Do you need to know how to get rid of lice? Getting rid of lice can be a challenging process, but it’s important to take immediate action to prevent the spread of infestation. Here are the steps to effectively eliminate lice:
Confirm the Presence of Lice
Look for live lice or their eggs (nits) in the hair. Nits are tiny, oval-shaped eggs that are usually found close to the scalp, attached to individual hair strands.
Use an Over-the-Counter (OTC) Lice Treatment
Purchase a lice treatment product (aff link) from your local pharmacy or follow the recommendations of a healthcare professional. Common OTC treatments contain active ingredients like pyrethrin or permethrin, which are effective against lice. Follow the instructions on the product carefully, including the recommended application time and any necessary precautions.
Apply the Treatment
Apply the lice treatment to dry hair, ensuring that it covers the entire scalp and hair shafts. Massage it in thoroughly, paying close attention to the back of the head and behind the ears. Leave the product on for the specified amount of time recommended on the packaging.
Comb Out the Lice and Nits
After the recommended treatment time, use a fine-toothed comb, known as a lice comb, to carefully comb out the dead lice and nits. Start from the scalp and comb all the way to the ends of the hair. Wipe the comb onto a paper towel or tissue after each stroke to remove any lice or nits.
Repeat the Treatment
It’s essential to follow up with a second treatment, usually around 7-10 days after the initial treatment, to kill any lice that may have hatched from surviving eggs. This step is crucial to break the lice life cycle. Make sure to read the instructions on the product for guidance on the timing of the second treatment.
Wash Infested Items
Wash all recently worn clothing, bedding, hats, and other items that may have come into contact with lice or their eggs. Use hot water (at least 130°F or 54°C) and a high heat drying cycle to kill any lice or nits.
Vacuum the Environment
Vacuum upholstered furniture, rugs, and car seats to remove any potential lice or nits that may have fallen off the infested person. Focus on areas where the infested individual spends a significant amount of time.
Check for Reinfestation
Keep an eye on the person’s hair and scalp to ensure that the lice infestation is completely gone. Check for lice and nits regularly and continue combing the hair with a lice comb. It’s important to inform close contacts, such as family members or schoolmates, so they can check for lice and take necessary precautions.
Avoid Reinfestation
To prevent reinfestation, wash or dry-clean recently worn clothing and bedding, avoid sharing combs, brushes, hats, or other hair accessories, and encourage family members or close contacts to be checked for lice.
Follow Up with a Healthcare Professional
If OTC treatments don’t eliminate the lice infestation, or if the infested person has any skin irritation or infection, consult a healthcare professional for further advice and treatment options.
Educating family members and practicing good hygiene can help prevent future infestations. If the over-the-counter treatments don’t seem to be effective, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare professional for further guidance and potential prescription treatments.
This is so helpful. Will share this with my MIL so she can get rid of the lice on my niece.
Fortunately, I have never had to deal with this problem but I have friends who have school-aged children so they have gone through this. I will make sure they see this.
Lice is so hard to take care of once someone has it and it spreads so easily. Thanks for the tips!
I have read that lice is hard to get rid of. I will be saving this for just in case.
I am afriad to core of Lice and Bedbugs. Its very hard to get rid of them. Even after getting rid of the lice the nits are hard to get rid of, and you need to be very specific and careful and regular.
We had a lice alert at school once. I informed myself and I understood that it can be a big problem. That’s why your tips can help to make it a little bit easier!
These are great tips that I will be sharing with my niece, they just had a lice alert at school. It can be a big problem if you don’t take control of it.
I really like the tips you have provided here and I think they are very helpful. thanks for sharing!
Lice can be such a nuance, and I feel bad for the people that end up with them because I can imagine how embarrassed they might feel. Thankfully it has gotten easier to both avoid and treat over the years and your post pretty well summed up the best practices of getting rid of them!
*nuisance
My daughter caught lice in elementary school & it was horrible! Fortunately we used an over-the-counter treatment and it worked.
Lice seems to be making its way around the schools again. It is good to be prepared with a plan.
Back when I was in elementary, we used the comb and a special kind of shampoo.They both worked.
I was the kid who caught headpiece when I was in kindergarten. It went though the classroom and what a stressful thing to have to deal with. Makes me itchy thinking about it 😉