3 steps to effective treatment
3 steps to effective treatment
Step 1: Detect
Before anyone is treated for head lice, it is important to confirm the presence of live lice on the scalp as this is the only proof that they actually have a head lice infection.2
It may be possible to see head lice just by looking through the hair, but they can be tricky to spot, so it is better to use a detection comb. These are specially designed for picking up head lice and removing them from the hair.
Successful detection combing:
- Wash the hair as normal
- Apply conditioner liberally
- Comb the hair with a normal comb to remove any knots
- Run a detection comb through the hair from the roots to the tips. To make it easier, divide the hair into sections and work around the whole head, section by section
- After each stroke, check the detection comb for lice and wipe it clean with a white tissue. The tissue will pick up any lice that may be present
- Rinse and dry the hair as normal
- Wash the detection comb with hot water
- If live lice have been found, treatment should commence.
Further advice
- Regularly checking the hair helps to catch head lice early. A weekly detection combing routine is a good idea.