School is the most frequent site of lice infestation. Children are on top of each other playing for several hours of the day. It is normal for them to share with each other much more than parents can manage.

In addition to being unhygienic, lice can cause damage to the scalp if scratching causes the scratches on the skin to become infected. They do not cause other types of diseases, nor do they cause major health risks.

What to do if there is head lice at school, but not on your children...

Prevention throughout the course is the best way to prevent them from entering the hair. Therefore, some of the measures you can use to prevent head lice are:

1. Education begins at home

Educate your children at home about what to do if they find a louse on a classmate's head. Ideally, they should report it to you. Then, in an appropriate way, you report it to the teacher or the school management.

2. Lice have no preference

Part of education is to avoid discriminatory attitudes and prejudices around the issue. Any child can be a victim of pediculosis. Educate your children to treat their infested and non-infested peers with respect.

3. Combing waxes and anti-lice sprays, prevention products

The most common way of transmission is by close contact between the heads. This is why you should use repellent products such as combing waxes o anti-lice sprays.

4. Preventive shampoo is a must in a household with school-age children.

Manage head washing at home. At least once a week wash your own hair. Use a preventive anti-lice shampoo and their respective protective mask.

5. The lendrera is the best prevention

Once a month use a nit comb to check for nitsno lice in the hair. You will need to be quiet for several minutes in a well-lit place with natural light. Separate the hair into strands and check especially close to the roots in the nape of the neck and behind the ears.

6. Clothing does not lend itself

A rare form of transmission is through clothing, but it cannot be ruled out. Alert your child to the disadvantages of lending to their classmates for their clothes. In particular caps and hats, hats, scarves, headbands, coats, sports uniforms, etc.... Lice do not fly or jump, but they walk quickly.

7. Combs, brushes and other hair utensils are not suitable either.

The same goes for combs, hairbrushes... Girls sometimes entertain themselves by combing each other's hair. This is an opportune moment when loose hair serves as a red carpet for the exchange of lice.

8. Up-do hairstyles prevent infestation

For your part, as long as there are lice at school, if your children have long hair, keep it tied back and with the nape of the neck clear. And if they don't have fringes, all the better.

9. Short hair makes work easier

It does not prevent pediculosis, but it is more convenient to manage the hair before the check-ups.

10. Lice don't die in swimming pools

The swimming pool can be a source of contagion. But, contrary to popular belief, not through the water. The louse becomes encapsulated in the water, and once in a dry environment it starts moving again. Towels, swimming costumes together, children playing close to each other, are the causes of infestation in swimming pools.

11. Clean hair also gets infested with lice

Washing the head every day does not help prevent head lice. Unless you use an anti-lice shampoo. Lice prefer clean hair because it is easier for them to attach to and move around. Between dandruff, lures and grease adhering to the scalp, it is more difficult for them to feed.

12. Acidic pH makes lice more likely to be present.

Some children tend to become infested with head lice more easily than others. One of the possible causes is the pH of the skin. The higher the acidity, the less lice. We can increase the pH acidity of the scalp with warm vinegar or lemon juice.

The fight against head lice does not end as long as you have school-age children at home. Patience, prevention and dedication are your best allies.

Want to know more about how to prevent head lice? Download our special section on lice and nits! 😉