Healthy Habits: Lice

With back-to-school season upon us, it’s also that time of year when parents fear their kids may bring home the letter from school accompanied by that pest: ... L.I.C.E.

When it comes to combating lice, finding the right product to kill lice and eggs is key.

Alethea Taylor, Brand Manager for Vamousse, shares some information on the “TDPs” – Treat, Defend, Prevent- of lice, and can share everything busy parents need to know about how to get a-head of lice when sending their kids to school, including:

1. How to check for lice;
2. What to look for in a lice treatment;
3. What to know about lice: What they are, how they spread, and how to properly treat and defend against them;
4. Back to School health tips every parent should know!

Quick facts about lice:
· According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lice are the second most frequent health issue for school-age kids in the U.S., each year affecting more than 12 million children ages 3 to 11, second only to the common cold.
· Once exposed, it can take 4-6 weeks for itching to begin, during which time an infestation will have grown (and been shared) unchecked.
· Entomologists (“bug experts”) developed Vamousse’s TDP – Treat, Defend, Prevent portfolio to help parents tackle every phase of headlice during the back-to-school season.
· Vamousse is the only head lice brand to offer a full range of clinically proven treatment, follow-up and daily shampoo and repellent prevention solutions for the entire family.

You can learn more in this interview.
Alethea Taylor, Brand Manager for Vamousse

What should families know about lice?
Head lice are tiny insects that are about the size of a sesame seed. They rely primarily on head-to-head contact and cannot jump, fly, or swim. They move by crawling through hair and feeding on blood from the scalp, causing itching and irritation. Head lice can live for about 28 days, and during their lifespan can multiply quickly. If left untreated, this lifecycle can repeat every three weeks.

Lice have evolved over the years. A breed of super lice have entered the picture that are more genetically resistant to pesticides found in some traditional lice treatments. Unfortunately, there’s nothing to visually differentiate between lice and super lice. It’s not clear if a child has lice or super lice until traditional treatments have failed.

For parents looking for the best line of products to tackle head lice, look no further than Vamousse. Vamousse is the only head lice brand to offer a full range of clinically proven treatment, follow-up and daily shampoo and repellent prevention solutions for the entire family to treat both regular lice and super lice.

What are the steps of a proper lice check?
Step 1: Under a bright light, part your child’s hair and watch for movement, as lice will quickly travel away from the light. Using a nit comb (Vamousse offers a steel comb with its Mousse lice treatment), start at the scalp and work your way to the end of your child’s hair. It may help to drape a cloth or towel across your child’s shoulders. This will catch any lice that may fall off while searching.

Step 2: Examine the comb after each stroke. Adult lice (and super lice) are light brown, and their bodies will be about the size of a sesame seed. Nits may be brown, yellow, or white. Also look for eggs stuck to the hair shaft near the scalp which is about the size of a poppy seed. They often look like dandruff that can’t be easily removed.

Step 3: Pay particular attention to the back of the neck, behind the ears and your child’s bangs to the crown of their head. Recently laid eggs are nearly transparent, so it’s helpful to examine hair from different angles.

Step 4: If lice are present, rinse the comb under the faucet to remove any lice that may have been picked up, and immediately implement lice treatment to eliminate an infestation effectively and safely.

What should families look for in a lice treatment?
Families should look for clinically and scientifically proven lice products that are free of pesticides, effective, and designed to address a variety of lead lice situations – from treatment to prevention. An ideal product will be clinically proven to kill both lice and their eggs. Another quality to look for are products whose formulations are water-based, rather than alcohol-based.

We encourage regular use of over-the-counter, at-home shampoos and products that aim to prevent lice. Vamousse Lice Defense Daily Shampoo is the only daily lice killing shampoo in the market and can help families avoid an infestation if their children have been exposed to lice. Vamousse Lice Repellent Leave-In Spray repels lice from hair in all social settings where there may be a risk for exposure, before an outbreak even occurs.

With the return to school, what are some things that families need to know?
To ensure your children are ready to return to school safely, make sure they are aware of best practices to minimize their exposure to head lice. Children are more susceptible to contracting lice at school because of the close contact experienced– from playing at recess to participating in classroom activities together. Lice is also commonly transmitted by sharing hair accessories, hats, as the spread of lice primarily occurs through direct head-to-head contact.

We highly suggest being proactive by having head lice products on hand that treat infestations, but also having preventative products like our Daily Defense Shampoo in your children’s daily rotation of hair care products that can circumvent an infestation from happening in the first place.