BACK TO SCHOOL…NOT BACK TO LICE!

It’s the start of a new school year! Time for freshly sharpened pencils, a crispness in the air, learning and growing, and creepy crawly infestations. Yes, you read that last bit correctly. Fall is when we see a spike in head lice incidence. Students are ideal prey for head lice – youngsters cluster in close quarters and tend to have fine hair that makes it easier for lice to attach.

It’s also a fact that chemical lice treatments are becoming ineffective. According to a new study, head lice in 25 or more states have developed resistance to over-the-counter remedies – even those widely recommended by physicians and schools. The good news is that there are measures families can take to reduce the likelihood of bringing home these despicable creatures. Take a look at our top 6 simple tips for avoiding nits and lice this school year.

Professional Lice Treatment Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

  1. Style with a purpose. A styling product like The Nit Nanny Mint Detangler Spray gives a one-two punch – it makes combing out hair a breeze as it deters lice. Plus, it’s non-toxic and safe for the whole family. Made with all natural ingredients, it can be used on wet or dry hair as a preventative measure to help repel lice. As a added bonus, its fresh scent is highly offensive to lice but heavenly to humans.
  1. Rock a fresh hairstyle. With boys, this is as simple as keeping hair short. For girls with longer hair, explore the many fashionable possibilities for wearing hair up – from a simple ponytail to elaborate buns and braids, a contained hairstyle is more difficult for lice to penetrate than a loose mane.
  1. Y.O.H. (Bring Your Own Headphones). If your child regularly visits a technology lab at school where public headphones are worn, it’s wise to send along earbuds for personal use.
  1. Avoid Performance Anxiety. We’re talking about shared use of wigs, hats, costumes, and brushes during school plays and other events. If your child is involved in these kinds of activities, encourage implementation of some basic anti-lice policies. A regular head check of kids involved in the production is a start. Using professional grade disinfectants on shared hair implements or having each child use their own styling supplies can help, too.
  1. Safety First…Equipment, That Is. Shared helmets, especially those that see frequent use in P.E. classes, can spread lice in rapid order. If your child is involved in a sport, you can purchase your own, high-quality safety gear if you’re concerned. At the same time, make sure your kids know that a case of head lice pales in comparison to the lifelong consequences of a serious head injury. It should always be top priority to protect your noggin, regardless of lice infection.
  1. Starry Nights. Whether it’s a night at home with the besties, a cheer squad sleepover, or an overnight band trip, individual sleeping bags are a better bet than shared bedding and pillows. Encouraging kids to sleep in a star pattern with feet touching and heads radiating out can also make a difference in preventing spread of lice – tell them it’s so no one has to sleep on the end and feel left out. 
  1. It’s All About Accessorizing. Hats, hair bands, and scarves…the list of possibly contaminated items goes on. Ask your kids to keep their stylish extras to themselves. In addition, hanging a jacket on the back of a chair rather than in a crowded coat rack area is smart thinking.

If preventative measures fail and you find your family in the midst of a head lice outbreak, never fear. At Lice Lifters DFW, we’ll not only help you eliminate head lice, but we’ll do it using a non-toxic and all-natural treatment protocol. After school and evening appointments are available. Questions? Contact us anytime at 972-805-1308 or at infodfw@licelifters.com.

MY FAMILY HAS LICE! What Do I Do?

It’s not as bad as you think

Whether it’s a dreaded call from the school nurse or the discovery of nits after a slumber party, discovering that your child has head lice is always bad news. The good news is that by taking action quickly, you can make the process of eliminating head lice in your family relatively painless. What’s more, there are some pesky myths out there that make lice removal in the home seem a whole lot worse than it actually is. Read on for our top tips to take control of a lice outbreak in your household.

head-lice1

  • Take action NOW. This is not the time to procrastinate in the face of an unpleasant task. Start the process ASAP to quickly eliminate head lice and prevent the infestation from spreading. That means letting school, child care, and friends know about the problem.
  • Get head checks for the entire family. If one person under your roof has lice, there’s a good possibility that others are infected as well. That’s why it’s best to have everyone in the family examined. Lice Lifters DFW offers professional head checks, and the examination fee is applied toward treatment if lice are found.
  • Get professional treatment. As a mom who has battled head lice, I can tell you that enlisting professionals will save you both time and serious anguish. In fact, when you follow the Lice Lifters DFW protocol, we guarantee the success of our treatment.
  • Clean wisely, not widely. While the idea of lice may disgust you, there’s no need to obsessively disinfect your entire home. Unlike fleas, lice require a human host to survive, so lice won’t lay eggs on sofas or stuffed toys. They don’t live on pets, and they don’t jump or fly. You’ll want to wash any bedding, clothing, and personal items (like brushes) that those infected have been in contact with over the past couple of days. In addition, a routine vacuuming of floors and furniture is in order. If you’re paranoid about pillows, plush bedtime buddies, or even hats and hair accessories, a spin on your dryer’s hot setting should put your fears to rest. Toxic insecticides and foggers are simply not necessary.

Hands down, the most important thing you can do to rid your household of lice is to make sure your family’s heads are lice free. At Lice Lifters DFW, we can not only eliminate lice and nits quickly, but we’ll do it using our nontoxic, natural treatment solution with no harmful pesticides. In addition to our regular business hours, we also offer after hours appointments upon request. Just call us at 972-805-1308 or email me at infodfw@licelifters.com.