Head Lice Treatment

When to book head lice treatment

Speak to a pharmacist about head lice treatment if you or your child has:

• Persistent itching of the scalp, especially behind the ears and at the back of the neck
• A tickling sensation or the feeling of something moving in the hair
• Small red bumps or sores caused by scratching
• Difficulty sleeping, as lice are more active in the dark
• Nits attached to hair shafts close to the scalp
• Live lice found while wet combing

Itching can take several weeks to start, so many people do not realise they have head lice straight away. The only way to confirm an infestation is to wet comb conditioned hair with a fine-toothed detection comb. Our pharmacists can show you the technique and supply the right comb.

What are head lice?

Head lice are small wingless insects that live close to the scalp and feed on blood. The NHS confirms they are very common and are not a sign of poor hygiene. They cannot fly, jump or swim, and only spread through direct head-to-head contact. Their eggs, called nits, attach firmly to the hair near the scalp and are white, brown or yellow. Head lice are most common in children aged four to eleven.

How to treat head lice

• Medicated treatments - lotions, sprays and solutions containing dimeticone, which coats and suffocates the lice. Apply, leave for the recommended time, then wash out. Repeat after seven days to kill newly hatched lice
• Wet combing (Bug Busting) - apply conditioner to wet hair and comb through systematically with a detection comb, repeating every three to four days for at least two weeks

Check every household member before starting, and treat everyone affected at the same time to prevent re-infestation. Dimeticone products are usually recommended first because they work physically rather than chemically, so lice cannot become resistant to them.

Prevention, myths and school

Check your children's hair regularly with a detection comb during term time, tie long hair back, and discourage sharing of combs, brushes and hats. Act quickly if the school sends a letter home.

Head lice are not a sign of dirty hair and have no preference either way. They cannot jump or fly, and they cannot survive long away from the scalp, so washing bedding at high temperatures is unnecessary. Children can stay at school while being treated. Repeat infestations usually mean contact with someone who has untreated lice.

When to seek further advice

Speak to a pharmacist or GP if two full courses of treatment have not worked, the scalp becomes infected from scratching, or you are unsure whether head lice are present. We can reassess and recommend an alternative.

Find head lice treatment near you

No appointment needed. We stock medicated lotions, sprays and detection combs, and give NHS-aligned advice for the whole family. Use the postcode search above to find your nearest Allied Pharmacy.