It can be distressing to discoverhead lice.
However, you could follow some simple steps to effectively treat the lice at home.
This article discusses head lice treatments, including over-the-counter and prescription medication.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
It also looks at-home remedies and complementary medicine.
you might buy these at the drugstore or online.
Nits hatch in seven to 10 days and develop into egg-laying adults in another seven to 10 days.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
You usually have to re-treat with an anti-lice shampoo seven to 10 days after an initial system.
This kills any newly hatched head lice and breaks thislice life cycle.
Many experts recommend doing the second head lice treatment on the ninth day.
Some lice have developed resistance to permethrin.
The effectiveness of this product has been decreasing as resistance grows.
This is a non-toxic form of synthetic silicone oil.
You will continue to remove nits after program of the treatment.
You may have to check each night for a week or more until you get them all.
(More on combing below.)
You shouldn’t use dog shampoo to treat lice on humans.
It’s true that it may contain some of the same active ingredients as some anti-lice shampoos.
However, dog shampoo is not made for and has not been tested on humans.
There is no way to know that it’s safe or that it works.
Cleaning is another important step not to overlook.
Other home remedies have not been proven to be as effective.
Combing and Nit-Picking
You may remove the nits and live lice with a lice comb and tweezers.
For combing after treatment with an anti-lice shampoo, follow the directions.
Do not wash the hair for the recommended length of time (one or two days).
You will do the combing eight to 12 hours after product app.
If you don’t, the eggs will hatch and lice will be present again.
Do the lice combing again two weeks after treatment to ensure the lice are gone.
Some, such as vinegar, can interfere with the residual activity of permethrin.
If so, it may be worth it, especially if it’syouwho has the lice.
Effective self-treatment is nearly impossible.
Lice removal specialists really are pros at making sure every single nit gets picked.
Popular choices include mayonnaise, olive oil, and Vaseline (petroleum jelly).
They can be very messy, though, and have not been proven to work.
They can help determine what the best next treatment for you might be.
Only one app is usually needed.
It is highly flammable because it contains alcohol.
You must not use a hairdryer or smoke while it is being applied or drying.
It’s approved for topical use in children 6 months of age and older.
It works much like permethrin and lingers to have effects on any eggs that hatch.
However, it does need a second app after seven days.
Only one utility is needed.
Ulesfia (benzyl alcohol lotion 5%)
Ulesfia was a non-pesticide prescription treatment for head lice.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
This means they aren’t specifically FDA-approved for treating lice, but they’re often used anyway.
It is given in two doses, seven to 10 days apart.
While these are being researched, the FDA has not approved oral drugs for the treatment of head lice.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Complementary and alternative medicine uses therapies outside of conventional medicine.
These practices and products may sometimes be used along with traditional treatments.
In treating head lice, essential oils are sometimes touted for treating infestations.
To test these claims, some researchers have looked at the effects of different essential oils on lice.
Nerolidol at 1% concentration was able to keep 50% of eggs from hatching after four days.
It should be diluted with a carrier oil or skin lotion.
This is especially true for vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.
The American Academy of Pediatrics cautions against using herbal anti-lice products on infants and children.
Summary
Head lice can often be treated at home with over-the-counter medications.
Home remedies like combing and nit-picking can also remove nits and live lice.
If you are having trouble getting rid of lice, your healthcare provider may suggest a prescription-strength medication.
Essential oils like tea tree oil have been studied for their effects on lice.
However, research is mostly limited to test-tube studies.
More studies are needed to determine the effects on people.
Choosing conventional treatments that are known to work offers your best chance at putting this behind you.
If you’re having trouble getting rid of lice, check with your healthcare provider.
They can give you tips for treating it and help find the medication that will work best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
No.
Post-treatmentscalp itchcan last for weeks after head lice are gone.
Sometimes this is because of irritation to the scalp brought on by scratching.
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