A message for Parents
Improving your experience of head lice
Vital knowledge about the life-cycle
- A head louse (Pediculus capitis) usually hatches 7 to 10 days after the egg is laid (sometimes 5 to 11 days).
- A newly-hatched head louse becomes full-grown in a minimum of 6 days.
- Full-grown head lice move from head to head; younger lice tend to stay on the head where they hatch.
- Full-grown lice mate and the female starts laying eggs, at the earliest on day 7 after she herself hatched.
Breaking the life-cycle
Preventing head lice from spreading: it is critical to remove the lice before the sixth day from hatching
Preventing head lice from reproducing: a new generation of eggs can be laid from day seven after hatching
No treatment can guarantee complete egg-kill
With a double dose lotion treatment, applied on day 1 and a week later (day 8) the three risks are that:
- Lice hatch from eggs directly after the first application and reach adulthood before the second application, so they can spread and lay eggs.
2. Lice will continue to hatch up till day 11 after the first application, which
is 3 days after the second application!
3. New full-grown lice, caught from other heads between applications will
lay more eggs.
Inform yourself what a treatment entails before you choose one
If you get your treatment product from a pharmacy, ask the pharmacist to go through the instructions with you.
If you buy off-the-shelf, read the information on the pack to find out how many applications per infested head are required.
Remember that whatever information is on the pack, you always have to check for lice on days 5 and 12/13 and remove them to avoid the 3 risks of continuing infestation.
You can cover all three risks by using a Bug Buster Kit alone according to the step-by-step instructions for detection and cure. This saves the expense of the lotion and the time required to shampoo the lotion applications from the head.
Parents seeking prescription treatment for their children, have a right to be informed that they may choose a Bug Buster Kit, which is a registered medical device, available on NHS prescription. If you prefer another prescribable treatment, since none guarantees complete egg-kill, request a Bug Buster Kit as well to enhance the efficacy of the treatment. A single Bug Buster Kit is re-usable by a whole family.
Use products responsibly
- Keep all products for the control of head lice out of the reach of children.
- Remember to avoid naked flames, cigarettes and other sources of ignition throughout the treatment period when ever a product is applied to DRY hair.
- Take precautions against slipping if any spills.
To buy a Bug Buster Kit, DVD or other items visit our shop
Vital knowledge about fine-tooth combs
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