How often should you treat the head for lice and nits? - briefly
Apply an initial lice treatment, then repeat it 7–10 days later to eliminate any newly hatched insects; no further applications are needed if the second treatment clears the infestation.
How often should you treat the head for lice and nits? - in detail
Effective lice control relies on two applications separated by a specific interval. The first dose kills live insects; the second eliminates newly hatched nits that survived the initial exposure.
- Apply the chosen product according to label instructions.
- Re‑apply 7 days later if the formulation specifies a 7‑day interval; many OTC products recommend a 9‑day gap.
- If the label advises a 10‑day interval, repeat treatment on day 10.
- For manual nit removal, comb the hair with a fine‑toothed lice comb every 2–3 days for at least one week, then once more after 7 days.
Prescription regimens may differ:
- Permethrin‑based creams often require a second dose 7 days after the first.
- Malathion or benzyl alcohol preparations commonly recommend a 9‑day repeat.
- Spinosad products typically call for a single application; a follow‑up dose is optional after 7 days if live lice persist.
In cases of persistent infestation or documented resistance, a third application may be added, spaced the same interval as the first two (7–10 days). Continue monitoring for live lice for at least two weeks after the final treatment; if any are detected, repeat the entire schedule.
Overall schedule: initial treatment → repeat after 7–10 days → optional third dose after the same interval for resistant cases → ongoing combing every 2–3 days for one week, then a final comb at day 7. This regimen maximizes eradication of both adult lice and their eggs.