Head lice: how to treat it at home and stop it coming back

How to tell if it is head lice

Itching is a common sign, but it is not proof. The only sure sign is finding a live louse.

• Lice are small greyish-brown insects, up to about 3 mm long, close to the scalp.
• Nits are the eggs or empty egg cases. They are white or brown, stuck firmly to the hair near the root, and do not brush off like dandruff.
• Check behind the ears and at the back of the neck first, where lice often gather.

The easiest way to check is with a fine-toothed detection comb on wet hair with conditioner.

How lice spread and how long they last

Lice crawl. They cannot jump or fly. They spread mainly through direct hair-to-hair contact, and less often through shared combs, hair ties, scarves, headphones or pillows.

• Eggs take around a week to hatch.
• Young lice take around another week to become adults that can lay eggs.
• Lice that fall off the head die within about two days.

This life cycle is why a single treatment is often not enough. A second round, timed to catch newly hatched lice, is what stops them coming back.

Option 1: wet combing

Wet combing uses no chemicals and suits all ages. It takes patience, especially with long or curly hair. International recommendations from a panel of head lice experts, published in the International Journal of Dermatology, support combing wet hair with conditioner. The usual steps are:

1. Wash the hair with ordinary shampoo.
2. Apply plenty of conditioner.
3. Comb the whole head in sections, from the roots to the ends, with a fine-toothed detection comb.
4. Wipe the comb on a tissue after each stroke and look for lice.
5. Go through the whole head a second time.

Repeat on days 1, 5, 9 and 13, then check again on day 17. Allow about 10 minutes for short hair and up to 30 minutes for long or curly hair. A wide-toothed comb and hair clips make sectioning easier.

Option 2: lice treatment sprays and lotions

If wet combing has not worked or is not practical, a medicated spray or lotion is the next step. Many work by coating the lice rather than acting as an insecticide. Lice should die within a day.

• Follow the pack instructions exactly, including how long to leave it on.
• Check the minimum age on the pack before using it on a young child.
• Many products need a second application about a week later to catch newly hatched lice.
• Keep combing to remove dead lice and nits.

Many parents search for an anti lice shampoo or a lice shampoo in Dubai. Shampoos are available, but the same international recommendations note that lotions and gels tend to work better, because shampoos are diluted with water during use. Ask a pharmacist which product suits your child's age and hair type.

How to stop lice coming back

There is no way to fully prevent head lice, but you can lower the chance of a repeat round.

• Check everyone at home and treat anyone with live lice on the same day.
• Do a weekly comb check during term time, especially after school trips or sleepovers.
• Tie back long hair for school.
• Avoid sharing combs, brushes, hair ties, scarves and headphones.
• Clean combs and brushes in very hot water.
• Skip the deep clean. Washing bedding and clothes used in the two days before treatment, or sealing items in a bag for two weeks, is enough. Sprays and fogs for the home are not needed.

Do not use lice treatments to prevent lice. They can irritate the scalp.

Your child does not need to miss school because of head lice. It is kind to let the class teacher know, so other parents can check too.