07/10/2025
Headlice!
Please check out the NHS advice below relating to the detection and treatment of headlice.
We are currently seeing increased requests for treatment, so please do check the heads of your household, especially if they are of school age (primary and secondary).
Detection is best using a fine tooth comb, paying particular attention to the nape of the neck and behind the ears. This can be done with conditioner, or dry combed, depending on personal preference.
If anything is detected, then treatment options are:
⚕️ Fine tooth combing regularly, is a treatment in itself.
Headlice have a life cycle of about 17 days.
In order to rid an infestation, comb on days 1, 5, 9, 13 and 17.
This will remove or break the legs of any adult lice - this is important because a head louse with broken legs cannot reproduce, so blocks the next generation. Any smaller lice that miss the comb on day 1, will be big enough to be found by day 5, but before they reach sexual maturity. Once again, removing them or breaking their legs to stop reproduction.
Any eggs that have been laid already will hatch, and those lice will be caught by the comb on days 9 or 13, before being able to reproduce themselves. If reproduction is prevented, the infestation is eradicated. Anything that is there after day 17 is a new infestation, and has come from another source (friend or family member, with close head to head contact).
⚕️ Treatment with head lice products
There are 2 types - insecticide based, which kill lice and act on eggs, or mechanically based products which smother the lice and eggs, physically preventing them moving or hatching.
The insecticide products usually only require one treatment, however, resistance is common, and you should alternate what treatments you use - chat with us and we can help.
The mechanically acting options, need 2 treatments, usually a week or 10 days apart, so that the first treatment tackles the head lice, and the second treatment the hatchings. This is because mechanically acting products are less effective on eggs
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE FOR TEA TREE OIL SHAMPOOS OR CONDITIONERS OR NEAT OIL. THEY ARE NOT ADVISED BY THE NHS, AS EITHER A TREATMENT OR A PREVENTATIVE. THIS IS AN OLD WIVES TALE. However, tea tree oil has mild antiseptic properties, and is often a nice product to use, and can be good for sensitive scalps - use it if you wish, but only to have a nice shampoo/ conditioner. Do not use it for headlice treatment or prevention.
As always, feel free to come and chat with us about your individual circumstances, and we can advise accordingly.
Find out how to spot head lice, how to get rid of them and how they spread.
