What You Need to Know About Treating Head Lice

The field of dermatology is far more expansive that many of us even know. While we might think dermatologist stick to treating issues like acne, eczema and other skin rashes – this couldn’t be farther from the truth! In fact, as the top dermatologist Rye has to offer, Dr. Eric Treiber of Treiber Dermatology, specializes in a number of conditions which affect the hair, nails, skin and a whole lot more! And with us finally leaving winter behind, one of the most common conditions affecting children through this past chilly season has been the presence of head lice. For most of us, we shudder at the thought, but unfortunately, head lice is far more common than we might think – especially amongst children, as they tend to run around and play a lot, exposing themselves to different, sometimes unsanitary environments; even their own classrooms. According to the top dermatologist Rye has in practice, DR. ERIC TREIBER, head lice affects over 12 million children each and every year. Truth be told, contracting head lice isn’t very difficult, and in some cases has nothing to do with hygiene at all. At Treiber Dermatology many patients simply contract it from a playmate at school who isn’t aware they have it yet, and that child could have contracted it in some of the most innocent of places – the movie theater, the park, or even from another student. Learn more about head lice and head lice treatment, by reading on below.

Patients with head lice will generally complain of an intensely itchy scalp. This causes them to scratch constantly, causing the scalp to become red, and very irritated. According to DR. ERIC TREIBER, this is usually the first sign, and once you notice your child scratching his or her scalp, it is vital to use a comb and thoroughly examine their hair for small lice crawling through the scalp. The most common areas in which lice will usually appear is behind the ears and around the nape of the neck. As the top dermatologist Rye has for both pediatric and adult dermatology, DR. ERIC TREIBER warns parents to be vigilant as lice can spread easily and cause others to be infested easily.

During your examination, it is important to know what to look for – adult lice will generally be brown in color and look like tiny bugs that resemble a small brown sesame seed. It will be noticeable as it will likely be moving fast. The more hair an individual has, the more difficult they will be to find – in some cases, you may have to cut or trim someone’s hair down to get them out easier. In addition to the adults, there will also be eggs that are most often stuck to the shaft of hair follicles, and are very difficult to remove. They will appear yellowish-brown in color.

Once you have identified the head lice, it is vital to quarantine your child until you get treatment. You don’t want to spread them to anyone. The next step is to treat the head lice – DR. ERIC TREIBER generally recommends patients opt for a prescription topical cream and shampoo combination – which contain ingredients such as pyrethrin and piperonyl butoxide. There are also over the counter versions of these, in lower concentrations that will work as well but not as effectively as their prescription counterparts.

Generally, leaving the shampoo in your hair for 10-15 minutes is enough to kill the head lice and by thoroughly rinsing your hair, and using a fine-tooth comb to manually remove the dead lice and eggs – you can be lice free in no time. it is also vital that you wash, change or just throw away all your sheets, pillows/pillow cases, blankets, clothes hats and anything fabric where lice could have laid eggs or be hiding. While home treatments can work, Dr. Treiber recommends using stronger prescription strength medications. For more information on treating head lice or other issues, contact TREIBER DERMATOLOGY today.