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Lice Removal in Portland, Oregon

Head lice are about as common as Portland rain. If you have a school-age kid in Multnomah, Washington, or Clackamas County, sooner or later you will be in the bathroom with a fine-tooth comb. Here is what works, what does not, and where to get help.

How head lice spread

Lice spread through direct head-to-head contact. They do not jump, they do not fly, and despite the playground rumors they have nothing to do with how clean you keep your house or your hair. They are equal opportunity. They show up in tidy homes and messy ones at the same rate.

The eggs, called nits, glue themselves to the hair shaft within about a quarter inch of the scalp. They hatch in roughly a week, and the new lice take another week or two to reach adulthood and lay more eggs. That is the lifecycle to interrupt.

Spotting them

Itching is the obvious sign but is not universal — some kids barely scratch. The reliable test is a visual inspection in bright light. Part the hair into small sections and look behind the ears, at the nape of the neck, and along the crown. Adult lice are gray-white and about the size of a sesame seed. Nits look like tiny tan teardrops cemented to single hairs. If you can flick it off, it is not a nit.

Treatment options in Portland

Over-the-counter products are stocked at every Fred Meyer, New Seasons, Walgreens, and Rite Aid in the metro. Permethrin (Nix) and pyrethrin (RID) are the standard. Use them per the package and repeat at day nine to catch newly hatched lice. If two rounds of one product do not clear it, switch products or ask your pediatrician for a prescription option like spinosad or ivermectin lotion.

Combing is the other half. A real metal nit comb is worth the ten dollars over the plastic one in the OTC box. Work through wet conditioned hair in sections, wipe the comb between strokes, and repeat every two to three days for two weeks.

Professional services

If you would rather pay someone to do this for you, the Portland metro has several professional lice removal salons. They generally use combing-based protocols without harsh chemicals and charge per head. Worth it if you have multiple kids, a stubborn case, or simply do not have the time and patience for a two-week home program.

Prevention

Long hair up in a braid or bun for school is the simplest prevention. Tell kids not to share hats, brushes, or hair accessories. There is not strong evidence that preventive shampoos or essential oil sprays work, so save your money for the comb.