How do you treat head lice?
Treatment for head lice includes using over-the-counter medicated or prescription shampoos, lotions or creams that eliminate head lice. Over-the-counter medicated shampoos contain a substance called pyrethrin or permethrin that kill lice and nits.
Lice and nits attach to the strands of your hair and can be hard to remove unless you use a fine-toothed comb to loosen them. After using a comb or brush, soak the comb in hot water for 10 minutes.
Make sure you follow the directions on over-the-counter medicines. The treatment is only successful if you follow the instructions on how to apply the treatment, how long you should leave it in your hair and how often you should repeat the treatment.
Treating resistant “super lice”
Over the years, some lice (called “super lice”) evolved so that the over-the-counter treatments don’t effectively kill the lice. Powerful prescription drugs are available that can eliminate super lice with one dose.
Talk with your healthcare provider if the first treatment for your head lice isn’t working. They’ll make a recommendation if treatment for super lice is necessary.
How do I get rid of head lice with shampoo?
Follow these steps to get rid of head lice with an over-the-counter medicated or prescription shampoo:
- Read the instructions on the treatment label.
- Apply treatment to your scalp and rub the product throughout the hair on your head. Don’t apply the product to other hair on your body.
- Follow the treatment’s recommended instructions for how long you should leave the treatment on your hair before rinsing it out.
- After rinsing the treatment out of your hair, use a fine-tooth comb to remove dead lice and nits.
- Reapply the treatment as advised by the treatment’s instructions or your healthcare provider.
It takes several treatments to completely remove lice and nits from your hair. It could take up to three weeks to get rid of all lice and nits.
Make sure all members of your household check and receive treatment for head lice if one member of your household has head lice, as lice easily spread from person to person.
FAQs
Common signs and symptoms of lice include: Intense itching on the scalp, body or in the genital area. A tickling feeling from movement of hair. The presence of lice on your scalp, body, clothing, or pubic or other body hair.
What are the signs and symptoms of lice? ›
What are the signs and symptoms of head lice?
- Itchy scalp.
- Scratching.
- Crawling sensation.
- Seeing bugs.
- Finding lice eggs (nits).
- Swollen lymph nodes (many people call “glands”) in the neck.
- Pink eye.
What are the symptoms caused by head lice from? ›
Common signs and symptoms of lice include: Intense itching on the scalp, body or in the genital area. A tickling feeling from movement of hair. The presence of lice on your scalp, body, clothing, or pubic or other body hair.
What is the main cause of head lice? ›
A person gets head lice because the insects crawl from person to person by direct contact or by sharing items — including combs, brushes and hats — with another person who has head lice. Poor hygiene doesn't cause head lice.
What happens to your head when you have lice? ›
Symptoms of head lice include: Very bad itching of the scalp. Small, red bumps on the scalp, neck, and shoulders (bumps may become crusty and ooze) Tiny white specks (eggs, or nits) on the bottom of each hair that are hard to get off.
What is the treatment for lice? ›
Permethrin (Nix).
Permethrin is a synthetic version of pyrethrin, which is a chemical compound extracted from the chrysanthemum flower. Permethrin is toxic to lice. Before using permethrin, wash your child's hair with shampoo but not conditioner.
How quickly do lice symptoms start? ›
How soon do symptoms appear after exposure? Some people may not have symptoms, particularly with the first infestation or when the infestation is light. It may take 4-6 weeks for itching to appear the first time a person has head lice.
What happens if you have head lice for too long? ›
If you have untreated head lice, a bacterial infection requiring antibiotics can result. In rare, severe cases , head lice and nits can lead to iron deficiency anemia due to blood loss. An unchecked infestation can also spread to your eyebrows and eyelashes, although this is rare.
What are the symptoms of super lice? ›
Symptoms of super lice
- itching on the ears and neck.
- tickling sensation from lice movement in your hair.
- presence of lice or nit eggs on your clothes.
- red bumps on your scalp, neck, or shoulders.
- irritability.
What comes first with 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.
Most commonly, head lice are spread by direct head-to-head contact with an infested person. They may also be spread by sharing personal items such as combs, brushes, other hair-care items, towels, pillows, hats, and other head coverings. Dogs, cats, and other pets do not spread head lice.
Can lice go away on their own? ›
Lice are parasites that feed on human blood and can be found on people's bodies. There are treatments for the itching caused by lice bites but they do not get rid of the infestation. Lice will not go away on their own. The infestation needs to be treated.
Where do head lice come from in the first place? ›
Researchers are unsure where lice originated, but they know that lice have affected primates for at least 25 million years, eventually spreading to humans. Head lice only affect humans, and they will not jump onto pets or other animals. Lice can also travel on objects that have touched the head.
What kills lice and eggs instantly? ›
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). Children aged 6 months and older can use this product.
How long are lice contagious? ›
What makes someone contagious with head lice is having a mature, egg-laying adult female louse on your head that could travel to another head. After the first treatment, when the egg-laying lice are eliminated, you are no longer contagious.
Can having head lice make you sick? ›
With careful treatment, all lice and nits (lice eggs) are usually killed. There are no lasting problems from having head lice. They do not carry any diseases. They do not make your child feel sick.
How can I tell if I have lice by myself? ›
Look for lice crawling on the scalp where the hair is parted or on the hair shaft. The lice will be dark in color and the size of a poppyseed. Look for nits near hair follicle about ¼ inch from scalp. Nits (eggs) will be white or yellowish-brown.
What do you see first with lice? ›
Even though they're tiny, you can see head lice. Here's what to look for: Lice eggs (nits). These look like tiny yellow, tan, or brown dots before they hatch.
What can be mistaken for head lice? ›
Dandruff, hair casts, globules of hair spray, and scalp conditions such as psoriasis or eczema may easily be mistaken for nits.
What does lice start out looking like? ›
Once the eggs hatch, lice are known as nymphs, an immature form of the parasite that is grayish tan in color. After nine to 12 days the nymphs mature into adults, the average size of which is roughly 2–3 millimeters, or about the size of a sesame seed.