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6 Mistakes People Make When Treating Head Lice

Doctor William C Lloyd Healthgrades Medical Reviewer
Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Written By Jennifer Warner on November 16, 2022
  • Kids Need Plans, Too
    Take Steps to Avoid Reinfestation
    Treating head lice is a tricky job. If you don't follow through on all the steps, the tiny parasites will come back. It helps to know about common mistakes that people make. That way you can treat head lice the right way the first time.
  • Woman in Shower Washing her Hair
    Mistake #1: Not Leaving the Treatment on Long Enough
    Head lice treatments look like a regular shampoo. But, don't use them like a regular shampoo. Medicated lice shampoos contain insecticides. The shampoo must stay on the scalp long enough for the medication to work. Directions on the container will say how long that should be. After that amount of time, rinse off lice treatments with a spray hose or running water from a sink. You want as little skin contact as possible.
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    Mistake #2: Forgetting to Repeat Treatments
    Once is not enough. Treat the scalp again seven to 10 days after you did it the first time. How long you should wait between treatments depends on the product your doctor suggests. Lice treatments may not kill all of the unhatched eggs, called nits, in one application. Repeating the process should kill the lice that hatch after the first treatment. Use a lice comb to remove lice and their nits after each treatment and between treatments.
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    Mistake #3: Using Too Little or Too Much of the Product
    Lice treatment products can be costly. You might be tempted to use less than the amount listed on the directions. Or, you might think that using more of it will do a better job of getting rid of the lice. Both approaches are wrong. Using too much can be dangerous. These products contain insecticides. They can irritate the skin or cause other problems. Using too little won't kill all the lice. It's important to use these products exactly as directed for the best result.
  • family
    Mistake #4: Not Treating the Whole Family
    Lice spread easily from person to person within the same house. If one person is affected, check everyone else in the family right away. Look for lice and their eggs (nits) and treat as needed. Then, re-check everyone every few days after treatment begins. If you find lice or nits, continue with lice treatment and nit combing. When you are finished with treatment, check everyone in the household for lice every week.
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    Mistake #5: Relying on Home Remedies
    Some home remedies for treating lice don't work. Some may be harmful. Remedies that involve alcohol or kerosene are flammable and not recommended. Treatments that use fabric softener, household pesticides, or Listerine can be toxic or cause burns. Remedies that call for applying olive oil, mayonnaise or petroleum jelly and wrapping the head in plastic to suffocate the lice also are dangerous. Children can suffocate, too. Do not use risky home remedies.
  • woman making bed
    Mistake #6: Not Cleaning Up Properly After Infestation
    Head lice can survive for up to two days after they fall off the body. So, you must clean anything the infected person came in contact with. Otherwise, the lice will return. Machine-wash all clothing, linens, pillows, and stuffed animals in hot water. That means 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Dry them on high heat. Place any items that cannot be washed in a sealed plastic bag for two weeks. Disinfect any combs, brushes, and hair accessories. And, vacuum carpets and all upholstered furniture.
6 Mistakes People Make When Treating Head Lice
  1. Controlling Head Lice Guidelines, Utah Department of Health, accessed May 5, 2014 (http://health.utah.gov/epi/diseases/Lice/Control_HL_Guidelines.pdf);
  2. Head Lice, KidsHealth.org, accessed May 5, 2014 (http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/common/head_lice.html#);
  3. Head lice: Tips for preventing. American Academy of Dermatology, accessed May 5, 2014 (http://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/e---h/head-lice/tips);
  4. Parasites -- Lice -- Head Lice: Prevention and Control, CDC, accessed May 5, 2014 (http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/prevent.html);
  5. Treating Head Lice, FDA, accessed May 5, 2014 (http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm171730.htm?utm_campaign=Google2&utm_source=fdaSea...;
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Last Review Date: 2022 Nov 16