Watch Out for Head Lice from Halloween Costumes
At Nitwits, there are a few things that come to mind when we hear the word “Halloween”: Candy, jack-o’-lanterns, trick-or-treating, costumes ranging from cute to scary to everything in between—and, unfortunately, head lice.
Halloween Is a Head Lice Free-for-All
Costumes and candy make Halloween an exciting holiday for children, which can lead to lice-spreading behavior like sharing costume masks, physical contact while playing in costume or taking pictures, and other opportunities for lice to travel from one body to the next.
Whether it is friends or siblings hugging, fighting over who gets to ring the doorbell, or scrambling to get candy bars, you can be assured that there is no shortage or lice risks out there.
What to Watch Out For
The biggest culprit here are the parts of costumes that are worn on the head. Superhero masks, wigs, and other headwear are all suspect for lice spreading.
Kids with long hair are at the biggest risk of lice, because it is easier for lice to attach to the hair.
If your kids are going to school in costume or a Halloween parade, be sure to warn them about how easily lice is spread from one costume to another.
It is much like sharing towels at the pool during summer, in that it takes just one kid with lice to spread it around.
Lice Prevention Strategies
Though it is hard to keep kids from playing around on Halloween, the biggest thing to look out for is swapping masks or costumes. If you can control this, then the chances of cutting down on lice spreading gets much higher.
Avoid wearing used or hand-me-down costumes for kids, as you can not be certain as to whether these are lice-free or not.
Even if the Halloween costume is used or hand-me-down, isolate the costume for 1-2 days after brining it home—you never know who else at the store tried it on. Isolating the costume can kill lice, which cannot survive more than 24 or 48 hours off of a human head.
Regularly check kids hair for at least a week after Halloween, as it can take time for lice to hatch and become visible.
Make Halloween Lice-Free with Nitwits
Our experts are here to help keep your holidays happy and lice-free. For any questions on holiday lice prevention or head lice in general, we are here to help! Lice Clinics of America has successfully treated over 650,000 cases. The company has over 300 clinics in 35 countries, making it the world’s largest network of professional lice treatment centers.
In Louisville, you can enjoy these great lice treatment services at Nitwits, 9302 New LaGrange Road, Unit-H. Stop by or give us a call at (502) 804-5423. Or, you can contact us on our website, as we offer TeleHealth appointments where you can get the diagnosis and treatment you need from the comfort of your own home!