Other products containing the chemical lindane require a prescription and are best avoided unless recommended by a physician after other pediculicides fail. Consult with your pharmacist or pediatrician before using any of these products since they may not be recommended for small children, children with certain illnesses and conditions or pregnant women. Generally speaking, pediculicides are applied initially at the time that the head lice are discovered and then again in a week to ten days. Two applications are needed so that any remaining eggs that may have hatched are killed in a second treatment. Be sure to leave the treatment on for the specified length of time to insure maximum effectiveness.
Nits are smaller than lice and can be white to yellowish-brown in color.
Nits can be found on the hair shaft, usually close to the scalp. Since nits are firmly attached with a waterproof and sticky substance they cannot be washed away or destroyed by blow drying the hair. Nits are best removed manually with a comb or special nit-removing device. The process of removing the nits can be tedious and time-consuming depending on the length of a child's hair. It is best to divide the hair into four sections.