How should my child be treated for head lice?

Your child’s doctor will talk with you about specific care for your child. Some general guidelines to follow include:

• Hair does not need to be shaved. NEVER use kerosene, matches or other harmful products to kill lice.
• Shampoo or rinse your child’s hair with a special anti-lice shampoo or hair rinse to help kill lice and nits. A hair rinse that contains permethrin, called Nix usually works well. Follow the directions on the label or your doctor’s advice for using.
• Wash your child’s hair over a sink. This will help decrease the chance of pesticides (chemicals that kill insects) getting on the rest of your child’s body.
• Protect your child’s eyes.
• Inspect the hair and scalp of other people living in the same house as the child. If lice or nits are seen, they should also be treated.
• Do not use regular shampoo, creams or oils on the hair for 2-3 days. They may interfere with the action of the anti-lice shampoo or rinse.
• Repeat the treatment with the shampoo or rinse in 7-10 days.
• Inspect your child’s scalp and hair well for lice and nits. Be sure to check the hair in a room that has good light and use a magnifying glass if needed.
• Comb through your child’s hair with a metal fine-tooth comb, such as the LiceMeister
• Plastic nit combs do not work well.
• Some parents report good results using oils, such as olive, mineral or cooking oil on the scalp. The use of oils to kill lice has not been scientifically proven. If you choose to use oil, follow these directions:
• Apply oil 2-3 days after using an anti-lice shampoo or rinse. Oils may interfere with the action of the anti-lice shampoo or rinse if used right away.
• Make sure that all the hair is soaked with the oil.
• Cover hair with a towel wrap overnight. You may use a shower cap to cover hair with older children.
• Rinse the oil out with warm water and shampoo. Dawn dishwashing liquid may be used to help get oil out of hair. Protect your child’s eyes from the dishwashing liquid.
• Rinse hair with one-half strength vinegar (half vinegar and half water). This may help loosen nits bonded to the hair.
• Inspect hair well and remove nits with a metal fine-tooth comb.
• DO NOT use the anti-lice shampoo or rinse near the eyes or on the eyelashes.
• If lice or nits are seen on the eyelashes, apply petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline®) to the eyelashes twice a day for one week.