Head Lice: The Quick Refresher
The shorter version of the head lice playbook, for parents who have done this before and just need the checklist again.
Spotting lice
- Adult lice: gray-white, sesame-seed sized, light-averse.
- Nits: tan teardrops glued to single hair shafts within a quarter inch of the scalp.
- Dandruff flakes off; nits do not.
Treating
- Check the whole household. Treat the ones who actually have lice.
- OTC permethrin or pyrethrin per package. Repeat at day nine.
- Comb with a metal nit comb every two to three days for two weeks. This is the step you cannot skip.
- If OTC fails twice, ask the pediatrician about spinosad or ivermectin lotion.
House cleanup
- Hot wash and high-heat dry recently used bedding, hats, and brushes.
- Seal unwashable items in a plastic bag for two weeks.
- One vacuum pass on the couch and car seats. That is enough.
Preventing the next round
- Long hair up in a braid or bun at school.
- No sharing hats, brushes, or hair accessories.
- Skip the "preventive" sprays. Stay calm — most exposures do not become infestations.
For the longer version, see the full parent's guide.
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