So often, when we find lice in a child’s hair, mom ends up in tears saying “I feel like such a bad mom, how could I not have known”.  They will often say that their child has been scratching his or her head  more than usual but wrote it off to a dry scalp.  Many times they will try  different shampoos hoping that will bring relief. Meanwhile, the lice just keep multiplying. If your kids have never had head lice before, it’s difficult to know what your looking for. Is it dandruff?, dirt? or head lice? Don’t be so hard on yourselves. At our treatment centers we pride ourselves on educating our clients so that they can properly check their children for head lice and know the difference between all the different specks you may find when looking through the hair. If you see your child scratching his or her head more than usual, your first thought should be to check for head lice.

• Avoid sharing brushes, combs, hats, scarfs, towels, headphones - anything that touches the head and hair.
• Check bedding, towels and rugs during a school outbreak to make sure they have not reached your home.
• Watch for early signs of infestation that include scratching or fiddling with the hair.
• Stop infestation from spreading. If your child gets lice, inform the school, friends and family to prevent further infestation.

Prevention plays a large role in keeping your family lice free. There are many preventative treatments available which help deter head lice. Used regularly, these preventative treatments include natural Mint, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus and Lavender oils to repel lice and other insects, preventing the dreaded infestation.