Summer adventures can leave kids with great memories, and sometimes an unwelcome souvenir: head lice. Every year, between 6 and 12 million children get them.
“The good news is that head lice don’t spread disease,” said Catherine Roberts, with Consumer Reports. “But treating them the right way can save you a lot of time and frustration.”
An itchy scalp could be an early warning sign. In bright light, carefully check the hair and scalp, especially behind the ears and near the back of the neck.
Look for live, crawling lice about the size of a sesame seed. You may also see nits, or eggs, firmly attached to individual strands of hair close to the scalp.
If you see them, think carefully about the treatment plan.
“Over-the-counter products like permethrin are unlikely to offer much relief because most lice are now resistant to those chemicals, and prescription pesticide treatments can have concerning side effects,” Roberts said.
Wet combing with a fine-toothed metal nit or flea comb is one of the most effective treatments. Wash hair first, apply conditioner or olive oil, then comb in small sections close to the scalp, and wipe the comb clean after each pass. Keep going until you don’t find any more, then rinse the hair.
This combing method can potentially damage curly or textured hair. To make combing easier, gently blow-dry after applying conditioner.
Prescription Spinosad or over-the-counter topical Ivermectin are also effective alternatives to Permethrin treatments.
“A good rule of thumb is to continue combing for two weeks after the last adult louse is found,” Roberts said.
And don’t waste time deep cleaning your entire house. Lice can’t survive very long away from a person’s head. Just wash clothing and bedding in hot water.
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