This is a guest post in partnership with WelComb. Opinions are of the author. There are many myths and misconceptions about lice, but eliminating a lice infestation is a lot less dramatic than you might think. To calm your nerves during a somewhat stressful parenting moment, here are a few interesting facts about lice. By understanding what you’re dealing with, you will feel more confident as you prepare to get them outta there!
 Interesting facts about lice that many people don’t know
- ANYONE WITH HAIR CAN GET LICE
Every year, 6 to 12 million people get lice in the United States. And while children ages 3 to 11 are most commonly afflicted, anyone with hair can get lice! - AN ITCHY HEAD DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE LICE
Half of all people who get lice never itch! The only reason someone with lice will have an itchy scalp is if they are having an allergic reaction to the louse’s saliva. - LICE TRAVEL HEAD TO HEAD
How do lice spread? Well, they don’t jump or fly! In fact, lice can actually run super fast. And the only way lice will spread is if the head of the person with lice touches the head of someone else. In other words, if someone sitting next to your child in class has lice, they won’t catch it unless they touch heads or share a brush (where lice can hang on to strands of hair). - LICE STICK WITH ONE BLOOD TYPE
Lice eat blood. And believe it or not, they actually prefer to stick to the same blood type they started with. So, unless the head that the lice lives on gets close to another head with the same blood type, they’ll stay put. - LICE HAVE FAVORITE HIDING PLACES
Lice love to live where it’s nice and warm, which is right against the scalp. They also snuggle in near the nape of the neck and around the ears. Keep this in mind as you remove lice from your child’s head! - LICE FREEZE WHEN WET
That’s right – lice can’t swim! They actually freeze in place when they’re wet. That means the best way to catch and remove lice is to keep the hair wet during the removal process. But don’t be fooled! Water won’t kill lice. They can hold their breath for a long time so it’s important to take them off the head (aka their source of food) before they dry. - PESTICIDES + LICE = SUPER LICE
Super lice are lice that have become resistant to many of the pesticides on the market that are used for lice treatment. Yes, we said pesticides. Any solution that claims to kill a pest is a pesticide! And not only do these pesticides create super lice, but they can also be potentially harmful to your child. So, think twice before you buy those products! - LICE CAN STILL SPREAD IN THE SUMMER
We often associate lice with the school year, but lice are also prevalent in the summer! Think about it – children are still interacting at summer camp, day care, summer school and playdates. So, keep an eye on your child’s head for lice. Don’t wait until they’re back in school and the nurse finds it first. - THE KEY TO LICE REMOVAL IS THE NIT
What’s a nit? A lice egg. Each female louse lays six to eight eggs a day. That’s a lot of lice! And as long as nits remain on your child’s head, they’ll keep reproducing and the lice infestation will continue. That means removing the nits is key in ending a lice infestation. - THE WET COMBING METHOD IS THE BEST WAY TO REMOVE LICE AND NITS
When you visit the lice removal aisle at the store, you’ll see many products that claim to kill lice. And they do! But they don’t kill nits, and that’s why they don’t work. The only way to get rid of a lice infestation is to physically remove the lice and nits from your child’s head with the wet combing method (keep reading for more info!).
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD HAS LICE
So, what do all these interesting facts about lice tell us? Our takeaway for you is that the wet combing method is the best way to get rid of lice and nits once-and-for-all. It is safe, effective, all-natural and simple. All you need is water, conditioner, and a lice comb!
Luckily, you can find these components in the Dollar General Lice and Nit Removal Kit with WelComb®. The kit includes:
- Conditioner to lubricate the hair, making it easy to see lice and nits as you comb them out. (Don’t worry, it’s free of harsh chemicals and ineffective oils!)
- A Detangler Comb to remove tangles and evenly distribute conditioner throughout the hair.
- A WelComb® that has rigid teeth just the right distance apart so no lice or nit can slip through and a beveled edge that allows you to get right down to the scalp where lice and nits like to hide.
You can find full lice removal instructions including a video in both English and Spanish, at https://welcomb.com/instructions/.