As school starts, lice return almost on schedule. It is not a matter of cleanliness and they do not "fly" from head to head; they are transmitted through direct contact and through shared objects. In this guide you will see how to recognize early if your child has lice, how to treat them properly with anti-lice treatments or with wet combing, and most importantly how to avoid the reinfection that plagues most families.
Head lice is a tiny insect that lives on the scalp and feeds on blood. Its eggs, the nits, stick firmly to the base of the hair and are easier to spot than the lice themselves, which move and hide. Transmission mainly occurs through head-to-head contact and secondarily through shared combs, hats, towels or pillows. That is why school classes, playgrounds and extracurricular activities are the most common "transfer" sites.
The most reliable way to diagnose is to comb wet hair: lice stop moving when wet and are easier to spot. Check for:
Use good lighting and a special anti-lice comb, combing thoroughly from root to tip.
There are two main, accepted approaches and they are often combined.
Modern anti-lice lotions and anti-lice shampoos contain formulations that act mainly physically/mechanically (e.g. based on dimethicone), "asphyxiating" the lice, as well as classic insecticide formulations. Always read the instructions carefully: application time, age limits and very importantly repeating after 7–9 days to cover the nits that hatch.
If you want to avoid formulations or the child is very young (under 2 years), wet combing is an effective method: wet the hair, apply plenty of emollient cream and comb thoroughly with a fine comb, cleaning the comb at each pass. Repeat every 3–4 days for at least two weeks.
Reinfection is the number one reason lice "don't go away." To break it:
No. Lice affect clean and "dirty" hair equally; they just choose the opportunity of contact.
With proper treatment and the second application, usually within ~2 weeks. The key is consistency and avoiding reinfection.
No, it is not necessary. Lice removal and treatment work regardless of hair length.
In most cases no after the first proper treatment they can return. Follow the school's policy.
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Note: This article is informational and does not replace medical advice. For persistent or recurrent cases, irritation of the scalp or application in infants and pregnant women, consult your pharmacist or doctor.
