typically handle this professionally and confidentially and do not disclose the name of the child who has lice. It is very helpful in stopping the spread of lice, since head lice tends to cycle through classrooms and social groups, including camps and sporting teams.

Consider using daily lice prevention products to avoid getting lice again: there are things that can be done so you do not get lice and super lice again. Use lice repelling products because they are scientifically proven to keep lice away. LiceLogic’s lice repel products have been independently tested by a leading lice expert and were shown to be highly effective for safe and non-toxic lice prevention. When all 3 LiceLogic Repel products were used together, our LiceLogic Repel Shampoo, Repel Spray, and Repel Conditioner they were shown to be 99% effective at repelling lice up to 24 hours. Available in two child-friendly and refreshing scents - Rosemary Mint or Lavender. If you need to treat lice, use our LiceLogic Clear & Free Family Sized Kit, which is in refreshing Peppermint scent and safe for daily use.

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Don’t Let Back To School Mean Back To Lice! (12 Easy Ways To Prevent Head Lice)

Don’t Let Back To School Mean Back To Lice! (12 Easy Ways To Prevent Head Lice)

Head lice infestations are most prevalent among pre-school to elementary school age kids 3 – 12 years of age. In fact, the CDC has reported that 6-12 million lice cases a year occur within this age group and their caregivers, which means lice can happen to any family at any time.

A common misunderstanding is that lice can only happen to families that have poor hygiene. In fact, just the opposite is true. Lice love nothing more than a clean head of freshly washed fluffy hair.

Lice is highly contagious and is transmitted for the most part by head to head contact. Head lice can also jump ship from the hair and lurk on surfaces such as clothing, stuffed animals, carpets, bedding, and upholstery lying in wait for the opportunity to crawl onto their next host. Once there, they will lay their lice eggs on the hair closest to the scalp of their unsuspecting new host. It is important to note that lice cannot jump or fly, so lice can only spread by contact with an infested person or object by crawling, and head lice can crawl remarkably quickly.

Knowledge is key in head lice treatment and prevention, so the first important thing to do is to know how lice operate and what lice and lice eggs, which are called nits, look like. The first time my daughter had head lice, I had no idea what lice bugs and lice eggs actually looked like. I thought the nits in my daughter’s hair were just a bad case of dandruff from having a dry scalp. Boy was I wrong! It may never be a good time to Google “Head Lice” and “Head Lice Nits” to look at images, but I highly recommend it.

There are ways to limit your family’s headlice exposure with these simple tips and tricks. Lice repel products really do work, so if you combine head lice repelling products with certain lice prevention behaviors, your chances are pretty great that you will avoid a case of lice this school year.

Here are 12 back to school lice prevention tips to help your kids avoid getting head lice and to stop them from bringing home these unwanted louse-y guests.

1.) Dirty It Up!

Since lice love to make their new home in clean hair, and they do not like strong scents, spray the hair with a lice- repelling spray with essential oils like Rosemary, Mint, and Lavender. Tea Tree essential oil works as well, but it can be very astringent and drying to the scalp.

2.) Tie Up Long Hair

Make it difficult for lice to find a way onto your child’s head. Put long hair in a bun or braids, which may lower the chance of getting a lice infestation as there is less hair for lice to attach themselves to, and it is harder for head lice to grab onto hair that is tied back.

3.) Spritz Clothing And Back Packs With A Natural & Non-Toxic Lice Protection Spray

LiceLogic Clear & Free All Purpose Lice Spray is enzyme based, and actually kills lice and nits. It also acts as a lice repellent spray. 

4.) Teach Your Children To Not Put Their Heads Together

The way kids play often involves them sitting very closely together with their heads touching, while reading, playing video games, or taking selfies. Lice like to crawl from head to head, and they can also “trapeze” from hair strand to hair strand so keeping heads apart is a very helpful way to prevent the spread of head lice.

5.) Educate Your Kids To Not Share Hairbrushes & Hair Accessories With Each Other

Children often like to play with each other’s hair and love to share hair accessories with their friends. Lice can be hiding in hairbrushes and combs, and on hair ties, head bands, and other hair accessories. One trick is to store each child’s hairbrush and hair accessories in separate zip lock bag with their name on it to keep them lice free.

6.) Explain to your kids to not roll around on shared high traffic surfaces like classroom carpets and mats.

Head lice can live for a day or two off of a host’s head. So classrooms are breeding grounds for spreading head lice. A lice infestation can quickly infect an entire classroom of kids as it lice spreads like wild fire. The less contact a person has with these types of surfaces the better, which will help your child avoid picking up a bad case of headlice from school.

7.) Avoid Using Shared Classroom Ear Phones & Ear Buds

Explain to your kids that lice can be spread by using shared head phones and ear buds, and any other objects that are transferred from student to student in the class, especially ones used on or near the hair. If Possible, have your child bring their own to be stored in a zip lock bag in their cubby.

8.) Do Not Share Hats & Helmets, Hoodies, And Scarves

 Often there are dress-up bins in the classroom that have hats. Let your child know not to put on any of the hats and accessories since lice can be hanging out - just waiting to find their new home on your child’s head. Also, during sports, it is advisable to not share helmets with other kids. If they must share, ask the coach to get a natural lice spray to spray down the inside of the helmet between each use. 

9.) Use Lice Prevention Shampoos & Conditioners

Did you know there are shampoos and conditioners formulated specifically to help prevent and repel lice? You can use these safe lice repel products year round in place of your everyday shampoos and conditioners. Natural essential oils like Rosemary, Peppermint, and Lavender are highly effective to help prevent headlice as lice do not like their strong scents. For an extra layer of protection use ones that are also infused with natural plant based enzymes like our LiceLogic Repel Kit in Lavender or Rosemary Mint.

10.) Lice Proof Sleepovers

Instead of kids sleeping with their heads next to each other, arrange the children in a star like pattern on the floor with their feet touching. Also, make sure the kids do not share pillows, bathrobes or bath towels. The next day, roll up all dirty sheets, pillowcases, and towels and put in a sealed plastic garbage bag until you have time to launder them.

11.) Accessorize Public Seating With Scarves

Bring scarves for each member of the family to lay over the head rests of seats in movie theaters, air planes, and taxis. This will help provide a buffer between you and a creepy crawly head louse left behind by a lice infested person.

12.) Turn Up The Heat

When you suspect your child has been exposed to lice from camp, school, friends, and other family members be sure to throw their quilts, bedding, sheets, pillows, towels, and stuffed animals in the dryer on high heat for at least 15 minutes which will effectively kill lice, nits, and even super lice.

 

Kids back in school and you'd like to prevent lice? Grab our LiceLogic Repel Kit! 

All LiceLogic Products Are Pesticide Free, Non-Toxic, & Safe For Daily Use

Independently Tested By The Leading Lice Expert In The Country Katie Shepherd

Professional Lice Salon Approved & Mom Approved

Formulated By A Mom On A Mission to Provide

The Safest & Most Effective Lice Treatment & Lice Prevention Products For Families

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Head Lice: Get kids ready to head back to school

Head Lice: Get kids ready to head back to school

Back to school is right around the corner. This may be the first time in school for many kids after spending much of last year on video chat or doing some form of distance learning. Chances are your young students have already shopped for school supplies and planned that perfect first-day outfit.

This is an exciting time for both children and their parents! But now, more than ever, it's time to be proactive about the health of young learners. We're already emphasizing the importance of regular hand washing and following applicable mask mandates. However, in addition to germs, we need to discuss....lice!

Did you know that approximately 6-12 million cases of head lice infestation occur in the United States each year among children ages 3-11? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that the overwhelming majority of these cases come from preschool and elementary school students.

What exactly are lice?

These tiny, wingless, parasitic insects live on the human head and feed on blood from the scalp. Luckily, they are more annoying than dangerous, and having lice has nothing to do with the cleanliness of hair. In fact, the opposite is true as lice prefer a clean head of fluffy hair.

Contrary to popular belief, head lice do not jump or fly. They usually spread from direct head-to-head contact with an infested human. You cannot get lice from your pets as lice are species specific.

Without treatment, head lice will continue to multiply exponentially and cause discomfort. Excessive scratching could cause infection, so it's crucial to get rid of these unwanted visitors as quickly as possible, so that lice does not spread to the rest of the family and in the classroom.

How do I check for lice on my child?

The best way to do a lice check is to have your child sit under bright light, either sunlight or a tall lamp will work, part the hair, and inspect the scalp and hair closest to the scalp. Continue to work your way around the entire head in small sections, until all areas of the head have been checked. Another efficient way to do a head check for lice is to take a nit comb, which is also known as a lice comb, and starting at the scalp, gently pull it through the hair in one continuous motion. Then inspect it under bright light for lice and nits. Also, you can run the fingers down the hair shaft to check for nits, which feel like small grains of sand glued to the hair. Nits will not be blown or flecked away as they are glued onto the hair, so they are easy to differentiate from dandruff.

What are the best ways to prevent lice?

  • Ask kids to avoid head-.to-head contact during play, hugs, and other activities
  • Teach your child not to share hats, brushes, towels, hair accessories, or headphones.

How can I get rid of lice?

Not all treatments are created equal. Strolling down the hair care aisle at the drugstore gives you options, but over the counter may not be your best choice in terms of efficacy. Many parents find that OTC products are no longer effective, and scientific research has definitively shown pesticide resistance is now found in headlice around the world. So think outside the box, ditch the toxic pesticides, and try a natural plant enzyme based lice shampoo, nit spray or treatment mousse.

Our LiceLogic Clear & Free Lice Eliminator Kit gives you everything you need to remove head lice safely and naturally. It's plant-based and contains no pesticides or harsh chemicals. The natural peppermint scent is kid friendly and parent approved -- there is no need to smell like a toxic chemical plant! LiceLogic’s family size lice treatment kit contains a pesticide free lice shampoo, hair spray for nits, all purpose lice spray for the home, and a stainless steel fine-toothed nit comb to ensure that even the tiniest lice and nits are removed from the hair and scalp.

Our four piece headlice kit is family-sized because, yes, even adults can get these critters too! Each kit contains up to 16 treatments, depending on the length and thickness of the hair, and is safe for repeat use.

LiceLogic is a #1 recommended choice of pediatricians and school nurses to treat lice safely and effectively, without using harsh chemicals. All LiceLogic products are made with natural and non-toxic ingredients that are safe for daily use. LiceLogic is also lice expert approved and head lice removal salons around the country use LiceLogic to get rid of lice and nits on their clients. We also have a full line of LiceLogic Prevention products to repel lice and keep these pesky critters away - available in two refreshing scents, Rosemary-Mint and Lavender.

From our family to yours, we wish you a safe and LICE-FREE back to school season!

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