September 1, 2015

EEEEK-Lice and how to get rid of them!

Lice  (or Louse)


As kids prepare to head back to school for a new school year — parents may want to check their children’s heads when they come home!

Mutant or Super Lice have hit 25 states…including Wisconsin!

"Super lice" are a more resilient strain and are resistant to over-the-counter medications.

Lice spread easily from one person to another through close contact or through shared clothing or personal items (such as hats, clothing, combs, hairbrushes, etc.). A louse cannot jump or fly.  You can also get lice from the back of a seat, like in a movie theater.

It is estimated that one in four kids will eventually get lice at some point during their childhood.

Lice are tiny insects that live on humans and feed on blood.  When a large number of lice live and multiply on a person, it is called an infestation.

Three different kinds of lice live on humans:
Head lice  are usually found in hair, most often on the back of the neck and behind the ears. Head lice are common in preschool and elementary school-age children.  Adults can get them too, especially adults who live with children.
Pubic lice , also called crabs, are usually found in the pubic area.  But they may also be found on facial hair, on eyelashes, on eyebrows, in the armpits, on chest hair, and, rarely, on the scalp.
Body lice  live and lay eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing.  The lice are on the body only when they feed.

The most common symptom of lice is itching. There are different symptoms, depending on which type of lice you have.

·         Head lice may not cause any symptoms at first.  Itching on the scalp may start weeks or even months after lice have started to spread.  Scratching can make the skin raw.  The raw skin may ooze clear fluid or crust over, and it may get infected.
·         Pubic lice cause severe itching.  Their bites may cause small marks that look like bruises on the torso, thighs, or upper arms.  If pubic lice get on the eyelashes, the edges of the eyelids may be crusted.  You may see lice and their eggs at the base of the eyelashes.
·         Body lice cause very bad itching, especially at night.  Itchy sores appear in the armpits and on the waist, torso, and other areas where the seams of clothes press against the skin.  The lice and eggs may be found in the seams of the person's clothing but are typically not seen on the skin.
·         Frequent scratching can cause a skin infection.  In the most severe cases of head lice, hair may fall out, and the skin may get darker in the areas infested with lice.

Signs and symptoms of lice include:
   
·         Intense itching
·         Tickling feeling from movement of hair
·         Lice on your scalp, body, clothing, or pubic or other body hair.  Adult lice may be about the size of a sesame seed or slightly larger.
·         Lice eggs (nits) on hair shafts.  Nits resemble tiny pussy willow buds.  Nits can be mistaken for dandruff, but unlike dandruff, they can't be easily brushed out of hair.
·         Small red bumps on the scalp, neck and shoulders

To prevent spreading lice:

Avoid head to head contact (hair to hair)
Don’t share combs, brushes, clothing, bedding or other personal items
Bathe regularly
Wash clothes in hot water to kill the lice & prevent the hatching of the eggs
Frequently examine school-aged children from head to toe for lice and eggs

To kill Lice…here are some ideas for you to consider:

1.     Coat affected head with vinegar or olive oil, then use a very fine toothed comb to make several passes through the hair.  This should get rid of the adult lice.  You still need to remember that there may be eggs and they will hatch…so these new lice need to be killed as well.

2.     One parent suggested using cheap olive oil to coat the hair and suffocate the lice.  The first night you sleep with the olive oil still in the hair, you're going to kill all the adults.  After 21 days of continued olive oil treatment, a person will be lice free.  As an added bonus, the olive oil makes the hair look and feel great.  Plus, if you continue to use it once a week, the lice won't come around again.

3.     Hair products like gel and mousse work also help to keep these pests away.

4.     In a good natural shampoo (I would consider not using general store bought shampoo because of the chemicals), add either Garlic Oil or Black Walnut Extract.  Be sure to scrub the head well and use a fine-toothed comb.

5.     Essential Oils are a great way to help kill/suffocate the lice.  Consider these oils ~ Eucalyptus + Lavender, Peppermint or Geranium.  Or just Tea Tree.  Or just Eucalyptus.

a.     You may add a few drops to your shampoo and scrub the head really well.

b.     Or add a few drops to Olive Oil, cover with a shower cap and leave on overnight.  Be sure to put cotton around the face so the oils do not get into the eyes.  I would consider doing this for 21 days like suggested above.  That way as the eggs hatch, you are killing the new pests.

6.     Rinse hair daily with Apple cider Vinegar.

Here are a few links for you to check out products suggested:




I love using Essential Oils!  In future articles I will have more information on Essential Oils and how to use them.   J

“Thank You & ENJOY”!

For more information, please feel free to contact me:

Shari Uhazie, CH, CNHC
Sunshine Natural Health Shoppe
PO Box 12002, Green Bay, WI 54307-2002
920-639-7645
Shari@SunshineNatural.com
www.SunshineNatural.com


You may “google” to find out more information.  These are some sources I used for this article:




I didn’t use this website but it contains really good information (& a good picture) …



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