As the school year kicks off, it’s not just books and homework making their way home—head lice can sometimes join the ride.
While the thought of lice might make your skin crawl, it’s a common and manageable issue for school-aged kids.
Here’s how you can confidently handle and prevent head lice this school year.
Head lice 101
Head lice (or 'nits') are small, wingless insects that live on the human scalp. They don't discriminate and love all types of hair, whether it's straight or curly.
They don’t carry or transmit diseases and have existed for millions of years1. The only health issue lice can cause is itching, and some people don't even get that!
While head lice are most common between kids and their families, anyone can get them.
Spot the specks
The first step is knowing what to look for. Some common symptoms include1:
- An itchy scalp, especially behind the ears or at the nape of the neck
- A tickling feeling on the scalp
- Visible lice or nits (eggs) close to the base of the hair
Routine head checks, especially during the school term, can help you catch any outbreaks early.
Keep them up, even if your child isn't experiencing any itching.
Treating the problem
If you discover lice in your child's hair, your first step is to take a deep breath.
While you may be panicking at the thought of tiny bugs crawling around your child's hair, take a minute to relax.
You can solve this problem, you just need to know what to do:3
- Use a lice treatment shampoo: Look for a product specifically designed to eliminate lice and follow the instructions carefully. Your local Blooms The Chemist Pharmacist can guide you to effective treatment options tailored to your needs.
- Comb their hair thoroughly: Use a fine-tooth lice comb to remove lice and nits. Comb through damp hair section by section for the best results.
- Repeat, repeat, repeat! Repeat the treatment after seven to 10 days to ensure you’ve eliminated all lice and nits and broken the life cycle.
By repeating the treatment once a week can help you and your family control the spread of lice.
"Really, the major health problem associated with head lice is the anxiety and stress that it can cause the parents or carers of children that are infested.
"I absolutely understand what it's like when you find out your children are carrying an insect that is feeding on their blood.2"
Cameron Webb, medical entomologist, NSW Department of Health
Keep it clean (but don't overdo it!)
Even though lice don’t live long off the human scalp, it’s a good idea to wash the affected person’s pillowcase as that’s come into contact with their head.
How you can stop the spread at school
You can help reduce the chance of lice spreading by teaching your child these simple habits3:
- Avoid head-to-head contact: Lice spread through direct contact, so remind kids to avoid sharing hats, hairbrushes, or pillows. You can also remind them not to take 'selfies' with their friends, as the close head-to-head contact is a new way that lice have been spreading.
- Keep their hair tied back: Keeping hair tied up in braids or buns can make it harder for lice to hitch a ride.
- Check their heads regularly: Make head checks part of your weekly routine, even if your child isn’t showing symptoms.
Talk about it
Lice can feel embarrassing for kids, but it’s important to remind them that it’s common and not their fault.
Keeping the conversation calm and positive helps take away any stigma and makes treatment easier for everyone.
If you need guidance on choosing the right products or have concerns about persistent lice, visit your local Blooms The Chemist team.
With the right tools and a little patience, you’ll have your child back to their lice-free self in no time.
Here’s to a happy, healthy, and itch-free school year!
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References:
1Healthdirect, Head lice, accessed 20 January 2025
2ABC, How to get rid of headlice, accessed 20 January 2025
3Better Health Victoria, Head lice (nits), accessed 20 January 2025