Ticks, Head Lice & Poison Ivy: Natural Ways to Handle Unwanted Back-to-School Surprises by Sherry Torkos

School may have started, but that doesn’t mean outdoor time has ended. Kids still play outdoors after school and many teachers like to take advantage of outdoor activities while the weather's still nice. In warmer states, kids are outside all year long. That can mean anything from outdoor P.E. to science exploring. Kids may still be running into poison ivy, poison oak or bug bites. And until there’s a freeze, they may still pick up ticks from lawns or playing fields.

In the case of head lice, any head-to-head contact – such as taking a selfie with a friend – could be enough to cause an infestation. In fact, head lice represent the second most common health issue infecting school-age children in the U.S., next to the common cold. Sharing sports helmets or hats used as costumes for school plays can also result in an infestation. Here are natural solutions to three common outdoor ailments:

• Itchy skin caused by bug bites, poison ivy or poison oak: Tea tree oil works well for treating the itch and sting of insect bites. Make your own after-bug paste with a teaspoon of baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon of water and a few drops of tea tree oil. For poison ivy/oak, oatmeal can soothe skin itching. To make your own bath soak, grind whole oats in a coffee grinder to release their oils. Put a half cup of the ground oats into the bath water. Add a couple drops of lavender.
• Head lice: A lot of parents are concerned about putting pesticides on their children’s heads. And resistance is a big issue, especially now that pyrethroid-resistant “super lice” are in almost every state. Clinical research has found that neem oil, which is readily available over-the-counter as Lice-Nil, is 100 percent effective for killing lice and nits. Even super lice! Just one 20-minute application and you’re done.
• Ticks: Be sure to check your child’s scalp for ticks. It’s smart to already have a tick removal kit on hand so that any that you find can be removed immediately. Read the instructions because improper removal of a tick increases your child’s risk of infection. Some kits have containers for sending in the ticks to be tested for diseases such as Lyme. Knowing whether or not a tick carried an infectious disease could provide you with extra peace of mind.

You may not be able to monitor every minute of your kids’ school day, but you can be prepared to take swift action should they bring home something other than homework. 

The information on 30Seconds.com is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered medical advice. The information provided through this site should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, and is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult your personal health care provider.