Examine by separating hair away from the scalp and checking the entire hair strand. Reliable products, available without a prescription, will kill lice and their eggs within 10 minutes if used as directed. If open sores or scratches appear on the scalp, you MUST contact your doctor or clinic for advice on what product to use or treatment to prevent infection. Lice can live off the scalp for up to two days on personal items. Eggs take 7-10 days to hatch and can survive only two days without blood.
Heat kills lice.
Dry hair, preferably with a disposable cloth or paper towel. Fine toothcomb used to remove all nits. Special attention to areas behind the ears and nape of neck. Metal fine toothcombs seem to work best. Because no lice treatment kills all of the nits, it is important to remove them ALL after treating to prevent the nits from hatching and causing a reinfestation.