Key points
- Head lice are tiny insects that live and breed in hair. Nits are the eggs of head lice.
- Head lice cannot fly; they spread by crawling from one person to another.
- Itching is the most common sign of head lice; however, many people do not get itchy.
- It is important to treat head lice to stop them from spreading. The two main ways to get rid of head lice are wet combing with conditioner or using chemical treatments.
- There is no way to prevent head lice. To stop the spread, you should check your child's hair regularly and treat any head lice or nits as soon as possible.
What are head lice?
Head lice are tiny insects that live and breed in hair, feeding on blood from biting the skin. They do not have wings, so they cannot fly. Instead, head lice spread by crawling from one person to another and laying eggs (nits).
Thankfully, head lice do not tend to carry or spread diseases. They are only found on humans and do not live on animals. They cannot survive for more than two days in any other environment, like carpet or furniture.
Signs and symptoms of head lice
Head lice are very common, particularly in children. The main symptom of head lice is itching from their bites. Other symptoms include:
- Red and irritated scalp
- Tickling feeling on the head
- Visible head lice and nits in the hair or on the scalp.
Many people with head lice do not get itchy. If your child has been exposed to head lice or nits, you should check their hair – even if they do not show symptoms.
How to tell head lice from dandruff
Both head lice and dandruff (flaky scalp skin) can cause itching, so sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference.
The main way to tell head lice from dandruff is that head lice and nits stick to the hair, and you cannot easily flick them off. Dandruff is much easier to remove; you can brush it off or easily pick it out. A magnifying glass may help you see head lice
or nits.
Figure one: Close-up image of head lice on a scalp. Image sourced from DermNet.
How to check for head lice
| 1. Sit your child down in a space with good lighting. Make sure their hair is dry. |
| 2. Divide their hair into sections, then use a fine-tooth head lice comb to brush through it. After each brush, wipe the comb on a white tissue or paper towel. You should be able to see if the comb pulls out any head lice or nits. |
| 3. If you have a magnifying glass, you can examine anything you find. Head lice are little tan or brown insects with legs; nits are tiny, white or tan oval-shaped and around the size of pinhead. You will usually find nits firmly attached to
the hair near the scalp. |
| 4. Keep combing through the same section of hair until you stop finding head lice or nits. Then, move to the next section of hair and repeat steps two and three. |
How to get rid of head lice
Treatments for head lice
Wet combing and chemical treatments are the two main ways to treat head lice. Some people combine treatments to improve their chances of treating all the head lice and nits.
Wet combing
This treatment involves using conditioner and a fine-tooth lice comb to remove head lice and nits from the hair. While conditioner does not kill head lice or nits, it helps trap them, making it easier to comb them out. Using a white conditioner can make
it easier to spot the lice.
This method requires patience and care. Comb slowly and thoroughly, as any head lice and nits left behind can lead to another case of lice.
Figure two: Head lice comb brushing through a child's dark hair.
Chemical treatments
Chemical treatments are sold at most pharmacies and supermarkets. These products contain insecticides designed to kill lice. After applying the treatment, use a lice comb to check the hair. If you find dead lice, the treatment has likely worked. If you
see live lice, it may not have been effective. Most chemical treatments do not kill nits, so it is important to repeat the treatment seven days later to target any lice which may have hatched since the first treatment.
Make sure to follow the instructions of chemical head lice treatments closely. If you live in Australia, check the packaging to ensure you are only using products with an Australian Registered (AUST R) or Australian Listed (AUST L) number. These numbers
show that a product has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Most chemical treatments are not recommended for children under two years, except on medical advice. Wet combing is recommended in younger children.
Treating the whole family
Head lice can easily spread through households, particularly with young children. If one of your children has head lice, it is best to check the whole family – even if they do not have any symptoms. You should treat anyone with head lice.
Stopping re-infection
After you have treated the head lice and nits, you should also wash all bedding of infected people. Either wash linens in hot water (at least 60°C) or dry them using a clothes dryer on a warm or hot setting. There is no evidence that you need to clean
the whole house to stop the spread of head lice. Avoid sharing brushes, combs and hats. If your child gets head lice or nits again, repeat the treatment process.
It is a good idea to let your child’s school and close contacts know if your child has lice. This way, they can let other families know, to help stop the spread.
Common questions about head lice
Can I catch head lice from my child?
Head lice are most common in children, but adults can catch them, too. You may catch head lice from your child through head-to-head contact, and occasionally by sharing objects like brushes or hats. If you catch head lice, you should treat your
head and scalp the same way as your child – using the wet comb method or chemical treatments.
Do head lice prefer clean or dirty hair?
There is no evidence that head lice prefer clean or dirty hair, nor do they favour certain hair types.
Are head lice a sign of bad hygiene?
Head lice and nits are not a sign of poor personal hygiene, nor of an unclean home. Anyone can get head lice.
How often should I check my child for head lice and nits?
As a rule of thumb, it is a good idea to check your child for head lice and nits every three to four days after contact with a known case of lice. You can check more often if you notice your child itching their head a lot.
Do natural remedies work for treating lice?
Evidence for the effectiveness of natural head lice remedies, such as tea tree oil, vinegar and petroleum jelly is very mixed. These treatments can also be harder to use and messier than conventional options. Their effectiveness is likely to be
improved with frequent combing, including with conditioner.
Can straightening hair kill head lice and nits?
There is not enough evidence to recommend using a hair straightener to treat head lice or nits. While the heat might kill lice if it touches them directly, it is hard to get close enough to the scalp where nits are usually found. Using a hot straightener
near the scalp can be dangerous and may cause burns. It is also not clear if the heat from a straightener can get through the hard shell of the nits to kill them.
How do I prevent head lice?
Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent head lice. Chemical treatments can kill head lice during an infestation, but you should not use these products as a precaution; this can increase the chances of head lice becoming resistant to these products
and harder to get rid of in the future. If your child has long hair, it may help to keep their hair tied up.
Can my child still go to school with head lice?
In Victoria, the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 states children cannot go to childcare or school with untreated live head lice. If your child has head lice, they can usually return to school the day after you start treatment – even
if they still have some nits. Some schools have their own policies around head lice; it is best to check with your school directly.
My child keeps getting head lice. What can I do?
If your child keeps getting head lice and you have treated them using the methods above multiple times, it may be a good idea to speak with a doctor for advice.
For more information
Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital Dermatology department, with input from Infectious Diseases. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.
Reviewed June 2025
Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.