Does Chlorine Kill Head Lice?

While swimming in a pool can be effective for killing lice, this chemical is not effective on the scalp. These pests live for long periods of time and are extremely resilient. In addition to water and chlorine, other chemicals can pose health risks. Even though swimming in a swimming pool is effective, if it contains high levels of chlorine, it won’t kill head lice.

While swimming in chlorinated water can kill adult lice, it won’t kill eggs or nits. In fact, some studies have found that swimming in chlorinated water did not kill the lice at all. Instead, the lice were immobile for one minute and recovered after they were out of the water.

Another chemical that kills lice is hydrogen peroxide. This chemical is found in many hair dyes. However, while hydrogen peroxide kills adult lice, it doesn’t kill nits or nymphs. Moreover, mixing chlorine with OTC lice treatments may have dangerous side effects.

Unlike other treatments, a doctor-designed treatment is the most effective way to kill head lice. If your child has head lice, it’s best to keep them from sleeping with other children, so they can avoid getting infested. It’s also important to wash their combs, brushes, hats, and pillowcases in hot water. After washing, dry them in the dryer for 15 minutes or place them in an airtight plastic bag for a few days.