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How do I treat head lice!

Treat only if you find a live louse. In Canada, first-line treatment is a topical insecticide (pyrethrin or permethrin 1%), with a repeat treatment 7-10 days later; if that fails, non-insecticidal options like dimeticone or isopropyl myristate/cyclomethicone are good alternatives.

Your child does not need to miss school and lice are not a sign of poor hygiene.

Strength of evidence

Good

Based on a Canadian Paediatric Society clinical practice statement and consistent with AAP and CDC guidance; underlying treatment trials are limited in number, as CPS itself notes only a few high-quality studies exist.

What the evidence says

First, confirm it's really lice: you need to see an actual live louse crawling in the hair, not just nits (eggs), since nits can look similar to dandruff and can persist long after lice are gone. Once confirmed, the Canadian Paediatric Society recommends starting with an over-the-counter topical insecticide - either pyrethrin (safe from age 2) or permethrin 1% (safe from age 2 months). Follow the package directions exactly, rinse over a sink rather than in the bath, and repeat the treatment 7-10 days later to catch any lice that hatched from surviving eggs.

If insecticide treatment doesn't work, Health Canada has approved non-insecticidal alternatives such as dimeticone (brand name NYDA, not for children under 2) and isopropyl myristate/cyclomethicone (brand name Resultz). These are effective against live lice and eggs but cost more. Your child does not need to stay home from school and lice do not spread disease or mean anyone is unclean.

Avoid home remedies like mayonnaise, petroleum jelly or essential oils, as there's no good evidence they work, and never use products meant for animals or flammable substances on a child's head.

Sources

✓Reviewed by CH, MD, FRCPC

Reviewed by a specialist physician certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, who has read this answer against the sources listed above and confirmed it reflects them. That is not medical advice about your child. How we review

Answer checked August 2, 2026

Educational information only. Not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and no doctor-patient relationship is created by using this. Founded Parent has not examined your child and does not know their history, so this may not apply to you. In an emergency, call your local emergency number. What Founded Parent cannot do

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Educational information only. Not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and no doctor-patient relationship is created by using this. Founded Parent has not examined your child and does not know their history, so its answers may not apply to you. Never delay or disregard advice from a qualified health professional because of something you read here. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.