How to do lice prevention? - briefly
Regularly inspect hair and scalp, especially after close contact, and use a fine‑toothed comb on wet hair treated with a moisturizing conditioner to remove any nits. Wash bedding, hats, and brushes in hot water weekly and avoid sharing personal grooming items.
How to do lice prevention? - in detail
Lice infestations occur most often among school‑age children, but they can affect anyone who shares personal items such as combs, hats, or headphones. The primary objective of prevention is to eliminate conditions that enable lice to spread and to identify early signs before an outbreak develops.
Effective prevention measures include:
- Regular inspection of hair and scalp, especially after group activities; look for live insects and nits within ¼ inch of the scalp.
- Personal items should be kept separate; avoid sharing combs, brushes, hats, scarves, or headphones.
- Hair should be tied back or kept short when possible; dense, long hair provides a more suitable habitat.
- Bedding, pillowcases, and clothing used by an infected person must be washed in hot water (≥ 130 °F) and dried on high heat; items that cannot be laundered should be sealed in a plastic bag for two weeks.
- Vacuum carpets, upholstered furniture, and car seats to remove detached nits and insects.
- Use a fine‑toothed lice comb on dry hair at least once a week; comb from scalp outward, cleaning the comb after each pass.
- Apply preventive sprays or repellents that contain dimethicone or other non‑toxic agents, following manufacturer instructions.
- Educate children and caregivers about the signs of infestation and the importance of not sharing personal accessories.
If a case is detected, immediate action prevents further spread:
- Isolate the affected individual for a minimum of 24 hours while treatment proceeds.
- Apply an approved topical pediculicide or a silicone‑based lotion according to label directions; repeat treatment after 7–10 days to eliminate newly hatched nits.
- Comb out all nits with a fine-toothed device after the chemical treatment; repeat combing daily for a week.
- Launder all clothing, towels, and bedding used in the previous 48 hours; items that cannot be washed should be sealed as described above.
- Notify close contacts—classmates, teammates, family members—so they can inspect and, if necessary, treat promptly.
Maintaining these protocols reduces the likelihood of a resurgence and supports a lice‑free environment in homes, schools, and community settings.