So you see that cool hat rack at the local big box retailer and they look so alluring. These racks typically feature bright, multi-colored hats and a variety of styles, and there always seems to be a mirror on hand for you to try on.
A marketing company interested in the growth of lice infestations could not find a more effective way to spread these blood-sucking parasites. While all those hats may look attractive, the fact is, you don’t know who has tried them on before you. Although the chances of getting head lice or a case of hat louse in a store are small, it is nonetheless a risk.
Headlice can live for several days on an inanimate object such as a hat, scarf, or hairbrush. This means that if a person with a lice infestation has tried on those hats, the chance of contracting lice by modeling those same hats is very great.
Symptoms of lice infestation
* A tingling sensation on the scalp.
* A general feeling that your hair can move slightly
* Itching caused by lice bites so they can get their blood to feed
Diagnosis of Headlice infestation
Although small, lice are easily detected by looking closely through the hair near the scalp. Lice can often be mistaken for dandruff, but are usually not removed or brushed off. Lice are the size of half a grain of rice and are whitish-gray in color.
Another thing to look for is nits, which are lice eggs. These will be located very close to the scalp and will look like bumps on individual hair follicles. It is very difficult to remove before treatment.
The best place to look for an infestation is the hair just behind the ear and at the neckline. Just use a pencil or other wooden instrument to move the hair against the natural arrangement. This bends the hair to make it easier to see the presence of lice.
How are lice treated?
There are many treatment options available if you find yourself dealing with a case of head lice. These treatment options include the use of insecticide-based shampoos, natural antiseptic essential oils, and even some strange suggestions that have been posted on the web. Visit the link below to learn more about the pros and cons of each of these treatment options.
At the very least, you’ll enjoy exploring some of the crazy ideas that some have suggested that worked for getting rid of lice.