Is There a Chemical-Free Way to Remove Head Lice?

Question: Is There a Chemical-Free Way to Remove Head Lice?

Is there a way to remove head-lice without using chemicals? Some parents are reluctant to put chemicals on their child's scalp to remove the dreaded and much-loathed head lice. A systematic combing technique can be highly effective, if done correctly. Here's how.

Answer: The best way to comb hair is as follows:

1. Apply conditioner in wet hair that has been washed with regular shampoo; leave the conditioner in and comb hair with a normal comb.


2. Use a fine-toothed comb next; pull through all hair in one stroke from the root to the ends. The wet lice and nymphs can't move and stick to the comb; remove them in running water after each stroke.


3. After all hair is carefully combed using above technique, rinse hair and use regular comb in the drenched hair. Next, repeat the process of using a fine-toothed comb in the rinsed hair. Be sure to keep hair wet; the lice and nymphs dry quickly and will resume activity.


4. Continue combing in above process daily. The nits essentially "glue" themselves to hair and are very difficult to see. The continuing combing helps to remove any remaining lice and nymphs and newly-hatched ones.


5. The systematic combing is a two-week cycle to break the lice life cycle; if you short-cut the time, you could find your child becomes reinfested. The combing removes nits that hatch and then remove any nymphs before there is any chance to reproduce. Any empty eggshells should be removed also (there is a special nit comb that is recommended).

Parents should note that many schools and child care centers will not allow a child to return until he/she is nit-free or at least a full treatment has begun. Check with your school nurse or provider to determine the policy for returning a child with lice to school/care.