Discovering tiny unwanted visitors in your child’s hair can be alarming, but head lice are common and treatable. They are small insects that live close to the scalp and spread mainly through direct hair-to-hair contact. Having head lice does not mean a child is dirty or that their home is unclean.

If you suspect lice, examine the hair carefully under bright light, especially behind the ears and near the back of the neck. Live lice move through the hair, while their eggs, called nits, are attached firmly to individual hair shafts and can be difficult to remove. Dandruff and other debris usually slide or brush away much more easily. Once you confirm live lice, there are several practical steps you can take—and treating the problem correctly can help prevent it from spreading through the household.

Start with an appropriate head-lice treatment and follow its instructions carefully. Depending on the product, a second treatment may be required several days later to kill newly hatched lice.

Using a fine-toothed lice comb can also help. Work through damp, detangled hair in small sections, wiping or rinsing the comb after each pass. Continue checking the scalp regularly afterward.

Check other household members as well, particularly anyone who has had close head-to-head contact. Avoid sharing brushes, combs, hats, hair accessories, pillows, or similar personal items until the situation has been addressed.

You generally don’t need to disinfect your entire house. Wash recently used bedding, clothing, and towels as appropriate, and clean combs and brushes. Avoid insecticide sprays or potentially dangerous home remedies such as gasoline or kerosene. If treatment repeatedly fails, you’re uncertain whether you’re actually seeing lice, or your child develops significant scalp irritation or infection, contact a pharmacist or healthcare professional for advice.