How to Get Rid of Lice on the Scalp

Lice are a wingless insect that feed on human blood. This parasite can attach itself anywhere on the body, including the skin and pubic area, but they typically infect the scalp. Lice transfer from person to person through direct contact or the sharing of infected items, such as clothing or hairbrushes. You can get rid of head lice relatively easily with at-home treatments, but the process does take time.

Things You'll Need

• fine-tooth comb

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Instructions

• 1

  Ensure that the lice infestation is still active. Examine the scalp for live adult lice or lice eggs, called nits, along the scalp line. The most prominent areas for a lice infestation are at the nape of the neck and over the ears.

• 2

  Use an over-the-counter medicated shampoo or rinse, such as Rid and Nix. These products contain a pesticide, pyrethrin or permethrin, that kill lice on contact. You may need to reuse these products every seven to 10 days until the infestation is eradicated.

• 3

  Manually remove lice and nits by running a fine-tooth comb through conditioned and wet hair. This process is necessary for treating lice on children younger than 2, on whom you should not use medicated products, according to the Mayo Clinic.

• 4

  Wash all contaminated items, including bed linens, clothes and stuffed animals, in soapy, hot water and dry at high heat.

• 5

  See your health care provider if the over-the-counter products do not work after two weeks, you are pregnant or if you develop infected sores or hives from constant scratching.