Dear Parents,
This is an issue that I thought you would be interested knowing more about BEFORE your kiddos come home with it, so I asked Erin, The Dublin Lice Nanny to give us some information:
Confused about “Super Lice?” Super Lice has been in the news for a while now and is sure to raise panic in parents all over the country! What is it? Is this a real THING? Are they easily identifiable by their red cape and the “S” on their chest? (lice lady humor!) Here’s the deal.. Super Lice are real, but they are not what you might think. It’s really just a scary way of saying that most lice today are no longer killed by the popular over the counter treatments (Rid and Nix). So people treat, and treat and treat with these pesticides (on their child’s SCALP!) and still have bugs. Have no fear, the Dublin Lice Nanny is here to ease your concerns. But first, let’s test your Super Lice knowledge with a little T/F Quiz!
This is an issue that I thought you would be interested knowing more about BEFORE your kiddos come home with it, so I asked Erin, The Dublin Lice Nanny to give us some information:
Confused about “Super Lice?” Super Lice has been in the news for a while now and is sure to raise panic in parents all over the country! What is it? Is this a real THING? Are they easily identifiable by their red cape and the “S” on their chest? (lice lady humor!) Here’s the deal.. Super Lice are real, but they are not what you might think. It’s really just a scary way of saying that most lice today are no longer killed by the popular over the counter treatments (Rid and Nix). So people treat, and treat and treat with these pesticides (on their child’s SCALP!) and still have bugs. Have no fear, the Dublin Lice Nanny is here to ease your concerns. But first, let’s test your Super Lice knowledge with a little T/F Quiz!
1. Super Lice are highly contagious to other family members if you don’t spray your couch, carpets, and car seats to kill any that are living there. T /F
2. Super Lice are very difficult to kill without professional help. T/F
3. Tea Tree Oil added to shampoo or sprays can repel Super Lice. T/F
2. Super Lice are very difficult to kill without professional help. T/F
3. Tea Tree Oil added to shampoo or sprays can repel Super Lice. T/F
Answers:
1. False. Research shows that most head lice, which need to feed on human blood every three to four hours, die within 15 hours off their host. If a louse accidentally comes off a head, it is already dying. It may be moving, but it’s unlikely that it will be able to make it back onto a head before dehydrating and dying.
2. True AND False they are impossible to kill if you use the most popular over the counter methods like Rid and Nix. Seventy-two percent of OTC lice products sold in the United States contain either permethrin or pyrethrum. These pesticides used to be extremely effective at killing lice. But after decades of overuse, they now are effective less than 45 percent of the time, and that is after multiple treatments. However, there are *some treatments that are sold in the stores that can work. The problem is figuring out which ones are all hype and which ones work. Feel free to call me and I can guide you.
3. False. This has been studied in labs, and while it sounds good in theory, there simply is not enough of the oil in shampoo or sprays to work and it evaporates too quickly. So, it **may repel for 30 minutes or so, but that does not do a lot of good. Save your money.
What exactly are SUPER LICE? And more importantly, how do I avoid it?!!
“Super Lice” have been getting a lot of air time recently, and I wanted to clear up some common misconceptions. Contrary to popular belief, super lice look no different /are not larger or stronger than lice in years past. They are, however, resistant to the most common OTC treatments like Rid or Nix. The common chemicals in these pesticides are pyrethrin and the majority of lice in the area is no longer killed by this chemical. They are resistant to it and you could treat 100x and the resistant bugs would be unfazed!
Here is what usually happens when someone finds bugs in their child’s hair: 1. They FREAK out! 2. They often dash to the pharmacy and grab a box of pesticides, as they are completely horrified and want to get rid of it NOW! 3. They realize the bugs are not dying and re-treat with the same toxic chemicals. 4. After treating their child several times with this chemical they are shocked to realize they still have lice. That is when they usually call me.
My suggestion is resist the urge to use the chemicals and opt for a much more effective and safer lice treatment. Call me, as I am always happy to talk to you about your particular lice concerns and offer free advice. Together we can develop a treatment plan specifically for you and your family. If you have questions about lice please call my Lice Hotline for free advice: 614-526-9194 or visit my blog for more great info: www.TheDublinLiceNanny.com.
Here is what usually happens when someone finds bugs in their child’s hair: 1. They FREAK out! 2. They often dash to the pharmacy and grab a box of pesticides, as they are completely horrified and want to get rid of it NOW! 3. They realize the bugs are not dying and re-treat with the same toxic chemicals. 4. After treating their child several times with this chemical they are shocked to realize they still have lice. That is when they usually call me.
My suggestion is resist the urge to use the chemicals and opt for a much more effective and safer lice treatment. Call me, as I am always happy to talk to you about your particular lice concerns and offer free advice. Together we can develop a treatment plan specifically for you and your family. If you have questions about lice please call my Lice Hotline for free advice: 614-526-9194 or visit my blog for more great info: www.TheDublinLiceNanny.com.
