All About Head Lice and How to Get Rid of Them

Getting a note home from school or actually discovering lice in your child’s hair can be really stressful and concerning. But don’t worry, you’re not alone! The prevalence of head lice on Australian primary school aged children could be as high as 60% in some areas! 

In this article we’ll take a closer look into the world of head lice to provide you with all the info you’ll need to rid them from your home and family for good. With tips to help you identify a lice infestation, understand how they spread, and contain an outbreak, so your family can get back to normal life as quickly as possible.

A head lice infestation occurs when live head lice make it onto your hair and scalp and make themselves at home, where they’ll then continue to feed on blood and lay their eggs, known as nits. 

Lice are blood-sucking parasitic insects that live exclusively on humans, causing itchiness and discomfort, and are especially common among school-aged children.

So, how exactly do you know if and when you’re dealing with a head lice infestation? 

A common ‘telltale’ sign is persistent itching, but did you know that not everyone itches? In fact, only 14-50% of people experience itching, and it’s possible for head lice to be present for weeks or even months without causing an itch.  

Itching can also be caused by other factors, such as dandruff, or dry, irritated skin. 

It’s better to confirm a head lice infestation through finding nits or live adult lice near the scalp or on the hair. Regular check-ups are important. A favourite spot for nits is behind the ears and at the nape of the neck. Learn what to look for here.

If you spot any of nits or lice, it's time to roll up your sleeves and take action.

Head lice are sneaky little critters that spread through close person-to-person contact, primarily via direct head-to-head contact. 

This can occur through actual physical contact such as when hugging or huddling close together for a photo, or during activities such as sharing personal items like hats, hairbrushes, or headphones.

It’s worth remembering that head lice can also crawl onto shared surfaces like furniture, bedding, or clothing, allowing them to transfer from one person to another without actual direct contact. 

It’s important to remind your kids to stay on top of their personal hygiene and to avoid sharing any items that come into contact with the head in order to prevent the spread of lice. 

How Head Lice Spread

Head lice are known to spread predominantly through direct head-to-head contact. The most frequently seen means of transmission occurs when children touch heads while playing together indoors at home or school, outdoors on the playground or while playing sport.

The presence of head lice is not an indication of personal hygiene or cleanliness. Unlike body lice, head lice do not spread disease and do not pose any significant health risk.

Sharing objects such as hats, hairbrushes, combs, hair ties and other accessories can also transfer head lice from person to person. Head lice do not fly, hop or jump, but are able to crawl at a rapid rate. Head lice are not able to live on dogs or other animals, so pets are not a means of transmission.

Wash Personal Items

To prevent stray lice on personal items, it's important to thoroughly wash and disinfect items such as hats, hairbrushes, bedding, and clothing that may have come into contact with the affected person’s hair.

Thankfully, lice don't live long away from the human scalp, but it doesn't hurt to be thorough! Washing these items in hot water above 54°C for at least 10 minutes and using a hot dryer cycle for at least 20 minutes can kill any lice or nits.

Not sure where to start? Here’s how to get rid of nits and eggs fast.

Containing a head lice infestation is a multi-step process. First and foremost, treat the affected person’s scalp and hair with a proven lice-killing treatment product. To effectively treat and remove head lice and nits, it's important to follow the directions provided on the packaging of head lice treatment products. 

These products are applied directly to dry hair and scalp, ensuring thorough coverage from the roots to the ends of the hair. The product should then be massaged into the hair and scalp and left on for the duration of time specified on the packaging.

This allows the active ingredients in the treatment to work effectively to immobilise and kill lice and nits, making them easier to comb out. 

When treating a family member affected by head lice, it’s often a good idea for the rest of the family to be treated also in order to prevent spreading and reinfestation. See our range of head lice treatment products here. 

It's important to repeat the treatment process as directed on the product label to effectively treat the lice infestation and kill any nits that could have survived the initial treatment.

This step helps eliminate adult lice and their eggs clinging to the hair shafts. Next, combing through the hair with a fine-toothed comb can help remove any remaining nits and adult lice. Thoroughly rinse the product out of the hair using warm water. Use a fine-toothed lice comb to remove any remaining lice and nits from the hair shafts. 

Is There a Fast-Working Head Lice Treatment Available?

Yes, KP24 Rapid is an effective head lice treatment designed to rapidly kill head lice and their eggs. It works differently to many traditional treatments, as it has a physical action towards the lice. It kills head lice quickly by dehydrating and suffocating them. It also includes tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil which both have a repellent effect on head lice in order to prevent reinfestation. Remember to always read the label and follow the directions for use. View our range of other fast-acting head lice and nit treatments here. 

How Can I Prevent Nits from Hatching?

Firstly, treat the affected person’s scalp and hair with a proven lice-killing treatment product to immobilise and kill adult lice. KP24 products kill both live lice and unhatched nits! Dead nits won't hatch.

Next, combing through the hair with a fine-toothed comb can help remove any remaining nits and adult lice. By separating the nit from the hair, it won't be able to incubate and hatch.

You can learn more about nits here!

How Do I Remove Dead Lice Eggs from Hair?

Removing dead head lice eggs from hair using a lice comb requires patience and thoroughness. 

Begin by dividing the hair into small sections and securing them with clips or hair ties to ensure each section receives proper attention. With a fine-toothed lice comb, starting from the scalp, gently comb through each section of hair, working your way down to the ends. 

Be sure to comb through each section multiple times, wiping the comb on a paper towel or tissue after each pass to remove any dead lice eggs. Pay particular attention to areas where eggs are commonly found, such as behind the ears and at the nape of the neck. 

Take a look at head lice removal products including lice combs, combing solution, and egg removal solution here.