How can you quickly treat lice at home? - briefly
Use a 1 % permethrin shampoo, apply to wet hair, leave for 10 minutes, rinse, and repeat after seven days. Follow with a fine‑toothed lice comb on damp hair to remove remaining nits.
How can you quickly treat lice at home? - in detail
Rapid home management of head‑lice infestation begins with confirming the presence of live insects. Examine the scalp under bright light, separating sections with a fine‑toothed comb. Live lice are brown‑gray, about the size of a sesame seed; nits appear as tiny, oval, cemented eggs attached near the hair shaft.
The next step is immediate chemical or physical treatment. Over‑the‑counter products containing 1 % permethrin or 0.5 % pyrethrin are applied to dry hair, left for the recommended duration (usually 10 minutes), then rinsed thoroughly. For families seeking non‑chemical options, a mixture of 20 % dimethicone (silicone‑based lotion) and a few drops of essential oil (e.g., tea tree) can be spread over damp hair, covered with a plastic cap for 30 minutes, and then washed.
After the primary application, use a fine‑toothed nit comb to remove all visible lice and nits. Perform combing in three passes:
- Start near the scalp, pull the comb through a ½‑inch section of hair.
- Wipe the comb on a white towel after each stroke to expose captured insects.
- Repeat each section until no live lice are visible.
Repeat the combing process daily for at least seven days, as newly hatched lice emerge from surviving eggs.
Environmental decontamination reduces re‑infestation risk. Wash all bedding, towels, and clothing used within the past 48 hours in hot water (≥ 60 °C) and tumble‑dry on high heat. Items that cannot be washed should be sealed in a plastic bag for two weeks. Vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture to remove stray insects.
A second chemical treatment is advisable 7–10 days after the first, targeting any lice that hatched from missed nits. Follow the same application instructions as the initial dose.
Preventive measures include:
- Advising children to avoid head‑to‑head contact during play.
- Restricting the sharing of hats, hair accessories, and headphones.
- Conducting regular scalp checks in settings where outbreaks are common (e.g., schools, camps).
Prompt execution of these steps typically eliminates an infestation within two weeks, minimizing discomfort and transmission.