How To Get Rid of Head Lice

Every parent should know the signs of head lice. It can be a nit-picky process and a down right nuisance to rid a child of head lice, but there a few tricks that will help eliminate lice from your child's hair and home.

1. Know the signs. If your child is scratching his or her head a lot or you notice red bites on the back of his neck, check his head for lice. Lice are small bugs that are usually more annoying than dangerous. You might also notice nits. Nits look very similar to dandruff. However, dandruff can be easily removed or flicked off the hair. Nits, unlike dandruff, remain firmly attached to the hair. Lice usually appear behind the ears or around the back of the neck, but check the entire head.
2. Use shampoos with caution. There are many over-the-counter shampoos that can be found in drug and grocery stores. If you choose to use one of the over-the-counter shampoos, it is important that you follow the directions to the letter. Read the instructions carefully and review the side effects. Consult a doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Over-the-counter shampoos, however, are only the first step to removing head lice.
3. Remove the nits. Nits are the eggs that lice lay. Lighting can make all the difference in the world. A crucial step to removing head lice is eliminating the nits, and nits as well as lice can be very hard to see sometimes. Make sure you have good, bright lighting and possibly a magnifying glass to help you see the nits. Part the child's hair in small sections. Use a lice comb and comb each nit off individually. This takes time, and lots of it. Check the base of your child's head for any live or small lice as well. If you only spent fifteen minutes doing this, check your child's hair again.
4. Comb. Comb. Comb. Continue combing through your child's hair every day and remove any more nits. Removing nits is essential to avoid reinfestation. Check your child's hair thoroughly for at least two weeks.
5. Avoid reinfestation. Wash all the sheets in hot water. Vacuum all the floors. Disinfect hairbrushes, buy a bunch of cheap combs in the meantime, or just buy new brushes. Do it all over again the next day until you are sure there are no more lice. If any toys, pillows, or hats have the potential to come into contact with the lice or person infected, box the stuff up for a couple of weeks.
6. Teach your child. Teach your child not to share hats, pillows, or hairbrushes with other children at school. If your child is attending day care or school, notify the school nurse or person in charge to help avoid spreading the lice any further. Head lice can be very contagious.

Removing head lice can be a very time-consuming process. Be patient. Be thorough. Eventually, it will come to an end.