How not to catch lice? - briefly
Avoid head‑to‑head contact and sharing personal items such as combs, hats, or bedding; keep hair clean and regularly inspect for nits. Prompt removal of any detected lice stops an outbreak before it spreads.
How not to catch lice? - in detail
Preventing head‑lice infestation requires consistent personal hygiene, careful handling of personal items, and awareness of environments where lice thrive.
Regular washing of hair with a mild shampoo reduces the likelihood of egg attachment. Comb hair after washing while it is still damp; a fine‑toothed lice comb can physically remove any nymphs before they mature.
Avoid sharing objects that contact the scalp, such as hats, scarves, hairbrushes, hair accessories, headphones, and pillowcases. When borrowing or lending these items, clean them with hot water (minimum 130 °F/54 °C) or a disinfectant suitable for fabrics.
Maintain clean bedding and clothing. Launder sheets, pillowcases, towels, and caps after each use in hot water and dry on a high‑heat setting. For items that cannot be machine‑washed, seal them in a plastic bag for at least two weeks, a period sufficient to starve any hidden lice.
Limit close head‑to‑head contact, especially during activities that involve physical proximity, such as sports, dance, or sleepovers. Encourage children to keep hair tied back or in a braid to reduce the surface area exposed to potential transfer.
Be vigilant in environments with known outbreaks. Inspect hair regularly, focusing on the nape of the neck and behind the ears, where lice prefer to lay eggs. Early detection allows prompt removal and prevents spread.
When traveling, pack a spare set of personal hair accessories and keep them separate from communal items. Use hotel‑provided laundry services for all fabrics that will contact the scalp.
If an infestation is suspected, isolate the affected individual’s personal items, treat the hair with an approved lice‑removal product, and repeat combing after 24 hours to eliminate any newly hatched nymphs.
Adhering to these practices minimizes exposure risk and interrupts the transmission cycle, effectively reducing the chance of acquiring head lice.