Once lice have been identified, prompt treatment is the key to effective control. Medicated shampoos, lotions and gels are available both over-the-counter (nonprescription) and from physicians (prescription). A lice shampoo is applied to the hair for 10 minutes, washed or rinsed out followed by a special lice removal comb to remove dead lice and their eggs. A commercial liquid solution of Clear Lice-Egg Remover is marketed to loosen the attached nits from the hair strands so that removal by comb is much easier. Some lice treatment kits contain a 5X magnifier to easily see the lice and nits to avoid misdiagnosis of dandruff and hair spray globlets. Since lice eggs are not always killed, re-treatment may be made in seven to ten days to kill any newly emerging lice.

Shampoo with coconut-oil or olive-oil shampoo, such as Condition 3 in 1, Rave, St. Ives Swiss, or V05. Coconut and olive oils will kill lice. Rinse with water only as hot as the child can tolerate.

Shampoo again, leaving the lather on for 15 minutes with a towel around the head. Read or provide interesting activity.

Comb to get out snarls and suds. Then, with a nit comb under good lighting, comb one-inch-wide sections of hair, starting at the scalp where eggs are laid. Keep hair wet, clipping finished sections aside. Clean the comb often with tissue, placing soiled tissues in a bowl of soapy water to dispose of in the toilet. Nit combs are available at most pharmacies.

When all the hair has been combed, rinse well with tolerably hot water. Heat with kill lice.

Dry hair. Check for stray nits or the grey to yellow eggs. Remove with tweezers or comb.

Soak comb 15 minutes in 2 cups of hot soapy water with one teaspoon of ammonia or boil metal comb for 15 minutes. Clean with floss or old toothbrush.

Repeat weekly, more often if necessary, for three to four weeks. Check often.

Wash clothes and bedding in hot water or place in a hot dryer for 30 minutes. BY SHAMPOOING AND CHECKING HEADS OFTEN AND BY TEACHING CHILDREN NOT TO SHARE HATS AND COMBS, YOU CAN HELP PREVENT HEAD LICE.

Discontinue use at the earliest sign of treatment failure. Switch to a different product. Do not continue using the same product in hope of killing the lice. Remember lice treatment products are pesticides. Repeated use or increasing the dose could pose health risks.

Never resort to dangerous remedies such as lindane, kerosene or pet shampoos.

Never use lice spray or flea and tick sprays. The household sprays marketed for treating bedding, cars, rugs, garments and furniture are unnecessary. Vacuuming is a safe and effective alternative to spraying. Parents need not exhaust their physical and emotional selves by obsessive housecleaning and treatment.

Manual removal (physical control) is crucial when lice treatment products have failed. Use safety scissors to snip out individual hairs with attached nits. Nit combing doesn’t always remove nits, but it can work to comb out lice. Head lice move quickly throughout the head and it is helpful to have at least two people checking an infested person at the same time. Methods to help remove lice include tweezers, fingernails and double-sided tape. Manual removal is tedious and is not considered to be the total solution. It is, however, the only alternative available at this time and serves as a stopgap measure.

Continue to check your children for lice often. Early detection and screening for lice and nits are the best ways to manage an infestation