General Information about Lice and Nits
Head lice spread most commonly by direct head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact. However, they can spread by sharing clothing, belongings or even from your carpet! Even after falling off a person’s head, head lice can survive up to three days without food. And nits even longer! Nits can survive up to a week in the right environment.
The Life Cycle of a head louse
LICE PREVENTION
The following steps can be taken to prevent the spread of head lice:
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Avoid head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact during play time and other activities at home, school, and elsewhere (sports activities, playground, slumber parties, camp, etc.)
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Do NOT share clothing such as hats, helmets, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons, or barrettes.
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Do NOT share combs, brushes, or towels.
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Do NOT lie on beds, couches, pillows, carpets, or stuffed animals that have recently been in contact with a lice-infested person.
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Use DerLICE™ shampoo every other day for 2 weeks. You must wet and lather your hair with shampoo completely. Massage the scalp and hair and leave it for 15 minutes. Hair can be rinsed afterwards.
HOME LICE PREVENTATIVE PRACTICES:
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Disinfect combs and brushes used by a lice-infested person by soaking them in hot water (at least 130°F) for 10 minutes. Plastic combs and brushes can be stored in a sealed plastic bag (Ziploc) and stored in the freezer for 24 hours. The next day, remove all the hair that remained on the brush or comb. This will allow you to safely re-use them.
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Machine wash and dry clothes, bed linens (pillows, sheets, comforter, blankets etc.) towels, stuffed animals, dolls, etc. that a lice-infested person wore or used before treatment. Use hot water (130°F) to wash and the high heat (125°F) to dry. Clothing and items that are not washable can be dry-cleaned OR sealed in a plastic bag and stored for 2 weeks.
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Vacuum the floor, rugs, and furniture, particularly where the infested person touched.
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We recommend the use of disinfectants for some fabric furniture.