What it is
Head lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp and glue their eggs (nits) to hair close to the skin. They spread by head-to-head contact, not through poor hygiene, and they don't carry disease. Children don't need to miss school for lice. Getting rid of them takes a treatment that matches your child's age plus a few weeks of combing.
What you might notice
- Itching, which can take weeks to start
- A tickling feeling of something moving in the hair
- Tiny white or tan nits stuck to hair near the scalp, especially behind the ears and at the nape
- Live lice: small, fast and gray-brown
- Sores from scratching
What we can do on video
- Confirm live lice or nits with a close look at the scalp on camera
- Recommend an over-the-counter treatment or prescribe one, based on age and what works locally
- Walk through the combing and retreatment schedule
- Provide a note for school
Caring for them at home
- Use the treatment exactly as directed, and retreat on the schedule for that product
- Comb wet, conditioned hair with a fine-tooth nit comb every two to three days for two to three weeks
- Wash bedding, hats and hair ties in hot water; dry stuffed animals on high heat for 20 minutes or bag them for two weeks
- Check everyone in the household
- Never use kerosene, gasoline or pet products
Be seen in person if…
- An infected scalp: oozing, swollen glands or fever
- Lice still present after two properly done treatments
- A baby under two months
- Lice or nits in the eyelashes
This information is educational and doesn't replace an evaluation by a clinician. Hugs is not insurance. Treatment is at the discretion of the clinician and limited to what can be safely assessed over video. Reviewed by the clinicians of LPMD Medical Group. Updated 2026-09-17.