There are three main ways to get rid of head lice €“ physical insecticides, chemical insecticides and wet combing. It's important to note that treatments should only be used if a live louse has been found on the head.

Physical insecticides

Products containing ingredients such as cyclomethicone, isopropyl myristate and dimeticone kill head lice through a physical action. This means that the head lice can't become resistant to them.

Customers should be advised to carry out two treatments with these products, seven days apart, in order to kill any lice that may have hatched after the first treatment. Examples: Lyclear Spray, Lyclear Treatment Shampoo, Linicin, Full Marks Solution, Hedrin Lotion.

Chemical insecticides

These products contain chemicals that kill head lice and their eggs. They come in a range of formulations. There are two different active ingredients available OTC in the UK €“ permethrin and malathion. In all cases, it's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully, making sure that the treatment is applied for the recommended time.

As with the physically-acting products, two treatments should be carried out seven days apart to avoid re-infection. Examples: Lyclear Creme Rinse, Derbac M Liquid.

Wet combing

Wet combing is a way of removing head lice without the use of chemicals. In this case, a fine, metal-toothed comb is used to comb the lice and eggs off the scalp and out of the hair.

The hair should first be washed with ordinary shampoo. After rinsing, lots of conditioner should be applied as this makes it harder for the lice to hold on to the hair. A fine toothed 'detection' comb should then be worked through the hair in sections, from the scalp to the tips. The comb should be checked for lice and eggs after each stroke and if any are seen, they should be removed before the next stroke. After the whole head has been combed, the hair should be rinsed and dried.

This technique needs to be repeated every four days for at least two weeks. If any adult lice are found on the second, third or fourth sessions, three further sessions at four-day intervals will be needed until no lice are found.