Look first, then act, is Dr Bowen s motto for headlice. Preventive approaches just build up resistance in the lice to treatment. Being aware of how the lice are spread can help to prevent reinfestation. Head lice formulations must be applied to all parts of the hair. A complete regime consists of two treatments, seven days apart, the first to kill the currently active lice and the second to kill the juvenile lice which have hatched from the eggs over the intervening six days.
Effective treatment involves the use of an approved chemical.
There are four classes of chemical - Pyrethrins, synthetic pyrethroids, Maldison and Herbal. Within each class there are a number of different brands. These products are available from your local pharmacist. In Australia, there is a problem with lice resistance to some of these products. It is necessary to test for resistance and then to treat with a different class of chemical if resistance is identified.