What Are the Treatments for Human Head Lice?

Head lice are tiny insects that infest the hair and scalp causing intense itching and small red bumps on the scalp, neck and shoulders. They also produce eggs, or nits, that resemble dandruff. Because they spread easily, especially among school children, head lice should be treated immediately and thoroughly, even if only one egg is found. Treat head lice with over-the-counter or prescription medications. To fully get rid of lice, you also need to remove the eggs and take other supplemental measures.

Over-the-Counter Treatments

• Lotions and shampoos containing the active ingredients pyrethrins or permethrin 1 percent are safe over-the-counter medications that effectively treat lice, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pyrethrins are pyrethroid extracts from the chrysanthemum flower and are found in the products A-200, Pronto, R&C and Triple X shampoos. Permethrin is a synthetic pyrethoid but is FDA-approved and just as effective as natural pyrethoids. Permethrin 1 percent can be found in Nix lotion. To treat head lice, rinse and dry hair before using these treatments. Apply medicated shampoo or lotion to hair and scalp and rinse off after 10 minutes. Because pyrethrins and permethrin kill only live lice, not eggs, the CDC recommends a second treatment in nine to 10 days in order to kill newly hatched lice. If lice are still present after two treatments, your doctor can prescribe you a stronger lice medication.

Prescription Treatments

• If over-the-counter treatments do not effectively treat head lice, your doctor can prescribe you FDA-approved malathion lotion 0.5 percent. Unlike over-the-counter treatments, malathion kills both live lice and some lice eggs. However, the CDC recommends a second treatment after seven to nine days, if live lice are still present. To treat lice with malathion, apply the lotion to dry hair until hair and scalp are wet and leave in for 12 hours, or as directed on the label. Malathion may irritate your skin and scalp and should not be used on children under the age of six. For extreme cases of head lice, in which over-the-counter and malathion treatments fail, your doctor may prescribe lindane shampoo 1 percent. Although FDA-approved, the CDC does not recommend using lindane shampoo as a first line of treatment because overuse or misuse can be toxic to the brain and nervous system.

Lice Egg Treatment

• In order to fully treat head lice, you must get rid of the eggs, or nits. Nits attach to hair with a glue-like substance, making them difficult to remove. However, you can remove nits using a fine-toothed, metal nit comb found online or in pet stores. Some head lice treatments come with nit combs as well. Medline Plus suggests rubbing olive oil on your hair or beeswax on the comb's teeth before using a nit comb. Dishwashing detergent can also help dissolve the glue-like substance that makes nits stick to your hair. The CDC recommends using a nit comb to remove eggs and dead lice every two to three days after treatment.

Prevention Treatment

• Lice spread easily by coming into close contact with someone who has lice or their bedding, hats, scarves and other clothing. If you have head lice, avoid head-to-head contact and sharing clothing, scarves, hats and hair accessories as well as bed linens. Check all members of the household or anyone in close contact with someone infected with lice and treat only if eggs or lice are found. To keep lice from returning during the one to two days they can survive off of hair, machine wash all bed linen and clothing used by the infested person with detergent and hot water that is at least 130 degrees. Wash brushes and combs in hot water and vacuum furniture and carpet.