Lice are a common problem for children in the U.S. and abroad, but not all lice treatments are created equal. This website is dedicated to exploring different treatment options for people who have discovered they have lice or simply want to be informed on the different ways to get rid of lice.
Lice are tiny insects that feed on human blood and live on the scalp of the infected person. Lice eggs attach themselves to hair follicles and the nits (eggs) hatch within 7-10 days after being laid. The nymphs (baby lice) mature into adult lice within 7-10 days. An adult louse can survive up to 30 days on a human head.
It’s that time of year! Lice are getting passed around schools and camps. So, how do you get rid of lice?
There are a lot of options for lice treatment. It can be expensive (and stressful) to treat lice by using over-the-counter products or hiring a professional nitpicker. Here are some different ways to get rid of lice:
Over-the-counter treatments
Over-the counter treatments are chemical based products that kill the live lice. These products include Rid and Nix. It is recommended you follow the instructions carefully and pay close attention after using the product to make sure the product worked. These products should not be used on children under 2 years old unless directed by your physician.
Vinegar Rinse
Some people say that rinsing hair with vinegar will get rid of lice. There is no scientific data that suggests vinegar works. If you want to try it, mix half water, half vinegar and rinse hair with it every night for 1 week. The smell may be unpleasant, so you may want to add essential oils or rosemary leaves to the mixture.
Essential Oils
Some people say that essential oils such as tea tree oil and eucalyptus
Please help me get rid of lice!
I’m drowning in hair products, combs, and sprays. I have a head lice infestation and I need to treat my family right away.
I’ve read about other treatments for head lice but am not sure what will work for us. They seem like chemical nightmares. Are there any treatments that are safe? Please help!
The head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis (De Geer, 1767), is a tiny, wingless parasite that lives among human hairs and feeds exclusively on blood.
Head lice are a common problem through out the world. It is estimated that six to twelve million infestations occur each year in the United States among children 3 to 11 years of age.
Most people do not realize how easy it is to get head lice. Most cases occur by direct head to head contact with an infested person. Head lice move by crawling; they can not hop or fly. Spread by contact with clothing (such as hats, scarves, coats) or other personal items (such as combs, brushes or towels) used by an infested person is uncommon.
Screen for head lice regularly especially if you have children! Checking for head lice can be done easily at home with a comb-out method which involves separating the hair into small sections and carefully looking for nits and live bugs.
Here at HowToGetRidOfLiceGuide we have a team of researchers who have successfully helped many people from different parts of the globe get rid of their lice problems.
Lice are nothing to be ashamed of. It is not a sign of poor hygiene, and it doesn’t mean you are “dirty”. Lice infestation is so common that it’s estimated that 6-12 million children in the United States get lice every year.
If you suspect your child has lice, you should check right away as lice spread quickly. Here are some things that you can do to check your family for lice:
Have everyone sit on a white sheet or towel while you look through their hair. If your child has long hair, have them wrap their hair in a bun on top of their head before checking.
Use a nit comb (we recommend the Nit Free Terminator comb for this) to go through each section of hair where there is suspected nits or lice.
Check all over the head including behind ears and especially at the nape of the neck.
Examine the comb after every stroke – if there are any nits or bugs on it, drop them into a bowl of water to drown them before continuing.
When done with one person, clean the comb with rubbing alcohol or soap and hot water and lay it flat to dry out of reach so that no one will use it again until after treatment has
There is no treatment or vaccine for lice. They are killed through a process called pediculocidal. This process requires the use of an over-the-counter insecticide shampoo that is designed to kill lice and their eggs. The key is to use the shampoo exactly as directed, which usually means applying the product and leaving it on for a specified amount of time before rinsing it off. There are other products like combs, mousses, and creams that can be used along with the shampoo. These products help to remove dead lice and eggs from the hair.
If you don’t kill all of the lice and eggs, you will get head lice again. That’s why it’s important to read the instructions on the package carefully, and follow them exactly.
There are four different types of lice treatment, which include a combination of over-the-counter and prescription medications. The most common types of lice treatment are chemical treatments and natural head lice treatments.
Chemical Treatments
Chemical treatments are the most popular form of treatment for head lice. There are many brands available to choose from, so it’s important to talk with your doctor about which one is right for you and your family. The chemical treatments may be used alone or in combination with other treatments such as vacuuming or washing clothing at high temperatures.
Prescription Treatments
There are several prescription medications that can be used for head lice. These include permethrin (Nix), ivermectin (Sklice), and benzyl alcohol (Ulesfia). All of these drugs are applied directly to the scalp and left on for a certain amount of time before being washed out with shampoo. They have been shown to kill both adult lice and their eggs, but they do not always work on all types of lice, so it is important to talk with your doctor about which one might work best for you and your child.
