Treatment FAQ

only couple live lice when doing treatment

by Jana Schuster Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Do the two treatments 9 days apart get rid of lice?

No. The two treatments 9 days apart are designed to eliminate all live lice, and any lice that may hatch from eggs that were laid after the first treatment. Many nits are more than ¼ inch from the scalp.

Why do I keep getting lice again?

There are two reasons for a recurrent lice infestation: The lice treatment you used didn’t work. You or someone in your family came in contact with lice again. Treatments might not work for a couple of reasons. First, studies have shown that lice can be resistant to pesticide treatments that have been used in some geographical areas.

Are there any over-the-counter head lice medications?

Many head lice medications are available “Over-the-counter” without a prescription at a local drug store or pharmacy. Each Over-the-counter product approved by the FDA for the treatment of head lice contains one of the following active ingredients. Always follow the label instructions when administering these medications.

What is an example of not applying lice treatment correctly?

Some examples of this include not applying a second treatment if instructed to do so, or retreating too soon after the first treatment before all the nits are hatched and the newly hatched head lice can be killed. Another reason is retreating too late after new eggs have already been deposited.

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Are lice supposed to be alive after treatment?

Most treated nits (lice eggs) are dead after the first treatment with Nix. The others will be killed with the 2nd treatment. Removing the dead nits is not essential or urgent. However, it prevents others from thinking your child still has untreated lice.

How long do lice live after treatment?

Head lice survive less than one or two days if they fall off the scalp and cannot feed. Head lice eggs (nits) cannot hatch and usually die within a week if they do not remain under ideal conditions of heat and humidity similar to those found close to the human scalp.

What do you do if lice treatment doesn't work?

If a head lice treatment that you can buy without a prescription fails to work, the CDC recommends that you see a health care provider. Highly effective prescription treatments that you apply to the scalp are available.

Do you have to comb out nits after treatment?

Nits and their shells may remain in the hair for some time but won't be viable. Many prescription head lice treatments target nits along with adult head lice. If you used a product like this, no combing is necessary unless you can't wait to get rid of the dead shells.

How do you know if lice is gone?

After each treatment, checking the hair and combing with a nit comb to remove nits and lice every 2–3 days may decrease the chance of self–reinfestation. Continue to check for 2–3 weeks to be sure all lice and nits are gone.

How do you know if lice eggs are dead?

New eggs are attached to the hair shaft very close to the scalp. Eggs that still contain a louse embryo are brownish in color, while the empty egg shells are white to grey.

Why is nit treatment not working?

Treatment Didn't Work Over-the-counter lice treatments and prescription ones kill live lice and their eggs (nits), but they might not catch all of them. Because of the life cycle of lice, over-the-counter and prescription treatments may require two treatments, 7-9 days apart.

Can I use Nix two days in a row?

Do not use more than one head lice medicine at a time without asking your doctor. Do not rewash hair for 1 to 2 days after the lice treatment. It may reduce the effectiveness of the lice medicine. Continue to check hair and use the nit comb to remove nits and lice every 2 to 3 days for 2 to 3 weeks.

Can you have just one louse on your head?

Your child may have nits in his or her hair but may not develop a case of head lice. Some nits are empty eggs. However, nits that are found within 1/4 inch (6 millimeters) of the scalp typically should be treated — even if you find only one — to prevent the possibility of hatching.

Do dead nits fall out of hair?

But unfortunately, the nits will not simply fall out. The lice themselves take 7 to 11 days to hatch, so after that what is attached to the hair is the empty eggshell or the dead nit. These will stay attached to the hair and as the hair grows you will find them further and further down the hair shaft.

How long can lice live on a hairbrush?

How long can lice live on a hairbrush? Adult head lice can live up to 48 hours off the head after which they need a blood meal – ideally, they like to feed every 4 hours, so 48 hours really is the limit. If you are clearing a head lice infestation you want to keep the hairbrush clean as well.

How many lice are usually found on a head?

HOW MANY HEAD LICE ARE USUALLY FOUND ON AN INFESTED PERSON? Typically, 10-15 head lice are found. The number of lice often depends on personal hygiene, for example, how often the person bathes, shampoos or changes and washes his/her clothing.

How to kill lice and nits?

Washing, soaking, or drying items at a temperature greater than 130°F can kill both head lice and nits. Dry cleaning also kills head lice and nits. Only items that have been in contact with the head of the infested person in the 48 hours before treatment should be considered for cleaning.

How long do head lice live?

Head lice survive less than one or two days if they fall off the scalp and cannot feed. Head lice eggs (nits) cannot hatch and usually die within a week if they do not remain under ideal conditions of heat and humidity similar to those found close to the human scalp.

Why do you remove nits after a pediculicide?

Removal of all nits after successful treatment with a pediculicide is not necessary to prevent further spread of head lice. Removal of nits after treatment with a pediculicide may be done for aesthetic reasons, or to reduce diagnostic confusion and the chance of unnecessary retreatment.

How far away are nits from scalp?

Many nits are more than ¼ inch from the scalp. Such nits are usually not viable and very unlikely to hatch to become crawling lice, or may in fact be empty shells, also known as casings. Nits are cemented to hair shafts and are very unlikely to be transferred successfully to other people.

How soon after removing permethin can you get rid of lice?

Sometimes reshampooing the hair too soon (less than 2 days) after correctly applying and removing permethin can reduce or eliminate any residual (continued) killing effect on the lice. Back To Top.

Can head lice be resistant to treatment?

Resistance of the head lice to the treatment used. The head lice may have become resistant to the treatment. If the treatment used does not kill the head lice, your health care provider and pharmacist can help you be sure the treatment was used correctly and may recommend a completely different product if they think the head lice are resistant ...

Can head lice be treated with conditioner?

The symptoms are not caused by an active head lice infestation. Applying the treatment to hair that has been washed with conditioning shampoo or rinsed with hair conditioner. Conditioners can act as a barrier that keeps the head lice medicine from adhering to the hair shafts; this can reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.

How to stop lice cycle?

To stop the cycle of lice you must stop the egg laying first, then remove the nits. Timing is everything and you must complete the 3 well-timed treatments to ensure you are lice-free. The follow-up treatments will eliminate the nymphs (baby lice) before they mature and lay eggs, therefore ending the cycle of lice.

How to get rid of lice in kids?

A. Be smart. Be proactive. Use weekly head checks to minimize outbreaks. Use up hairdos to keep your kids hair to themselves, and use KaPOW!™ Lice Defense Spray to deter lice.o.

How to stop lice from laying eggs?

A. To stop the cycle of lice and the risk of re-infestation, you must stop the egg laying lice first, then remove the actual eggs (nits). The KaPOW!™ Lice Attack Solution destroys the bugs. If done properly, the first treatment will defeat all live lice, including the mommies or egg-laying lice. Then you need to comb out ALL the nits (the lice eggs). If you miss any nits and they hatch, the 2nd or 3rd treatments will take care of the young ouse before it has a chance to mature and lay lmore nits. Our 3 step treatment plan is timed to beat the cycle of a louse’s life (and we guarantee it will.)

How to get rid of lice before hatching?

Perform regular head lice checks. The head lice check is your best defense against a lice invasion. Perform them weekly and you’ll find the nits before they hatch. You should never really have any issue with lice that a quick treatment can’t knock out those pesky nits.

Can you remove nits in one comb out?

A. Nits are hard to remove. They are cemented to the hair shaft pretty securely. It’s near impossible to remove all the nits in one comb-out. In an effort to not spend an exorbitant amount of time combing one person out in one sitting, remove all you can in the first comb-out.

Can lice travel to another head?

What makes someone contagious with head lice is having a mature, egg-laying adult female louse on your head that could travel to another head. After the first treatment, when the egg-laying lice are eliminated, you are no longer contagious.

Can you see nits?

A. It is OK to see nits, whether viable or not, as long as you are completing the 3 full treatments. We know it is unsettling to see nits but they are harmless for now. If you see just a few nits and your school does not have a “No Nit Policy” then you are fine. Just make sure to do your scheduled follow up treatments with KaPOW!™ Lice Attack Solution and a nit comb-out. If you find 10 or more nits we recommend doing a quick comb-out in between treatments to remove remaining nits.

What is the best treatment for lice and nits?

The ideal treatment is something that kills the lice and nits at the same time without the use of chemicals harmful to people or the environment. There is now an FDA approved device called the AirAllé® medical device that kills lice and nits without the use of chemicals. Head lice treatments in process. This device is available only ...

How long does it take to get rid of head lice?

There are an ever increasing number of clinics available so find your nearest location. At the Lice Clinics of America, you can be treated in 30-90 minutes, depending on your hair length, and know that clinical tests have shown the effectiveness ...

Is nitpicking a human error?

Nitpicking is subject to human error. The most effective alternative to drugstore lice products has traditionally been nitpicking. This is the process of combing out live lice with a special lice comb, then playing a daunting cat-and-mouse game with the lice eggs (nits).

Does over the counter lice treatment work?

Over-the-counter treatments may not work. The resistance of head lice to the most popular drugstore products is well-researched and well-documented. The most recent report, issued in 2016, found that most lice in 42 states are now resistant to pyrethroids. Pyrethroids are the active ingredient in most over-the-counter lice products.

Can you cover a child's head with kerosene?

The methods vary, but in general, this involves covering a child’s head with one of these substances overnight. For the most part, these home remedies are harmless ( excluding the kerosene). They are typically an effort to avoid exposure to pesticides, which is a reasonable thing to do.

Can lice show up on someone else's head?

If only one person in the family is checked and treated, the lice may show up on someone else’s head before too long. Don’t feel paranoid or panicked, just make sure that everyone is carefully checked. Home remedies are unproven at best, dangerous at worst. Maybe they will work and maybe they won’t.

How to get rid of lice in kids?

By seeing a dermatologist, you can learn the right technique and other tips for getting rid of lice. Seeing a board-certified dermatologist can also help you feel that your child is in good hands, which can reduce the anxiety and worry you feel.

Why do head lice treatments fail?

Because the active ingredients have remained the same all these years, new generations of head lice have become immune to them. Once lice become immune, the product no longer works. Scientists call this resistance.

Why do non-prescription head lice treatments fail?

Researchers have also found that another reason non-prescription head-lice treatments fail to work is that the child doesn’t have lice. Lice are small and fast, so they can be hard to see. Sometimes parents — and even medical professionals — mistake another medical condition for head lice.

Can you get lice treatment without a prescription?

If a head lice treatment that you can buy without a prescription fails to work, the CDC recommends that you see a health care provider. Highly effective prescription treatments that you apply to the scalp are available. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved prescription treatments for children as young as 6 months of age.

Can you use a dermatologist to treat lice?

A dermatologist can also recommend an effective treatment for your child. This may be one of the prescription treatments. Sometimes, simply combing your child’s hair to remove the lice and nits (eggs) can be effective. While time-consuming, studies show that combing injures the lice, so they rarely survive.

Is it bad to take lice medication?

Using extra amounts of lice medication can be harmful. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that using extra amounts of lice medication can be harmful and you should only do this if your doctor or pharmacist recommends it.

Can you buy natural products without a prescription?

If using a natural product or one that you can buy without a prescription makes you feel safer, you should know that researchers have found many of these treatments can be harmful.

How many days apart should I take lice treatment?

Because of the life cycle of lice, over-the-counter and prescription treatments may require two treatments, 7-9 days apart. If you don’t reapply the product within the correct number of days, lice eggs can lurk behind and hatch later.

What to do if lice keeps coming back?

If lice keep coming back in your home, ask a doctor about the best treatment options for your family. You’ll also want to find the exact source of the mites. But don’t blame your pet. Your furry friends don’t spread head lice.

How many eggs do lice lay?

Second, female adult lice lay up to eight eggs a day .

How to get rid of lice on stuffed toys?

But follow these simple steps to help prevent another lice attack: Wash and dry bedding, clothing, and stuffed toys using hot water (130 F) and high heat. If the items can’t be washed, seal them in a plastic bag for 3 weeks. Dry cleaning also kills lice. Vacuum upholstered furniture and rugs.

Does dry cleaning kill lice?

Dry cleaning also kills lice. Vacuum upholstered furniture and rugs. Lice room sprays or fumigants are toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. The FDA says that if you or someone in your family has head lice, you don’t need these products.

What happens if you don't treat lice?

So what happens if lice is not treated? Will lice go away on its own? If left untreated, lice will not only not go away on its own, the head lice infestation will continue to get worse and worse as more and more time goes on. Consider this: head lice can survive on a human head for about 30 days.

How long can lice live on your head?

Consider this: head lice can survive on a human head for about 30 days. Regular shampoo and other every day hair care products like hair spray, gel, and mousse will not kill them. Over that period of time, they are able to lay anywhere from 6 to 10 eggs (nits) every single day.

How long does it take for a louse to hatch?

Once the female louse lays her eggs, in about 10 more days, each one of those eggs will hatch. The baby that comes out of the egg is called a nymph. Within a period of about two weeks, that nymph is mature and ready to start laying its own eggs.

Can lice technicians visit families?

As a lice technician, it is not uncommon to have the opportunity to visit a family who has been battling lice for some time. One very memorable family I had the privilege of helping was a hard working family of five – three of them children, and all five of them had lice.

Can lice technicians be haphazard?

This job cannot be done haphazardly.

Can you leave nits in your hair?

Leaving behind a couple of nits in the hair can start an infestation all over again. By now you know those nits will hatch and if left untreated, the number will increase and you will be back to where you started: with a head full of lice and nits.

Preparation

Treatments for head lice are an unexpected expense. However, time is money as well, so when considering what treatment option is right for you, it is very important to consider the cost of your time in trying to rid your family of head lice.

Process

The process that is used for lice treatment must be thorough; there are no shortcuts. A good eye and good lighting are crucial as everything needs to be removed from the hair for the lice treatment to be successful.

Cost

Cost is often one of the biggest determining factors for people considering what kind of lice treatment option is best for them. Since this expense is unexpected, finding a treatment option that fits your budget can be a make or break factor.

Result

Comparing home lice treatment vs professional lice treatment is not always straightforward. Your success with home treatment may bring forth a positive result, but more often than not, the result is a painstaking negative. However, your expectation with a professional lice treatment should always be eradication of head lice.

Conclusion

Skip those DIY efforts and go right for the good stuff: the professional treatment. You may very well save a lot of money, and just as important, it will save your sanity and will get the job done right. Call for professional lice treatment with LiceDoctors at 800-224-2537.

What does nits mean in lice?

Keep in mind, nits represent the next generation of lice and by doing a visual inspection there is no way of knowing that there are only nits ...

Can you have nits and no lice?

It is possible to have Nits and no lice in the very early stages of an infestation. It is also possible to have leftover nits from a prior infestation. Those would be old and unviable but with no real way to tell the difference to new lice.

Can you find lice in comb out?

Then, during your comb-out, you would find dead bugs or discover only the eggs. You can do a thorough combing head check on wet hair and still not find any lice because they will run from you. So if we do a combing head check on someone and we find nits we know that there must have been an adult female louse there.

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