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Heading Back To School: Tips On How To Prevent Head Lice

Many years ago, when our daughters were early elementary age, our family somehow got a nasty case of head lice. We’d been traveling and have no idea where the head lice came from. In the treatment of that episode of lice, and in one subsequent episode, we learned a lot about how to prevent and treat the itchy, annoying affliction. Here are some tips as children are heading Back To School.

Head lice is common between the ages of 3-11 years since these are day care to elementary aged kids, and most at risk. They are also the population who don’t understand the importance of prevention. Lice is a parasite that drinks human blood. They are most often found behind the ears and lower neck. Bites leave signature rashes there, and a case of head lice is very itchy, especially at night. Find out what head lice looks like and the stages of development over on WebMD.

Head lice is passed from head to head/hair to hair touching. On upholstered furniture in public places, such as movie theater seats, or lying on rugs in a classroom or library, it is possible to transfer head lice.

How to avoid getting head lice

No sharing combs, hats, scarves, or hair accessories.
No sharing pillows or bedding at sleep overs or at camp.
No sharing ear buds and helmets.
Wash and high heat dry new hats after purchase before wearing.

The next step in prevention is what to do once you suspect your children or you could have been exposed. Be sure to wash all possible exposed clothing, coats, hats, scarves, etc in hot water and high heat dry. Do the same with stuffed animals and bedding if possible. If it’s not possible, seal them in a plastic bag for three or more weeks. We did the same with combs, brushes, and hair accessories. Admittedly, I over reacted and boiled our combs each day. They sort of melted.

Another tip for prevention is to keep longer hair tied back in a pony tail or braid, or pinned up in a bun.

Washing your child’s hair with tea tree shampoo and conditioner, and the heat of blow drying also helps to kill any possible lice. Keeping your child’s environment clean helps control any spread of the lice should your child get it. Be sure to keep carpets and car seats well vacuumed each day. I found the biggest asset to the whole ordeal of our children having head lice was that we got our house clean and organized because I became obsessive about vacuuming and laundry.

Twice daily combing with a head lice nit comb scrapes any nits down the hair shaft and away from the scalp. We did use RID for our daughters’ first stint with head lice. The lice weren’t necessarily killed. We had to do a second treatment. Their hair got fried, and their scalps were dry.

A nurse friend with ties to a nurse at the local health department also advised us to use olive oil during nit combing. Once we were diligent with combing and using olive oil to comb, washing with tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner, and blow drying, the ordeal was fortunately contained. The olive oil may have done nothing more than restore our daughters hair to good health.

Unfortunately, the girls report that the smell of olive triggers bad memories for them, and the only good thing about having lice was that we let them watch movies while we nit combed endlessly.

Here are examples of the products we used.
DISCLOSURE: These are affiliate links which means I earn a small compensation to support this blog if you make a purchase through these links. There is no added cost to you. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.

I hope this helps you prevent lice in your own home, and manage it if your child ends up with a case of it.

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Wild Alaskan Company Fish

After my brain surgery recovery after a very large acoustic neuroma was found on my right vestibular nerve, the main nerve that controls hearing, gait, and balance, I was researching how to heal my brain, my nerves, how to grow back healthy hair, and how to stay healthy while I recovered from my newly founded gait and balance issues, one sided deafness, and facial paralysis now turned facial synkinesis. Obviously there is no way to rush healing. I knew I could only provide as optimal an environment and healthy habits for healing as possible.

I didn’t know at the time that my craving healthy foods like salmon, avocado, almonds, spinach, berries, etc, were all foods that I needed for brain healing, hair growing, and healthy nerve regeneration. I’ve never ever in my life craved salmon.

Yet, while my dear friend was with us for nearly three weeks helping with my home and rehabilitation, we ate salmon more than once. Not long after she left, and my wanting to avoid being in the stores because of germs and my inability to drive, I researched how to have salmon shipped to my home so that I could continue to have it, and have the healthiest of options.

That is how I found the Wild Alaskan Company and started an every other month subscription to have wild Alaskan salmon shipped to my home, along with the option to have other fish sent too. DISCLOSURE: Clicking through Wild Alaskan Compa ny is an affiliate link, meaning I get a $25 reduction off the cost of my next shipment if my readers opt to have a fish shipment sent to their own home also. There is no extra cost to you, and in fact, clicking through my link will give you $25 off your first order too.

Wild Alaskan Company will send a box once a month unless you change, pause or cancel your membership anytime before it renews each month. They have been very easy to order from. They ship your fish in box packed with dry ice. They are really good about messaging, and alerting us as to when our box will arrive.

When we open our box, we put on winter gloves, and carefully remove all the fish packages before taking our “Fish Stash” to our deep freezer.

A great gift idea with the holidays approaching is to Gift a Box of Fish! You get to choose a box of 12 or 24 pieces, whether you want only salmon, a mix of salmon and white fish, or only white fish when you want the box shipped, and include a message. Wild Alaskan Company ships to all 50 States in the United States. When you go to their website, click Give a Gift at the top of their website page, and then Happy Ordering! It’s easy peasy lemon squeezy!!

Salmon is high is essential fatty acids and omega fish oils. These are recommended for reducing cholesterol and inflammation. Salmon is also high in protein. Fatty acids and protein are essential for healing brains and nerves. It also contains many B vitamins for nerve healing, and potassium and antioxidants as well.

Some say that wild and sustainable caught salmon, cod, halibut, and other wild caught fish are higher in these nutrients also, and better for you than farmed fishes. I have to say that Wild Alaskan Company salmon, cod, halibut, Rockfish, and scallops that we’ve received from them is the best fish I’ve ever had! This is coming from a person who really does not usually love fish!

While my life long friend was here with us during my rehabilitation, she taught my daughters how to poach salmon. So far, that is our favorite way to have Wild Alaskan Company salmon. In our air fryer, we’ve also made “fried” cod. Another favorite is to make fish and potato chowder. We’ve experimented with a teriyaki baked fish too.

Poached Alaskan Wild Caught Salmon! YUM!

All in all, Wild Alaskan Company, and the fish that they have sent in our subscription, has been a fun and worthwhile investment into our health.

In the meantime, I ended up writing another e-book, Nutrients for Growing Healthy Hair. It’s free and allows you to opt in to my LoveLeavingLegacy with Lilla Rose hair accessories newsletter. I know I’ve shared it before, but I’d love for you to have it!

I have other gift ideas for healthy hair, too, which you can see here.

How to Combat Low Vitamin D3 And Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

January can be such a dreary month in Michigan. Even though we’ve had a relatively mild winter so far, and not a lot of lake effect snow band squalls, the sun rarely shines. It’s great to get out in the fresh air, and I have had a relatively easy time with balance. The driveway or in parking lots aren’t always frozen over and slippery to complicate gait/balance and vertigo issues. But, I’ve been noticing since Christmas that I’m exceptionally fatigued. I feel like I should be over that after 13-14 months brain surgery post op. I know that Vitamin D3 levels should be checked with regularity, and I’m not sure mine has ever been checked. I was glad to hear that my new primary care provider wanted to do one a few weeks ago. I was surprised to hear, however, that my levels were even lower than what they consider low. I’m now taking D3 supplements at the urging of the PCP, but also cod liver oil and calcium with magnesium to be sure that bone health is good.

Honestly, I didn’t even realize fatigue was a symptom of low D3. It’s super easy to chalk it up to “I had major brain surgery a year ago, and the tumor void is still healing.”

What are the symptoms of low Vitamin D3? (See also Healthline.)

They can be subtle, and you might even chalk them up to other problems or disorders. I’m learning that this is often the case for a lot of disorders or health issues, and that’s why it’s so important to get baseline blood work and testing to be sure the PCP can note changes.

1. Fatigue and tiredness is one.

2. Inability to lose weight.

3. Getting sick or getting infections often. One may also find wounds have difficulty healing.

4. Bone or back pain. With a low D3 level, calcium absorption is not as efficient, so bones could be weaker. This can also be a cause of bone loss.

5. Depression which may or may not be part of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

6. Hair loss.

7. Muscle pain.

Where does one get Vitamin D3?

1. Sunshine helps bodies make its own D3.

2. From certain foods like certain mushrooms, egg yolks, salmon, tuna, cod liver oil, herring, sardines, halibut, mackerel, fortified foods like orange juice, cereal, cow’s milk, and soy milk.

D3 is actually a hormone, fat soluble vitamin. You get it from food, sunshine, and supplements. According to Healthline, it may aid in the blocking of fat cell creation and storage, thereby attributing higher levels of it to greater weight reduction. It may also play a role in boosting metabolism.

While doing my research on my Vitamin D3 level and problem, I found out that many of the foods and nutrients mentioned for combatting low levels of it are also the nutrients for health hair and to grow hair.

My free 3-book, 9 Nutrients for Growing Healthy Hair can be found here. I love to share it!

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder is sometimes considered the “winter blues” but it can happen any time of the year. It’s an actual cyclical depression. Some say they have SAD simply because they have low D3, but that may not always be the case.

According to the Mayo Clinic, signs and symptoms of SAD may include:

Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day
Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
Having low energy
Having problems with sleeping
Experiencing changes in your appetite or weight
Feeling sluggish or agitated
Having difficulty concentrating
Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty
Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide

The cause of SAD is not completely known, but it is noted that circadian rhythms, low serotonin and melatonin levels seem to contribute. Family history, bipolar disorder, and major depression issues also seem to contributing factors.

The Mayo Clinic says “Treatment for seasonal affective disorder may include light therapy, medications, and psychotherapy.” Meditation, relaxation techniques, guided imagery, and music or art therapy may also help.

For either low vitamin D3 or Seasonal Affective Disorder, be sure to reaching out to your healthcare provider for the best ways to deal with your situations. Healthcare is not usually a one size fits all approach. This post should also not be construed as medical advice. It is simply my own research for understanding of my own situation.

To combat my vitamin D3 issue, my PCP recommended supplementation and diet. I’m happy to report that my fatigue symptoms seem to be lifting.

To combat any winter blues and to keep a good mental outlook, not necessarily related to Seasonal Affective Disorder, I’ve opted to create “happy places” or “pampering situations.”

I love changing out homey decorations with soothing colors, and have purchased more indoor plants now that there is no danger of my children eating poisonous leaves. I also love to listen to soothing music and create through crocheting, sewing, or crafting. There is nothing as encouraging as finishing projects! Adult coloring books are a fun activity while relaxing in the evenings too.

As always, I love keeping my mind active through reading and research of topics that interest me. I love that my nursing license credentials come due at the end of January so that I have to be sure I’ve completed enough continuing education credits. I love researching health issues related to myself or my family.

I get monthly massages, eat right, and drink plenty of water. I also try to exercise. And, of course, I am my own best customer when it comes to having new Lilla Rose hair accessories to beautify my hair and brighten up my outlook.

How do you combat winter blues?

Tell me!

LoveLeavingLegacy

Home, Health, Hair, and Mentoring

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