Head lice infestations can be very frustrating. These parasitic insects are difficult to completely eliminate. And even if you do, they seem to find themselves back in your daughter’s head only after a short time. Here’s a quick guide for you if your daughter keeps getting head lice.
Why your daughter keeps getting head lice
- Girls are more vulnerable to head lice than boys. A popular head lice myth is that you are more likely to get head lice if you have bad hygiene. But in reality, your vulnerability to these pests doesn’t have anything to do with how you clean your body. It’s more about your habits and traits. Girls are more likely to get head lice because they are also more likely to have head-to-head contact, which is the most common way to get head lice. Girls also have longer hair compared to boys, giving head lice more opportunities to crawl on them and start an infestation.
- Your daughter may have frequent head-to-head contact. Head lice can’t fly or jump. They can only crawl. This is why head-to-head contact is such a common way to get head lice. Your daughter keeps getting head lice because she has frequent head-to-head contact with others, either at school or at home. In school, she may bump heads with others while playing or studying. At home, she may be sleeping on the same bed with another person, who can have head lice that they pass to your daughter. Your daughter may also have sleepovers or other activities with friends where head-to-head contact is likely.
- Your daughter keeps getting reinfested with head lice. There are many reasons why your daughter’s head lice keep coming back. You may not be using the head lice treatment properly. She may be getting head lice consistently from family members or friends. She may also be sharing personal items with others. She should not be sharing personal items, particularly those that make contact with the head, such as combs and towels.
What you can do
- Consult a medical professional. Consult a doctor if you want to get rid of head lice effectively. Sure, you can treat the infestation yourself with over-the-counter medications. But sometimes, you may be dealing with super lice that are more resistant to common head lice treatment ingredients. A doctor will be able to give prescription medications that have better potency. A doctor will also be able to cater to your daughter’s specific needs, especially if she has sensitive skin. After all, there are many head lice treatment side effects out there.
- Use over-the-counter medications. Most over-the-counter medications come in the form of lotions and shampoos. Their main active ingredients are usually pyrethrins or permethrin. Yes, they can work. But you have to diligently follow instructions in the packaging. Most head lice treatments can only kill adult head lice and nymphs. They can’t always kill nits. This means it can take multiple weeks to completely get rid of head lice infestations. You will have to wait for the nits to mature into nymphs and adults before you can kill them. This can be complicated if you try to do it yourself. And that’s why consulting a doctor is still better.
- Try manual and natural remedies. You can manually get rid of head lice with a lice comb. This is a comb that is specifically designed to capture head lice and nits with their thin teeth with small gaps between them. You can also try natural remedies. Yes, over-the-counter medications and prescriptions are more effective. But they can come with side effects such as the drying of the scalp. Fortunately, natural remedies like coconut oil can get the job done without giving your daughter side effects. But be careful of natural remedies that actually don’t work, such as salt. You don’t want to waste your time with ineffective treatments.
How to prevent head lice from coming back
- Actually get rid of the head lice infestation. It’s also possible that your daughter’s head lice are not “coming back” because they have not left in the first place. Ineffective treatments can be the culprit here. This is why it’s really important to follow instructions, whether you are using commercial products or natural remedies. If the treatment still doesn’t work even if you follow instructions strictly, consult a doctor. The medical professional will be able to cater to your daughter’s specific case.
- Clean your home. Head lice need constant blood meals to survive. They need to feed every four hours. This means they are extremely vulnerable without a host. However, they can still survive for a day or two even without a host that can provide them sustenance. And this is enough time for them to find a new host. Head lice can be present in pillows and sheets. They can be present in areas and personal items that touch the head consistently, such as mattresses, sofas, brushes, ribbons, and helmets. The head lice around your home may be the reason why your daughter’s head lice keep coming back. Get rid of them now by cleaning your home.
- Inform your child about close contact. Sure, your daughter may be more vulnerable to head lice than your son. But it’s not always a gender thing. In general, children are just more likely to get head lice than adults. This is because they are less protective of their personal space. They are more likely to get close and personal with family members and friends. As children, they also don’t have the money to buy personal items like combs. Many times, they end up borrowing these items and getting head lice from them.
Your daughter is vulnerable to head lice infestations
There are many reasons why your daughter keeps getting head lice. They are just more vulnerable because of their habits and traits, such as their close contact with family members and friends and their long hair. If you want to get rid of head lice for good and prevent them from coming back, your best bet is to consult a medical professional.
However, it’s possible to do these things yourself. Just make sure you are strictly following instructions in the head lice treatment packaging, clean your home to kill rogue head lice, and talk to your daughter about close contact.