Follow these steps to help avoid re—infestation by lice that have recently fallen off the hair or crawled onto clothing or furniture. Each Over-the-counter product approved by the FDA for the treatment of head lice contains one of the following active ingredients.
Always follow the label instructions when administering these medications. If crawling lice are still seen after a full course of treatment contact your health care provider. The following medications, in alphabetical order, approved by the U.
Always follow the instructions of your health care provider when administering these medications. If crawling lice are still seen after a full course of treatment, contact your health care provider.
More on: Malathion. Department of Health and Human Services. Contact Us. What it does involve is the application of a non-toxic product to dry hair Cetaphil-brand gentle skin cleanser , combing out as much as possible, and blowing the hair dry. This is repeated 3 times at one-week intervals.
A study in Pediatrics described the lice-killing protocol and some doctors recommend it. For how-to instructions, visit Nuvo for Head Lice. Dish soap doesn't kill lice. But it does help remove the bug-suffocating glop—salad oil, mayonnaise, hair styling gel, or Vaseline—that moms slather into kids' hair. Dawn dishwashing liquid is said to be good for cutting through the greasy mess left behind.
Some dish soaps supposedly help break down the glue-like substance attaching nits to the hair shaft. Some people believe vinegar will dissolve the sticky glue that the female louse uses to attach her eggs to hair shafts. The acetic acid in vinegar is considered helpful in prepping hair for nit combing after using a bug-killing treatment.
Like many lice home remedies, there's no proven evidence of a clinical benefit. Often, white vinegar is recommended—either straight up or diluted with water. Years ago, when Albano-Krosche's children had lice, she thought her house was infested and went as far as taking the curtains down. Plus, their eggs get cemented to the hair. So you don't need to sterilize the entire house. To prevent re-infection, clean items that have been in recent contact with the infected family members' heads.
Wash bedding, caps, scarves and towels in hot water, and dry on a hot setting. Soak combs and brushes in very hot, soapy hot water. Vacuum floors, pillows, upholstered furniture and car seats. Stow non-washables—a treasured stuffed animal, for example—in a sealed bag for 2 weeks.
Lice are just as happy to invade a squeaky clean head as a dirty one, so frequent washing is no guarantee of preventing an infestation. The best advice is to avoid head-to-head contact. And don't make it easy for them to crawl from one head to the next. Keep long hair in a tight ponytail or braid. Other tips: Don't share combs, brushes, barrettes, hats, scarves or pillows. Albano-Krosche suggests adding a couple drops of an essential oil, such as tea tree oil, to your own grooming products to ward off the bugs.
To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter. Need a nit-picking hand? Hire a de-lousing service to handle the job. The need for effective, non-toxic treatment options has sprouted a whole industry of people who specialize in removing head lice. The National Association of Lice Treatment Professionals was launched in to bring some standards to the industry and in response to complaints from consumers about some of these businesses.
It's probably best to ask friends, neighbors, or the school nurse for recommendations for a reliable service. By Karen Pallarito Updated October 31, Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Save Pin More. Many prescription head lice treatments target nits along with adult head lice. Unfortunately, there is no proven head lice deterrent that will prevent your child from getting head lice again.
The best you can do is stay alert for suspicious head scratching. Not all kids will experience itching right away, but if they have had head lice before, they are more likely to start itching sooner. Catching this behavior early and treating it will help you stop a head lice problem at its roots. Get more back-to-school health tips. Health Home Treatments, Tests and Therapies. These pests are more prevalent in Caucasian children.
They are more frequently found in girls than boys. Step 2: Contain the Problem Once your child comes home with a confirmed case of head lice, take steps to prevent lice from spreading to other family members. Avoid hugging or other close contact. Check other kids and adults in your household for head lice. Also, OTC treatment may fail because of incorrect use, such as not repeating the treatment at an appropriate time. If the correct use of an OTC treatment has failed, your doctor may recommend a prescription treatment.
These include:. If you prefer not to use a medication for treating a head-lice infestation, you may consider an alternative home treatment. There is little to no clinical evidence of the effectiveness of such treatments. Combing wet hair with a fine-toothed nit comb may remove lice and some nits.
Studies show that wet-combing results vary. The hair should be wet, and you should add something to lubricate the hair, such as a hair conditioner or olive oil. Comb the entire head from the scalp to the end of the hair at least twice during a session. The process should be repeated every three to four days for several weeks — at least two weeks after no more lice are found.
Small clinical studies have suggested that some natural plant oils may kill lice by suffocation, but effectiveness is uncertain. These products include:. These products are not required to meet safety, efficacy and manufacturing standards used for drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration FDA , and can sometimes cause allergic reactions.
A number of household products are used to treat head-lice infestations. These products are thought to deprive the lice of air when generous amounts are applied to the hair, covered with a shower cap and left on overnight. Products used for this purpose include:. Another option is a machine that uses one application of hot air in an attempt to kill head lice and their eggs through dehydration. The machine requires special training and is currently available only at professional lice treatment centers.
The machine uses air that is cooler than most hair dryers and at a much higher flow rate to kill the lice by drying them out. A regular hair dryer should not be used to accomplish this result as it's too hot and could burn the scalp. Flammable products, such as kerosene or gasoline, should never be used to kill lice or to remove nits.
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