How and When to Treat Head Lice

The first step is to clean your home thoroughly, including rugs and carpets. You should also wash and dry any items that were in contact with the head of the infected person. Items that cannot be washed should be placed in plastic bags and stored in a cool place for at least two weeks. You can also vacuum your home and furniture to remove any remaining eggs and dead lice. Using insecticides or chemical solutions to kill lice is not necessary, as they can be harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

While there are products available on the market that contain active ingredients such as maldison and permethrin, you should make sure your child is comfortable using them. These products can be a bit irritating to the scalp, and should only be used by a qualified healthcare professional. Regardless of what product you choose, make sure you follow all the instructions given by the health care provider, and check whether the lice are dead or not. If you still see them after treatment, contact your health care provider immediately.

The next step is to use a lice comb, which you can purchase online or from a pharmacy. Then, you can use the comb to scrape lice out of your child’s hair. This method can take fifteen minutes or more, depending on the hair length. It’s also important to check your child regularly for two to three weeks after the treatment. You should also treat any objects that may harbor head lice, such as combs or other hair accessories.