How to Prevent and Treat Head Lice
Head lice is a condition that is more commonly found in children. It occurs when lice or the eggs of lice, nits, have infested your scalp and hair. There are things you can do to prevent head lice. Head lice is a treatable condition that can take 10 days or longer to clear.
Things You'll Need
- Plastic bag
- Fine-tooth comb
- Head lice treatment (such as LiceMD, RID or Nix)
- Bobby pins
- Paper towel
Instructions
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Avoid direct head-to-head contact to prevent head lice. Also, do not use or share items that may come in contact with someone else's head.
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Wash all clothing and linens that come in contact with one's head in hot water. If items are not washable, and you believe the items have come in contact with someone who has head lice, put the items in a plastic bag and seal it closed for two weeks to kill lice and nits.
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Apply LiceMD to dry hair and scalp and behind the ears, and massage it in until hair is thoroughly wet. Wait 10 minutes then use a fine-tooth comb to separate hair into quarters of 1 inch. Run the comb through each section from the root to the tip of the hair. Wipe off the gel, lice and nits from the comb and pin up each completed section of hair. Wash head and hair thoroughly with your regular shampoo in warm water and blow dry hair. Inspect scalp and hair every day for 10 days. If you see lice or nits, repeat the application of LiceMD.
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Purchase RID, a lice treatment shampoo, as an alternative treatment option. Refer to the packaging to determine what amount to apply based on your hair length. Apply it to dry hair, from the root to the end of hair. Thoroughly massage in the shampoo to fully cover the scalp, all parts of hair and behind the ears and nape of the neck. Let the product sit for 10 minutes, then lather and rinse all covered areas thoroughly with warm water. Run the fine-tooth comb through each section to remove lice or nits. Repeat the application of RID in seven to 10 days.
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Wash hair with shampoo only (no conditioner); thoroughly rinse and towel dry hair. Shake the bottle of Nix Creme Rinse then apply to scalp, hair, behind the ear and back of the neck, thoroughly saturating these areas. Allow to sit for 10 minutes then rinse with warm water. Towel dry and detangle hair. Section off the hair and run a fine-tooth comb from the root to tip of hair. Repeat hair sectioning and combing if nits are still visible. If lice or nits are still present seven days after the first application of Nix Creme Rinse, reapply.
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Tips & Warnings
If head lice and nits continue to appear after two weeks with head lice treatment applied, consult your doctor for a prescription medication.
Many over-the-counter head lice treatments may contain pesticides or other chemicals that can harm one's health. LiceMD is a pesticide-free treatment and does not contain dyes, perfumes or harsh chemicals. It is a product approved for use on all ages. RID's lice killing shampoo contain piperonyl butoxide and pyrethrum extract as active ingredients. It is a product approved for use on adults and children two years and older. Nix Creme Rinse's active ingredient is permethrin. It is a product approved for use on children as young as two months old.
References
Resources
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