How to get rid of head lice
Follow all the guidelines, or lice may come back.
Head lice are common with school-age children. If you don't use the right medicine given to you by your doctor and follow all the guidelines, they may come back.
Who needs to be checked?
Everyone who lives in the same household. If one person in the household gets lice, it's important for everyone to be checked. All household items should also be cleaned at the same time.
What needs to be cleaned?
You will need to clean well anything that may have come in contact with the person’s head within two days of finding the lice, such as:
- Hats
- Scarves
- Pillow cases
- Bedding
- Clothing
- Towels
- Combs
- Brushes
How should items be cleaned?
You can kill lice and lice eggs by washing items in hot water in a laundry machine and then drying them in a hot dryer. Be sure the temperature is at least 128.3 degrees Fahrenheit for five minutes or more.
If there are household items you have concerns about you can’t put in a washer, you can:
- Dry-clean items
- Seal items tightly in a plastic bag for two weeks
Remember, you may not be able to see all the lice and lice eggs, so be sure to clean everything well.
How do you get lice off someone's head?
Basic guidelines:
- Remember, clothing could get stained while you’re using the special shampoo, so you may want to change clothes first.
- Make sure whatever medicine or shampoo you’re using covers the entire head.
- You will need to use a comb to run through the hair to be sure to get all the lice out, especially with longer hair.
- Any clothing the person had on before you put the medicine in the hair should be removed and washed because it could have lice on it.
- Usually, you will need to wait 8 to 12 hours and then check the person’s head for lice.
- If you find more lice, you will need to repeat the steps above.
- It’s best to repeat these steps for two to three days until you’re sure you found all the lice.
- Keep checking the heads of everyone in the household over the next two to three weeks.
Your doctor may tell you to use medicine and a special kind of shampoo. Be sure to follow all the guidelines from your doctor and on the medicine.
Will more medicine kill more lice?
No. You should follow the guidelines given to you by your doctor and those that come with the medicine. Using more may cause problems and not help the situation.
Head lice medicine should never get in the eyes. If it does get in the eyes, call your doctor right away. If you follow all the guidelines and the medicine doesn't seem to work, be sure to let your doctor know.
Source
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for professional health care. You should consult an appropriate health care professional for your specific needs.