|  | Bites Stings | Insect Bites

Does Head Lice Treatment Cause Hair Loss?

Head lice infection is a common problem faced by families with young children. A few different treatment options are available. While each can cause side effects, any hair loss they cause is extremely minor.

  1. Head Lice

    • Small parasitic insects, head lice infest your head and neck areas. They attach their eggs to your hair near your scalp and survive by biting your skin and sucking your blood.

    Pesticide Treatments

    • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, head lice infestation can be treated with insecticidal shampoos. This treatment can cause side effects like itching or burning of the scalp.

    Other Treatments

    • Benzyl alcohol lotion treatment can clear a head lice infection. It can cause complications like numbness of the scalp, along with irritation to your eyes, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    Combing for Lice

    • The only form of head lice treatment that can cause minor hair loss is combing the lice out of your hair. If you use a comb designed to combat lice on your hair when it is dry, it could pull out a few of your hairs, according to the University of California.

    Considerations

    • Be sure to follow the directions for head lice treatment carefully. If you do not, you might need to redo the treatment and the combing.

Insect Bites - Related Articles