Lice Care

> ⚠️ Ask your doctor or health care professional. This information is AI generated for education and NOT medical advice.

Head lice are tiny parasitic insects that live on the scalp and feed on blood, spreading through direct head-to-head contact. They're common, especially among school-age children, and are not a sign of poor hygiene.

Common symptoms

Itchy scalp, a tickling feeling of something moving in the hair, and visible lice or eggs (nits) attached to hair shafts close to the scalp.

General self-care measures

• Use an appropriate lice treatment (medicated shampoo/lotion or wet-combing with a fine-toothed comb) as directed, and repeat treatment as recommended since a single treatment often doesn't kill all eggs.
• Check all household members and treat those affected.
• Wash recently used bedding, clothing, and hats in hot water, though extensive home decontamination is generally less important than treating the person directly.
• Avoid head-to-head contact and sharing hair items (brushes, hats) while lice are present.

When to seek medical attention

• Lice that don't respond to over-the-counter treatment after repeated attempts.
• Signs of skin infection from scratching (increasing redness, swelling, pus).
• Uncertainty about diagnosis or treatment choice, especially for infants or those with skin sensitivities.

Common pitfalls

• Treating lice as a hygiene problem — lice spread through contact regardless of cleanliness; this is a common and harmful misconception that adds unnecessary stigma.
• Only treating once — many treatments need to be repeated after about a week to catch lice that hatched from eggs that survived the first treatment.
• Excessive, unnecessary household decontamination — lice survive only briefly off the scalp; focusing treatment effort on the affected person(s) matters more than extensive environmental cleaning.

Learn more

• Dermatology Assessment for related skin-condition assessment.
• Health Care for general navigation of health systems.