Cultivating Calm in the Chaos of Life (and Lice)

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A woman combing for lice. “Mommy, my head is itchy.” Words no mom wants to hear.

But it’s back-to-school season, which means it’s also peak time for (let’s all cringe together) lice.

Head lice (pediculosis capitis) is a very common cause of itchy scalp in children. It’s a condition that affects children worldwide, across all socioeconomic groups,” explains Dr. Margo Lederhandler, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Rye.

I’m a therapist who works with various moms, but all would agree that they are anxious about lice!

While we consider lice pretty gross, they’re more of an inconvenience than a cause for concern. Lice are contagious and spread mainly by person-to-person contact (lice don’t fly or jump), so they spread quickly among children who live in close quarters, like at sleepaway camp or between kids and their parents.

“It’s important to treat head lice to prevent a vicious cycle of spread inside the home and among close contacts,” encourages Dr. Lederhandler. “Everyone who lives in the home, adults and children, should be checked if anyone at home has it. School or camp should also be notified to check close contacts.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll take care of you.” Words every mom wants to hear.

Such is the motto of The Lice Lady of Westchester in White Plains, a head lice removal salon founded by Anna Krosche in 1998. A local mom who struggled to find adequate treatment for lice when her kids were exposed years ago, Anna now employs a staff of several experienced moms and grandmas who make every worried parent (and their itchy kid) feel cared for and calm.

You can also visit Lice Free Noggins, Lice Clinics or America, or Lice Doctors.

“It’s important to see your pediatrician or a dermatologist if you’ve tried to treat it with an over-the-counter topical pediculicide (a medication that kills lice) or wet combing without success,” reminds Dr. Lederhandler, who notes that a prescription may be required.

If you or your kids get lice, inform the school and ask that they send appropriate communication to stop the spread sooner rather than later. Do not panic—help is available!

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Lauren Tetenbaum
Lauren A. Tetenbaum, LCSW, JD, PMH-C is a writer and social worker specializing in supporting millennial and young women through life transitions. She is also Mommy to Luke (2016) and Eva (2018). Lauren grew up in Manhattan and moved to Scarsdale in 2020, her first-ever venture into non-city-living (and she loves it!). Through her counseling practice (The CounseLaur), Lauren provides therapy in NY, NJ, CT, and FL, facilitates groups and workshops to empower postpartum and other women in corporate settings, and contributes to media on topics like maternal mental health, gender equity, and working parenthood. Lauren’s additional interests include early aughts pop culture, movie theater snacks, and the color pink. Her first book, about preparing millennials for menopause, will be available in 2025.

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