Head Lice: Care Instructions (2024)

Head Lice: Care Instructions (1)

Overview

Head lice are tiny bugs that can live in your hair and on your head. Live lice are tan to greyish white. They're about the size of a sesame seed. It may be easiest to find them on the back of the neck at the hairline or behind the ears. When you have lice, all people living in your home need to be carefully checked and then treated if they have it.

Lice eggs (nits) may be easier to see than live lice. They look like tiny yellow or white dots attached to the hair, close to the scalp. Nits can look like dandruff. But you can't pick them off with your fingernail or brush them away.

Lice aren't dangerous. They don't spread disease or have anything to do with how clean someone is. The lice may make your head itch. This is because of your body's reaction to the lice bites.

You can treat lice and their eggs with over-the-counter medicines. After treatment, your skin may still itch for a week or more.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

How can you care for yourself at home?

  • Use an over-the-counter medicine to kill lice. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you choose a medicine that is safe.
  • Follow the directions that come with the medicine carefully. Some medicines should only be used once. Others require a second treatment 7 to 9 days after the first treatment. Don't use more medicine than you should or two medicines at the same time.
  • Do not shampoo or condition your hair before you use the medicine. It's best to wait 1 to 2 days after you use the medicine before washing your hair.
  • To rinse out the medicine, use warm (not hot) water. Make sure to wash out the medicine over the sink instead of the shower. This helps to avoid some of the medicine coming into contact with your skin.
  • Check your scalp for live, active lice 12 hours after treatment. If you find some, talk to your doctor. You may need a different type of treatment.
  • Try wet-combing, which may help remove lice and nits. Use a comb with teeth that are close together. A flea comb that's made for dogs and cats will also work. Wet the hair. Comb all of the hair very carefully. Combing needs to be done over and over.
  • Try not to scratch. Scratching can cause sores on the scalp, which can lead to an infection. It may help to use an over-the-counter anti-itch cream to calm the itching. If the itching is really bad, ask the doctor about an over-the-counter antihistamine. Read and follow all instructions on the label.

How can you help prevent them?

  • Check everyone in your home for lice. If your child shares a bed with someone, the other person should be treated too. (Don't worry about pets. They can't get lice.)
  • Teach your children not to share anything that comes into contact with hair. For example, don't share hair bands, towels, helmets, hats, combs, or brushes.
  • You don't need to spend a lot of time or money deep cleaning your home. But it's a good idea to:
    • Soak hairbrushes, combs, barrettes, and other items for 10 minutes in hot water.
    • Machine-wash clothes, bedding, towels, and hats that touched the head in the last 2 days in hot water. Dry them in a hot dryer. If you don't have access to a washing machine or if items can't be washed or dried, store these items in a sealed plastic bag for 14 days.
    • Vacuum carpets, mattresses, couches, and other upholstered furniture.

When should you call for help?

Head Lice: Care Instructions (2)

Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:

  • You have a sore on your scalp and you think it might be infected. Signs of an infection include:
    • Increased pain, warmth, or redness around the sore.
    • Red streaks coming from the sore.
    • A fever.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if:

  • You see live lice or new nits after you have followed the directions for your medicine.

Where can you learn more?

Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd

Enter R349 in the search box to learn more about "Head Lice: Care Instructions".

Current as of: March 21, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Head Lice: Care Instructions (2024)

FAQs

How do you treat lice step by step? ›

These steps may help you get rid of lice:
  1. Check other household members for lice and nits. Treat anyone who has signs of lice.
  2. Use lotions and shampoos. Choose from among several nonprescription lotions and shampoos designed to kill lice. ...
  3. Comb wet hair. ...
  4. Wash items. ...
  5. Seal unwashable items. ...
  6. Vacuum. ...
  7. Wash combs and brushes.
Jun 30, 2022

What are the guidelines for treatment of head lice? ›

If your child has head lice, the best way to get rid of the lice is to comb their hair every day with a nit comb for two weeks. Nit combs should be metal (not plastic) and have long teeth. Several brands of nit combs are available at your local pharmacy. Metal flea combs found at pet stores may be used as well.

What happens if you leave lice shampoo on too long? ›

But for best results, try using lice shampoo as directed. Applying it 2 days in a row or leaving it on overnight won't make the treatment any more effective — but it may irritate your scalp.

How many times do you have to treat your hair for head lice? ›

Many lice medicines recommend a second treatment in 9 to 10 days. This will kill any new nymphs that have hatched since the first treatment. Do not treat a person more than 2 times with the same medicine without talking to your doctor.

What is the proper treatment for head lice? ›

Spinosad (Natroba).

Spinosad is approved for adults and children age 6 months and older. It can be applied to dry hair and rinsed with warm water after 10 minutes. It kills lice and nits and usually doesn't need repeated treatment.

What kills lice immediately? ›

Washing, soaking, or drying items at a temperature greater than 130°F can kill both head lice and nits. Dry cleaning also kills head lice and nits.

What is the most effective head lice treatment? ›

Lice treatment medications

Your doctor might prescribe one of these drugs to deal with lice. Ivermectin (Sklice). This lotion kills most head lice, even newly hatched ones, with just one use. You don't need to comb out lice eggs (nits).

What are the CDC guidelines for head lice? ›

Key points
  • You can examine a person or child's head for head lice infestation.
  • Either prescription or over-the-counter medications can treat head lice infestation.
  • If a child has head lice, they do not need to leave school early. Once they start treatment at home, they can return to school.
Feb 21, 2024

How long is quarantine for lice? ›

In the past, kids with head lice were kept home from school. But now doctors don't recommend these "no-nit" policies. In most cases, a child who has lice should stay at school until the end of the day, go home and get treatment, and return to school the next day.

Do dead lice fall out of hair? ›

The female louse secretes this glue-like substance when she lays her eggs to protect them until they hatch. The glue hardens upon secretion and does not dissipate when a nit dies. For that reason, dead lice remain cemented onto the hair shaft until you manually or chemically remove them or the hair grows out.

Can lice be killed with hair dryer? ›

There are many ways to eliminate lice, one of which is heat. Heat must be above 130°F (54°C) for more than 5 minutes to kill lice. But at that length of time, the heat from a blow-dryer could burn the scalp. Medications and topical shampoos are available over the counter and with a prescription to eliminate lice.

Do nits pop when they are dead? ›

Head lice eggs are small (the size of a pinhead) and oval. A live egg will 'pop' when squashed between fingernails. Dead eggs have crumpled sides and hatched eggs look like tiny boiled eggs with their tops cut off. To optimise treatment remove as many eggs as possible.

Do I have to wash everything after head lice? ›

Wash all clothing and bedding your child has used. Wash in hot water and dry on a hot cycle. The heat will help kill off any living lice. Stuffed animals, pillows, and other items that cannot be washed easily can go in the dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes.

How do you know when all head lice are gone? ›

You shouldn't see any crawling head lice after the first treatment if you applied it correctly. If you are still seeing live crawlers, then you may have missed a step or the treatment is not effective against the type of lice your child has.

Why do I still have lice after 2 treatments? ›

Treatment Didn't Work

Over-the-counter lice treatments and prescription ones kill live lice and their eggs (nits), but they might not catch all of them. Because of the life cycle of lice, over-the-counter and prescription treatments may require two treatments, 7-9 days apart.

What is the first line treatment for lice? ›

TREATMENT OF PUBIC AND BODY LICE

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends permethrin 1% lotion or pyrethrins 0.3%/piperonyl butoxide 4% shampoo as the first-line agent, and malathion 0.5% lotion or oral ivermectin as an alternative.

What is the best way to treat your house for lice? ›

How to Get Rid of Lice in Your Home
  1. Use heat. Wash any items used or worn by the person in hot water, and dry them on high heat. ...
  2. Bag items in plastic. If you can't toss the items into the washer and dryer, seal them in a plastic bag for 2 weeks.
  3. Vacuum. ...
  4. Clean hair tools. ...
  5. Don't use insecticide fogs or sprays.
Jan 30, 2024

What are the stages of head lice? ›

A louse goes through three stages: Eggs that hatch after 6 to 9 days. Nymphs, immature forms of the louse that become mature adults after 9 to 12 days. Adult lice, which can live for 3 to 4 weeks.

What is the best method for head lice? ›

Lice and nits can be removed by wet combing. You can buy a special fine-toothed comb (detection comb) online or from pharmacies to remove head lice and nits. There may be instructions on the pack, but usually you: wash hair with ordinary shampoo.

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