Summer in Southern California is all about being outside—enjoying the beach in Huntington Beach, having a pool party in the backyard, or loading up in the car before a trip to Disneyland. The summer months are a time for children to spend many unstructured hours together, so it’s no surprise that parents begin to wonder if maybe sitting in the sun and playing in the water might be bringing a pesky guest along.
Some of what you hear about head lice at the pool may be true, but most of it is not. Here’s a short list of what is accurate when it comes to head lice and summer activities, and what is a myth that can be eliminated.
Planning a week full of sleepovers and time in the pool? Buy My Hair Helpers’ head lice prevention products online or schedule a head lice appointment at a nearby salon before your schedule heats up.
Myth: Water Spreads Head Lice
This is one of the most common myths, because it makes sense to think that water should wash head lice away or give them somewhere to travel to. But lice are very efficiently equipped with claws, allowing them to secure a strong grip to the hair shaft, even when underwater. They cannot fall off and float away, and they’re not able to swim the distance between hairs or from one person’s head to another through the water. Therefore, getting head lice from someone in a swimming pool is very unlikely.
It’s also important to know that water in a chlorinated pool does not kill lice. Lice are able to remain underwater by closing off their oxygen pathways, and they’re able to survive in the water for hours at a time. However, due to them having such a strong grip on their host, a day at the local swimming pool or beach is not going to expose anyone to an increased risk of lice.
Myth: Pool Floats and Shared Towels or Sunscreen Can Transmit Head Lice
Shared items are frequently accused of spreading lice, and while it is possible for lice to live off a person’s head, they don’t survive long without optimal conditions, usually under 24 hours.
Sun-drying towels in most summer environments in Southern California helps to dry them quickly, providing a warm and dry environment that is not very conducive to lice. Likewise, a lounge chair or pool float rarely makes enough sustained contact with an individual’s hair to do much good. In fact, they pose an even smaller risk than pillows or hair-drying hoods.
While you don’t need to encourage group sharing of towels, pool floats, and beach chairs, the risk of transmission is fairly low because of the unsuitability of those items for lice to survive off the head.
Fact: Kids Have Plenty of Face-to-Face Contact at the Beach
This is where transmission really occurs, and it has nothing to do with sand, salt water, or sunshine. All day long, kids are in close contact with each other: piling onto one lounge chair to point out a clam, huddling on the sand to examine an interesting creature, climbing on to one family member’s shoulders for a picture, or sharing a blanket in a big tent. This is the real issue with how lice spread.
When kids spend time close together, it creates opportunities for one louse to climb from one strand of hair to the next. If that louse happens to be a fertilized female, it can start laying six eggs a day, every single day, for about one month. Very quickly, that one louse can turn into a large group living right on your head.
Due to the close contact that kids have together during the summer, there’s an uptick in lice reports around this time. This makes the start of school especially deserving of your attention, as some children are returning with head lice and don’t necessarily know it yet.
How to Fight the Summer Head Lice Battle
Before a day at the pool or the beach…
Tie back and braid hair before leaving home. This is primarily for the people-to-people contact that occurs on the sand and pool deck, not from the water itself. My Hair Helpers Mint Lice Prevention Spray can be lightly spritzed on the hair on the way out the door to provide protection before heading outdoors.
Before a sleepover or summer camp…
This is the time to go above and beyond, as sleepovers are the prime summer culprit when it comes to lice transmission. A thorough My Hair Helpers Mint Shampoo and Conditioner wash the night before a sleepover provides protection, and packing your child’s personal hairbrush does your part to keep from contributing to the sharing problem.
After any high-contact event…
After any event involving several kids whose heads are in close proximity for a duration of hours, comb through the hair with the My Hair Helpers Lice Eliminator Comb. This prevents a hard-to-see louse from setting up shop until the whole family has the chance to get on with summer fun.
If something turns up…
If an issue does turn up despite your best efforts, there are effective ways to remove lice from your life. My Hair Helpers Mint Shampoo and Lice Removal Oil kill the active adult lice and quickly rid the family of the pest in a few short days. My Natural Enzymes dissolves nit glue and speeds up the combing process, making the entire experience less of a drain on your schedule.
Don’t let head lice slow down your summer plans. Browse through My Hair Helpers’ full line of prevention and treatment products online, or schedule an appointment with one of our head lice experts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Head Lice Spreading at the Beach, Pool, and Summer Parties
Can my child get head lice from swimming in the community pool?
It’s very unlikely to get head lice from swimming in a community pool. Lice cannot become unattached and swim through the water, and they are very secure when gripping hair. The risk of lice transmission in a swimming pool is primarily from close, face-to-face contact rather than the chlorine water.
Is chlorine going to kill the head lice?
No, chlorine is not going to kill the head lice. Lice don’t succumb in chlorinated water, as they can live under water for several hours if they seal their respiratory system.
Are sleepovers and overnight camps a greater risk than a day at the beach?
Yes, sleepovers and overnight camps are a greater risk than a day at the beach. This is the case because of the amount of time that children spend close together.
Am I better off keeping my child out of the pool if there’s a head lice infestation?
You do not necessarily need to keep your child out of the pool if there’s a head lice infestation. Focus on the ways in which your children come into contact with others and don’t worry as much about the actual swimming. Tie hair up well and check the hair two or three days afterward.
How can I best prepare for a summer full of playdates, camp, and sleepovers?
To best prepare for a summer full of playdates, camps, and sleepovers, create a super simple routine that includes protection on the days when there are multiple or longer face-to-face interactions. Also check your child’s hair once a week. Our line of head lice prevention products is available online for easy purchase, or you can schedule a quick appointment at one of our salons.
Enjoy the summer while still keeping your child’s head in check. My Hair Helpers has the products and knowledge you need so you can maintain routine and sanity!
