Head lice

Head lice... every parent’s worst nightmare. Who would have thought that such teeny tiny insects could be such a nuisance?

Head lice, also known as nits, are tiny wingless insects that are very common in young children and their families. Unlike fleas and ticks, head lice are exclusive to humans and only feed on human blood. They are grey and about the size of a sesame seed when fully grown. They can't fly, jump, or swim, but they do itch!

Contrary to popular belief, they don't have anything to do with dirty hair.

How do I check myself for head lice?

The only way to know if you have head lice is by finding live lice, you may have an itchy scalp and feel like something is moving on your head. You can find lice with a special fine-toothed comb, available in-pharmacy and online.

How long do head lice live for?

Adult lice can live for up to a month on a human head, with females laying up to 5-6 eggs a day. The eggs hatch after 7 days, then mature into adult lice within 9-12 days. Understanding this cycle is key to effective lice prevention and treatment.

How to treat head lice

You need to treat head lice as soon as they are found, check everyone in the household and start treatment at the same time. There are many head lice treatments available at our pharmacy. Our pharmacy team can help pick the best one for your family.

Shop now

Wet combing with a head lice comb

The NHS recommends that you use the simple wet combing technique to remove both lice and nits. Wet combing is when you wash your hair with regular shampoo and lots of hair conditioner, then use the fine-toothed comb, available at your local pharmacy, to comb from the roots to the ends of your hair.

Learn more

Head Lice: Fact Vs Fiction

Does hair straightening kill head lice?

＋

Although heat indeed kills head lice, hair straighteners will not reach head lice eggs, called nits, which are closer to the scalp. Also, you don’t want to risk damaging your hair just to get rid of head lice when other, less hot, strategies are out there!

Can hair colour kill head lice?

＋

You may be thinking that the chemicals used in hair dye could be enough to exterminate those lice, and some dyes may kill hair lice depending on their ingredients. However, like hair straighteners, this will not be enough to get rid of nits. So don’t go dying your hair bright blue just to get rid of lice, because they’ll just come back!

Does tea tree oil kill headlice?

＋

Although studies have found that tea tree oil does affect head lice, the NHS does not recommend that you use it to kill head lice. Instead, if wet combing doesn’t work, you should go to your pharmacist who will advise on safe and effective treatments.

Using medical products and lotions may irritate your scalp.

Can chlorine kill head lice?

＋

No evidence suggests that chlorine kills head lice. Although they don’t swim, head lice can survive in pool water. Chlorine has no lasting effect on lice or nits.

Does Mayo kill head lice?

＋

There’s always one wild theory to solve your health-related problems using household items. For tackling head lice, it’s mayonnaise! Unfortunately, there is no solid proof that you can suffocate head lice with mayo, so save it for your sandwiches!

Can head lice live in bedding?

We spend half of our day with our heads on a pillow, so you may think head lice can live in pillows and bed linen. Head lice feed off human blood, so will spend most of their time on your scalp. If any were to wander onto your bedding, they’d be able to survive for about two days. Nits are less likely to fall onto your bedding, and if they do, will die within a week.

If you have head lice, it’s wise to wash your bedding and clothes to make sure no stragglers make their way back to your scalp in the night!