This Common Christmas Tradition Could Give You Lice

This Common Christmas Tradition Could Give You Lice

Proving there’s actually nothing lice can’t ruin.

The holidays provide a great opportunity for head lice to spread thanks to the traditions of . family photos, hugging, sharing beds, sharing ipads, and sadly, even that common tradition of sitting on Santa’s lap.  Yes, gathering in close to take a photo for this year’s Christmas card or getting the kids to lean in for a selfie with grandma could give lice the opportunity to crawl from one scalp to another. 

The holidays are a time of celebration and unity! We embrace our friends and family for smiling group photos and impromptu selfies.  But holding our loved ones close can introduce a risk: head lice! These tiny crawlers have six legs and don’t hop, jump, or fly, They only crawl and they travel from scalp to scalp to find new hosts. An entire family can find themselves infested after an evening of merry fun.

All about lice

Head lice are tiny, wingless, blood-sucking insects that live on the human scalp and lay eggs, and are very common in school-age children and children in childcare, according to the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 6 to 12 million infestations occur each year among children ages three to 11 in the United States. Moms get head lice around 85% of the time when their children under 12 get head lice.

They spread by hair-to-hair contact or by sharing hats, combs, hairbrushes and headphones, CPS says. The most common sign of head lice is an itchy scalp. When you look closely at your kid’s (or your own) scalp, you’ll see nits (lice eggs), which are “white-ish grey, tan or yellow ovals about the size of a grain of sand” that stick to the hair, close to the scalp, CPS says.

And you might also see some young or adult lice scurrying around in there, but those are harder to spot since they move so quickly.

Holiday risks

It’s not just photos that pose a risk.  Visiting friends or family members is another way for lice to spread.  The togetherness of family members and friends makes the holidays special, but it also can risky since there is so much hair-to-hair contact.

We recommend that parents have a talk with their kids about “selfie safety,” and remind them to keep their distance in photos. If your child is attending a sleepover, send them with their own hairbrush and other personal items and avoid that hair-to-hair contact such as sharing pillows.   And be sure to check your child’s scalp after all get-togethers and holiday parties. In business since 2015, Torrance Lice Removal can get you lice and egg free in about 90 minutes. Our proven, 5 step process is chemical free and has a 99%+ success rate and comes with an optional 30-day