If the kids have lice, the dad’s half of the job is specific: confirm there are live lice before anyone opens a box of medicine, check every head in the house tonight, read the product label and call your child’s doctor before treating, and own the laundry. The CDC says head lice do not transmit any disease, so this is a nuisance to work through, not an emergency. Steady and thorough beats fast, and it keeps your family from doing all of this twice.
Start by Proving There Are Live Lice
Before anyone treats anything, your first job is to prove there are live lice. The CDC calls finding a live nymph or adult louse on the scalp or hair the best way to diagnose a head lice infestation, and it says misdiagnosis is common. Live lice avoid light and move quickly, so the AAP advises seating your child in a brightly lit room and parting the hair to look a section at a time. The easiest place to find them is the hairline at the back of the neck or behind the ears.
What you find decides the next move.
| What you find | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A crawling nymph or adult louse | An active infestation | Treat head lice if you have an active infestation |
| Nits attached firmly within 1/4 inch of the base of the hair shafts | What to look for when no crawling lice turn up | Check with your child’s doctor before beginning treatment |
| Only nits more than 1/4 inch from the scalp | The infestation is probably old | It does not need treatment |
| Specks that are not firmly attached | Dandruff, hair spray droplets or dirt particles | See your healthcare provider if you are not sure |
Head lice medicine, the AAP says, should be used only when it is certain that your child has living head lice.
Check Every Head Under Your Roof, Including Yours
Everyone under your roof gets checked the same night, you included. The CDC says to check all household members and other close contacts, and to treat all infested people, plus anyone they share a bed with, at the same time. MedlinePlus says children ages 3 to 11 and their families get head lice most often, because young children have head-to-head contact while playing together, which is the short version of why kids get lice more often than adults. Skip one head and the AAP says the cycle can repeat every three weeks when head lice are left untreated.
Let the Label and the Doctor Make the Treatment Call
Let the label and your child’s doctor make the treatment call. The AAP says to check with your child’s doctor before beginning any head lice treatment, then to follow the directions on the package exactly as written. The CDC’s treatment guidance says head lice can be treated with over-the-counter or prescription medications, that they are generally safe and effective when used correctly, and that you should consult your healthcare provider before treating young children.
If you are the one applying it, the AAP’s rules are written for adults. The medicine should be applied by an adult, children should never apply it themselves, and a child should not be left alone with medicine in their hair. Rinse it off over a sink with warm water, not hot water, and do not shampoo for 24 to 48 hours afterward. Never use gasoline, kerosene or medicines made for animals, and never place a plastic bag on a child’s head.
Resistance is real, but it is not everywhere. The AAP says head lice can be resistant to the active ingredients in over-the-counter treatments in some communities, and that the likelihood varies across the country. The CDC says lice have developed some resistance to 1 percent permethrin, but the prevalence of resistance is unknown. If an over-the-counter product does not work, MedlinePlus says you can ask your health care provider for a prescription product. The kitchen is not the backup plan: the CDC says it has no scientific evidence that suffocating head lice with mayonnaise, olive oil, margarine, butter or similar substances works.
Do the Laundry, Then Stop Cleaning
The housework is smaller than it feels, and you can own it outright. The CDC says to machine wash and dry the clothing, towels, bed linens and other items your child wore or used during the two days before treatment, using the hot water cycle at 130 degrees Fahrenheit and the high heat drying cycle. Seal anything you cannot wash or dry clean in a plastic bag for two weeks; the AAP says you do not need to throw those things away. Soak combs and brushes in hot water of at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 to 10 minutes. Vacuum where your child sat or lay, then stop. The CDC says spending much time on housecleaning is not necessary to avoid reinfestation, and that fumigant sprays and fogs are not necessary and can be toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
This Is Not a Verdict on Your House or Your Partner
Nobody in your house caused this. The CDC says getting head lice is not related to cleanliness of you or your environment, and the AAP says lice attach to the hair of anyone’s head whether it is clean or dirty. Blame also assumes somebody could have caught it sooner: the AAP says it may take up to 4 to 6 weeks after lice get on the scalp before the scalp becomes sensitive to lice saliva and begins to itch. The AAP also says head lice do not put your child at risk for any serious health problems. If the word infestation is the part raising the temperature at home, it helps to be clear about whether head lice are an infection or an infestation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it a nit or just dandruff?
Nits are firmly attached to the hair; dandruff, dirt and hair spray droplets are not, and the AAP says that is the way to tell the difference. Nits look like small white or yellow-brown specks near the scalp, and some blend into a child’s hair color. MedlinePlus says you may need a magnifying lens and a fine-toothed comb to be sure.
Can I catch lice from my own kids?
Yes. The AAP says anyone can get head lice, and the main way they spread is close, prolonged head-to-head contact. The CDC says adult lice can live on a person’s head for about 30 days, so a head nobody checks can carry them for weeks.
The medicine did not work. What now?
Talk to a healthcare provider before re-treating; the CDC says they may suggest a different medicine. It lists the reasons treatment fails: misdiagnosis, a recent application of conditioner, not following instructions, lice resisting the medication and reinfestation. Do not treat anyone more than two or three times with the same medication when it is not working.
Why is my child still itching after treatment?
Itching can outlast the lice. The AAP says itching caused by head lice can last for weeks, even after the lice are gone, and the CDC says some medications may cause itching or a mild burning sensation. The CDC also says to check the hair and remove nits and lice every two to three days for the next two to three weeks.
Can lice jump between heads, or come off the dog?
No to both. The CDC says head lice move by crawling and cannot hop or fly, and that animals do not get or spread head lice. The AAP says there is a very small chance of spread by sharing items such as combs, brushes, hats and sports helmets.
When You Would Rather Hand the Whole Job Over
Some evenings there is no lamp, no patience and no time, and that is a reasonable night to hand the job to someone else. At Lice Lifters of Mercer County we check the whole family, because a head that goes unchecked is how this starts again, and our professional lice treatment is non-toxic and done in one visit. We keep same-day appointments open for the mornings when a parent finds something and wants it handled before bedtime. Our 30 Day Guarantee applies when the whole family is checked. If you would rather be the one who solved this than the one who read about it, book a head check and bring everyone.
