How to Kill Lice

Suffocating Agents

Hair Gel The hair gel needs to be “firm hold”; some examples include: Dippity-Do styling gel Dep 8 – level 8 ultimate hold L.A. Looks #5 – mega mega hold Available in any store that sells hair products.

Treatment Steps 1. Wash child’s hair with regular shampoo (throw the towel in the dryer for 20 minutes on high heat after drying the child’s hair). 2. Remove all nits as discussed under nit removal section. 3. Put enough hair gel on hair to cover all hair and the scalp. Let harden. Make sure you have enough gel on the hair and scalp to cover it. 4. Child goes to sleep with the hardened gel on the hair. 5. Wash child’s hair upon awakening. 6. Towel dry hair (throw the towel in the dryer for 20 minutes on high heat after drying the child’s hair). 7. Repeat cycle for 10-14 days. 8. On non-school days, put the gel on in the morning. Leave on all day. Wash hair before supper and repeat gel treatment at bedtime.

Mayonnaise Treatment (Only 100% Real Mayonnaise) Supplies Needed:

 Plastic bag or Shower cap  Hair Clips or scotch tape  100% real Mayonnaise Treatment steps 1. Use 100% real mayonnaise. Do not use light, low fat, fat-free, or even salad dressings. 2. Apply generously to hair, making sure the hair and scalp are saturated. 3. Pile hair on head, if needed, and cover with a close-fitting shower cap or cut plastic bag and wrap around the head like a turban. Use scotch tape or hair clips to keep on the head. Leave cap or bag on for four (4) hours, but eight (8) hours is best. 4. Remove the shower cap and wash hair lightly to get out mayonnaise. 5. Towel dry hair (throw the towel in the dryer for 20 minutes on high heat after drying the child’s hair). 6. Remove all nits as discussed under Nit Removal Section. 7. Wash hair thoroughly with shampoo and pick out any remaining nits. 8. Keep checking and removing nits daily. 9. Repeat treatment every day or every other day for 2 weeks. Oil Treatment (Vegetable Oil, Olive Oil, or Mineral Oil) Supplies Needed:

 Plastic bag or Shower cap  Hair Clips or scotch tape  Vegetable, Olive, or Mineral Oil Treatment steps 1. Part hair and apply directly to head, saturating the hair and scalp. 2. Pile hair on head, if needed, and cover with a close-fitting shower cap OR cut plastic bag and wrap around the head like a turban. Use scotch tape or hair clips to keep on the head. Leave cap or bag on for at least four (4) hours, but eight (8) hours is best. 3. Remove all nits as discussed under the Nit Removal Section. Leave oil in hair for this step 4. Wash hair thoroughly with shampoo and pick out any remaining nits. 5. Towel dry hair (throw the towel in the dryer for 20 minutes on high heat after drying the child’s hair). 6. Keep checking and removing nits every day. 7. Repeat treatment every day or every other day for 2 weeks.

Petroleum Gel Treatment (Vaseline) Supplies Needed:

 Plastic bag or Shower cap  Hair Clips or scotch tape  Baby oil, Palmolive dish Soap, Or Dawn dish soap  Petrolatum gel (Vaseline) Treatment steps 1. Apply petrolatum gel generously (approximately two ounces to the hair, making sure the hair and scalp are saturated). 2. Pile hair on head, if needed, and cover with a close-fitting shower cap OR cut plastic bag and wrap around the head like a turban. Use scotch tape or hair clips to keep on the head. Leave cap or bag on for at least four (4) hours, but eight (8) hours are best. 3. Remove the shower cap and rinse hair with baby oil to get out most of the petrolatum gel OR wash hair with Palmolive or Dawn dish soap to remove 4. Wash hair with shampoo to remove most of the remaining petrolatum gel. Towel dry hair (throw the towel in the dryer for 20 minutes on high heat after drying the child’s hair). 5. Remove all nits as discussed under the Nit Removal Section. 6. Wash hair thoroughly with shampoo to remove the remaining petrolatum gel 7. Towel dry hair (throw the towel in the dryer for 20 minutes on high heat after drying the child’s hair). 8. Check and remove nits daily. 9. Repeat treatment every day or every other day for 2 weeks. Chemical Agents

In one study it was found that when lice were exposed to “permethrin” (the active ingredient in most products), 90% of the lice survived. No chemical product kills 100% of lice and nits. Nit removal is the most effective. Prevention is based on combing and cleaning. When using over-the-counter products, it is important to carefully follow the directions as described on the product package.

*Note* even successfully treated lice may live up to 24 hours after treatment was conducted. If after repeating the treatment the infestation persists, consult your health care provider. To avoid potential toxic reactions in people, repetitive use of OTC head lice control products is not recommended.

General instructions for over-the-counter (OTC) lice treatment shampoo. 1. Apply the single dose bottle of OTC shampoo directly to dry hair and scalp, without adding water. Thoroughly work the shampoo into the hair from roots to ends until all the hair is treated. Leave it on the hair for 10 minutes. 2. Rinse with warm water and shampoo as usual. 3. Towel dry hair (throw the towel in the dryer for 20 minutes on high heat after drying the child’s hair). 4. Remove all nits and any live lice as discussed under the Nit Removal Section. 5. A second treatment must be done in 7-10 days to kill any newly hatched lice. 6. Do not use hair conditioners, detanglers, hair spray or gel for at least a week after treatment. If you wash the hair during this time, use a shampoo that does not contain conditioners.

General instructions for over-the-counter (OTC) lice treatment crème rinse. 1. Wash the hair using any shampoo that does not contain conditioners. 2. Dry the hair thoroughly (throw the towel in the dryer for 20 minutes on high heat after drying the child’s hair). 3. Apply single dose bottle directly to the hair. Work thoroughly into the hair from the roots to ends until all the hair is treated. Leave it on for a full 10 minutes. 4. Rinse well and towel dry hair (throw the towel in the dryer for 20 minutes on high heat after drying the child’s hair). 5. Remove all nits and any live lice as discussed under the Nit Removal Section. 6. A second treatment is recommended in 7-10 days to kill any newly hatched lice. 7. Do not use hair conditioners, detanglers, hair spray or gel for at least a week after treatment. If you wash the hair during this time, use a shampoo that does not contain conditioners.

Prescription Shampoos Follow pharmacy label instructions. Other Options

Lice Free For external use only. Available over the counter at most pharmacies and discount stores.

1. Shake well. 2. Do NOT wet or shampoo hair before using this product. 3. Keep out of eyes! Do NOT apply to eyebrows or eyelashes. 4. Apply product to dry hair and entire scalp, starting at the nape of the neck and behind ears and work forward. Thoroughly saturate all hair and scalp. To be effective, all lice and nits must come in full contact with the product. 5. Cover with a close-fitting shower cap OR cut plastic bag and wrap around the head like a turban. Use scotch tape or hair clips to keep on the head and leave on for at least 1 hour. For best results stay in a warm room. Lice die in ½ hour, nits die in 1 hour. 6. With product STILL in the hair, remove plastic cap and comb out all dead lice and nits with enclosed nit comb. Rinse comb out under running water and repeat until all lice and nits are combed out. 7. Once all lice and nits are combed out, rinse hair thoroughly with warm water. 8. Thoroughly inspect and comb hair and scalp a second time to assure complete removal of all lice and nits. 9. A second treatment SHOULD be done in 7-10 days to kill any newly hatched lice.