Archive for January, 2007

Head Lice Treatment With With Lice-Killing Shampoo

headlice January 30th, 2007

Head lice treatments can be tricky simply because lice are so contagious.  When treating head lice you must protect other family members from becoming infected. The key to getting rid of your lice problem is remaining calm, following lice shampoo instructions carefully, and being thorough

The most common method people use for lice treatment is a lice-killing medicated shampoo. Follow directions carefully because you do not want to sensitize the scalp. Even before shampooing it’s a good idea for those being treated for head lice to change into fresh uncontaminated clothing. Contaminated clothing should be washed and dried under high heat settings.

After applying the lice shampoo check carefully with a quality lice comb to see if some live lice remain. If there are some lice still alive or moving slower, DO NOT re-apply the same shampoo. The treatment you tried was not 100% successful in killing all the lice! Try a lice shampoo with different ingredients.

You will have to comb out all of the dead and living lice. Again here your persistence will pay off. The only thing which makes this difficult is that it takes a long time to comb everything out. If, while you are combing you don’t see anything double check to make sure you know what you are looking for. Would you recognize and be able to identify lice? What about the nits they leave behind? To avoid sensitizing the scalp you should wait at least 6 hours before applying another shampoo if the first try didn’t work. After a successful lice shampoo treatment you still need to check for lice and nits every few days until you are sure there are no live bugs or nits left behind.  This should be an ongoing process for a few weeks until you are positive that all of the lice and nits are out of the hair.

Because head lice are contagious, it is important that you are extremely cautious when going about the lice treatment.  This includes everything from effectively washing clothing to soaking brushes and combs used in rubbing alcohol or washing with soap and water for one hour.  To ensure that the rest of the family doesn’t become infested don’t share hats, towels, etc.

Lice treatment is tedious and it takes awhile to see success. The more cautious and patient you are with treating the lice, the quicker they will go away

Home Cures For Head Lice | Conclusion

headlice January 29th, 2007

Continued from Home Cures For Head Lice | Part 1 

Before you run out and buy a lice comb and lice shampoo it is important that you have accurate lice information to diagnose the problem. Body lice and head lice are not the same and require different lice removal treatments. After it has been established that we are dealing with head lice a vigorous treatment should begin immediately.  The most effective home cure for head lice without using any kind of products is removing the lice and nits with a lice comb and/or tweezers.  This method is time consuming and a strain on the eyes. See if you can get hold of a bright light with a magnification device. You will have to repeat the combing procedure several days in a row to completely rid the child of the problem. There are no short cuts, repetitive combing out with a quality lice comb will enable you to get out live bugs and the nits they leave behind. Make no mistake about it, if you don’t comb out everything the lice won’t go away!

Other popular home cures involve smothering the lice by putting something on the scalp and massaging it in…  Some of the more common things used to smother lice include mayonnaise, Vaseline and olive oil.  Let them sleep with this concoction on their head overnight. Protect the linen either by covering it with a towel or by having you child wear a bathing cap. Some people wrap their heads with saran wrap but I think it’s dangerous to put your child to sleep like that.

Remember that even if you do succeed in smothering the lice using the messy methods above, the nits will remain. Without combing out every nit, they will hatch, and you will be dealing with a full reinfestation!

There are numerous ways to treat head lice, but the best way is to call LICENDERS at 212-759-5200. Our all natural method and products are guaranteed to work 100% of the time.  You can get RID of head lice and NIX the problem without having to resort to using the chemical laden formulas of RID and NIX.

Home Cures For Head Lice | Part 1

headlice January 24th, 2007

While it is vital that you identify and begin treating head lice as soon as possible, it is even more important that you accurately diagnose the problem prior to treating it. There are many different ways to treat head lice depending on the severity of the infestation. Many people run to the pharmacy to buy Rid and Nix without confirming that their child actually has lice. What’s worse is that parents find out later that the head lice shampoo they just spent good money on is full of chemicals.  Often parents, and even physicians inaccurately diagnose head lice! As soon as you notice your child scratching repetitively, it is important that you or a head lice professional check the head for nits. At LICENDERS help is just a call away (1-888-LICENDERS).

As a protective parent or guardian it is imperative that you look out for the following symptoms.  Some of the more common symptoms include itchy scalp, red bumps on the scalp and neck, and obviously seeing live lice moving around the scalp.  If you notice any of these symptoms, it is recommended that a professional gives a closer look.

Many parents choose to use home remedies to treat lice in their child. This could work if you know what you are looking for and can comb the lice out well and follow up religiously!

We suggest that before you turn the house upside down you make sure it’s really head lice and not a bad case of dandruff or some protein deposits you are finding.

Treating Head Nits and Lice

headlice January 19th, 2007

You should check your children frequently for head lice. You don’t have to spend a lot of time on it. I would rather find out sooner than later that my child has a lice problem. Catching it sooner will take hours off the amount of time it takes to get completely rid of it. A single female louse can lay up to 150 eggs, or nits, in a short amount of time.  The longer you leave lice in the head without treating them, the heavier the infestation you will have to deal with.

Nits are silvery-white in color and oval in shape.  To the naked eye, nits will appear as tiny grains of sand that seem cemented to the hair shaft. If you can flick it off with your nail it’s not lice, it’s probably dandruff or a protein deposit.   Nits on the one hand are easier to find then lice because there are more of them and they don’t move around.  However nits are much smaller then lice which makes finding them difficult also.

If every time you check your child you are finding more nits that means you still have live bugs! The infestation is getting worse! We recommend at this point you call in the professionals. Call LICENDERS: 1-888-LICENDERS

It is vital that you begin treating the problem as soon as you discover it.  Head Lice is a cycle, left untreated the bugs multiply and getting rid of it becomes more of a job.  It takes much less time and effort to get rid of a light case which was detected early. You should check your children frequently for head lice. 

Are You Familiar With The Appearance Of Head Lice And Nits?

headlice January 18th, 2007

Although head lice may be difficult to detect, there are certain things that you should look for which will help you identify them. Mostly its children between the ages of 4-11 that get head lice. If your child falls into that age bracket then it’s a good practice to check heads regularly. We will discuss the symptoms and what head lice look like in the coming paragraphs.

Head lice are grayish in color and can be tricky to spot in someone’s hair because of their small size.  The average size of an adult louse is between 2 to 4 mm. (think sesame seed). While their size makes it difficult to find them, it is also their quick speed that makes it difficult to catch them and comb them out.  They can scamper across your child’s head very rapidly with their six legs. Usually to the untrained eye by the time you think you see something its run to hide in another part of the head.

Head lice are most commonly found around the back of the infested person’s head and behind their ears. These are the warmest, and most humid areas on the head, factors necessary for a louse to survive. Irritation in these areas of the scalp, due to incessant scratching, is a good clue that there is a lice problem. What is troubling is that lice show no signs of preferring a dirtier scalp, which is warmer.  In fact, head lice tend to prefer cleaner scalps.

How To Remove Lice Nits - What Not To Do | Conclusion

headlice January 16th, 2007

As promised here are 3 more tips on what not to do when removing lice & nits.

4. After you apply the product or medication to the head, it is vital that you do not re-treat the hair for 1-2 days.  You will need to repeat this process several times within two weeks, but it is pointless if you re-wash the hair before a day or two. Additionally you want to give your scalp a chance to rebalance itself before continuing treatment.

5. You should not use the same head lice medication in your attempt to remove the lice more than twice on a person.  It can become damaging to the hair and the scalp if used too many times.  Plus, if you have to use it more than a few times the medication is most probably having no effect on the lice. The lice have developed a resistance to the ingredients in the shampoo you are using.

6. Lastly, do not mix multiple chemical products with each other when removing lice.  The products may cause you to have a severe negative reaction as the ingredients of one interacts with another. This can cause harm to the hair and scalp.

It is vital to follow this “don’t do” list, when using the chemical medicinal shampoos found in drugstores, and by prescription.  The more you are aware of what not to do, the more successful you will be in removing the hair lice. There are less problems if you use a non-chemical shampoo.

How To Safely Remove Lice & Nits And What Not To Do

headlice January 15th, 2007

Removing head lice is a process, there are no shortcuts. Removal methods vary, but there are several things that should not be done when using a chemical medicinal shampoo. Here are some things you should avoid doing:

1. Don’t disregard the fine print on the label. Make sure you know what you are putting on your child’s head. Many lice shampoos contain toxic ingredients! Some lice products are flammable so don’t use a hair dryer to dry the hair.

2. Use the shampoo first to kill the bugs. Using a cream rinse or a regular shampoo and conditioner combination prior to applying the lice medication can potentially spread the lice around the entire head and push bugs closer to the scalp.

3. Remember that your scalp is sensitive and you do not want to over medicate.

Stay tuned for the next post where I will discuss 3 additional mistakes people make when removing lice & nits.

Can Head Lice Medication Cure Infestation? Part 2

headlice January 10th, 2007

Continued from the last post: Can Head Lice Medication Cure Infestation? Part 1

Another reason why many head lice medications don’t work is because they can’t penetrate the lice eggs.  Sometimes the medication is effective in killing the crawling bugs, but not effective at killing the nits the bugs left behind. It is extremely difficult for head lice medication to penetrate the nit shell, which makes follow-up treatments vital.

There is also the possibility of your child being exposed again.  You can become infested more than once with head lice, making it crucial that you use follow-up treatments to kill all of the bugs and nits. You must determine what is bringing the lice into the house in order to have an effective cure!  It is common for children to be cleaned only to get re-infested when playing with other kids. It is crucial for parents to inform each other when their child has been exposed to head lice.

Many people tend to over medicate thinking that if they leave the shampoo on longer the prescribed it will be more effective. Not following the directions can lead to scalp irritation which will only make it harder to comb out the nits later.

Can Head Lice Medication Cure Infestation? Part 1

headlice January 8th, 2007

Many head lice medications are ineffective!  However in some circumstances, it’s just 1 step of the procedure you are not doing correctly which stands in the way of total lice removal.

Over time lice develop resistance to head lice medications. At LICENDERS we are constantly in the lab tweaking our products so that they remain effective against lice. If you shampoo and are still finding live bugs, the lice shampoo you are using is not effective! If some of the bugs are dead but some are still active, odds are you didn’t follow the directions properly. Get the Licenders all natural lice shampoo which is guaranteed to work 100% of the time.

Aside from the louse developing a resistance, there are a number of things that can hinder your progress in getting rid of head lice. The most common problem is not following the directions correctly.  Remember that after shampooing it is still essential to comb out ALL the nits. Even 1 nit left behind will mature into a bug and can re-infest its host.  Frequently people are lulled into a false sense of security when after shampooing they no longer see live bugs. Without proper maintenance and continued nit combing it’s only a matter of time before a missed bug or nit manifests itself into another full blown infestation. This is why parents often feel helpless when they try to get rid of head lice by themselves. Licenders offers house call visits in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. 1-888-LICENDERS

Is Head Lice A Danger To Your Child’s Life? | Conclusion

headlice January 5th, 2007

Continued from Is Head Lice A Danger To Your Child's Life

Small lice are known as nymphs and they stay as nymphs for about 7 days.  Lice feed on the scalp every 4 hours and generally it only takes a nymph 7 days to become a full-sized adult. (The size of a sesame seed). The problem with lice is that it takes a continued effort to get rid of them.

Lice easily spread from one child to another due to the social behavior of children. While sharing hats and brushes head lice are often passed back and forth even after one child has been totally cleaned out. That is why it is important to let LICENDERS come clean out the whole school, or playgroup at once.

The best thing to do is to be patient with your child and stick to a program of natural head lice removal. If your child still has head lice after 2 weeks of treatment, talk to your child's friends' parents.  There may be several kids in the class that have lice, which is making it difficult to get rid of them.

Head lice is an annoying but common problem that is difficult to get rid of.  It is in your favor to catch the lice at an early stage before it develops into a full blown infestation.

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