FAQs
What happens at a treatment visit, and how long does it take?
Most visits at our Wantagh clinic take about an hour, though thick hair or a heavier case can stretch that. We start with a careful head check in a private treatment room. If lice or nits are there, we apply an enzyme-based solution and comb the hair out section by section. Before you leave, we go over what to wash at home and what you can safely skip.
Do you treat adults and whole families?
Yes. Lice Lifters of Nassau County sees all ages, from preschoolers to parents and grandparents. Kids in preschool and elementary school get lice most often, but adults pick them up too, usually through the same head-to-head contact that comes with hugs and bedtime stories. Because lice pass so easily inside a home, it makes sense to check everyone your child lives with. Mention who may need a check when you book so we can prepare for your visit.
We were exposed to lice. Can you just check us?
Yes. If we do find lice and you decide to treat, the check fee is credited toward the treatment. It helps to bring everyone who had close head contact with your child, so the whole picture is clear in one visit.
How much does treatment cost, and does insurance pay for it?
The cost depends on your family’s visit. Call or text us for current pricing, or book online. Either way, our staff will answer cost questions before your visit. Lice Lifters of Nassau County doesn’t accept or bill insurance, but we can give you an itemized receipt to submit to your insurer for reimbursement. Payment is due at the time of service, by credit or debit card. Ask about HSA or FSA when you book.
What is the 30 Day Guarantee?
Treatment at our Wantagh clinic comes with our 30 Day Guarantee. It applies when the whole family is checked, and there’s a practical reason for that: lice spread mostly through head-to-head contact, so one unchecked sibling or parent can pass them straight back to the child we just treated. Checking everyone in the house closes that gap. If you have questions about the guarantee for your family, call or text us before your visit.
How do I book, and how soon can we be seen?
You can book a head check online, or call or text us. Visits are by appointment at our Wantagh clinic, seven days a week, and same-day appointments are often available. If you don’t see a time that works, reach out and we’ll do our best to fit you in. When you book, tell us who is itchy, what you’ve spotted in the hair and whether anyone has already tried a drugstore product.
When can my child go back to school or daycare?
Usually right after treatment. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, head lice aren’t a reason for a child to miss school, and kids can return once they’ve had proper treatment. It also discourages no-nit policies that keep kids home over leftover eggs. Each Long Island school, daycare and camp sets its own rules, so check with the nurse or director if you’re unsure. If a notice just came home, book a check and we’ll help you plan the next few days.
Why does my child still itch after treatment?
The itch comes from an allergic reaction to louse bites, so the scalp can stay irritated for a while after the lice are gone. Some people never itch at all, which is one reason itching is a poor gauge of whether a case has cleared. Try not to restart treatment on itch alone. Seeing a live louse? Call or text us. If the itch or a scalp rash lasts more than seven days after treatment, check in with your child’s doctor.
What should we do at home after our visit?
Keep it simple and focus on the two days before treatment. Wash the bedding, clothes and towels used then in hot water (130°F) and dry them on high heat. Put anything you can’t wash, like a stuffed animal, in a sealed bag for two weeks. Soak combs and brushes in hot water, at least 130°F, for 5-10 minutes, and vacuum the floor, couch and car seats where your child sat. Pass on fumigant sprays and fogs; they can be toxic. Ask us about take-home prevention products.
What do lice and nits look like, and how are they different from dandruff?
A grown louse is about the size of a sesame seed, has six legs and is tan to grayish-white, looking darker in dark hair; nymphs are pinhead-size. Nits are tiny oval eggs, usually yellow to white, glued to a single hair near the scalp, most often behind the ears or at the nape. Dandruff and other flakes brush off easily, while a nit has to be slid off with a fingernail or fine comb. Not sure? A head check at our Wantagh clinic will sort it out.
How do I check my child for lice?
Sit your child under bright light, part the hair into small sections and work slowly with a fine-toothed lice comb from the scalp outward. Spend the most time behind the ears and at the nape of the neck, where nits are found most often. You’re looking for crawling lice or eggs glued within a quarter inch of the scalp. Wipe the comb clean between passes. If others live at home, check them too, since the CDC advises checking every household member and close contact.
How do kids get lice? Do lice jump or fly?
Lice can’t jump, hop or fly. They crawl, so they move from one head to another during close contact: sleepovers, selfies, sports huddles, a friend leaning in to share a tablet. Sharing combs, brushes, hats, towels or bedding can spread them as well, but that’s much less common. Lice show up most often in preschool and elementary-school children. Getting them says nothing about how clean your child or your home is.
Can Black people get lice?
Yes, Black children and adults can get head lice, though it happens less often. The CDC notes that head lice are much less common among African American people than among people of other races. Less common isn’t the same as never, so anyone who has had close head contact with a case deserves a careful check. At our Wantagh clinic, thick or tightly textured hair just means the comb-out may take a little longer.
How long can lice live on bedding, furniture or a hairbrush?
Not long. That’s why there’s no need to deep-clean the whole house. Lice can spread through shared bedding or brushes, but it’s much less common than head-to-head contact, so most of your energy belongs on checking heads rather than scrubbing furniture.
Do home remedies like mayonnaise, olive oil or hair dye work?
Not in any proven way. The CDC says there’s no scientific evidence that smothering lice with mayonnaise, olive oil, butter, margarine or similar products works, and hair dye isn’t a proven lice treatment either. Please don’t reach for gasoline, kerosene, bleach, rubbing alcohol or other harsh chemicals; they can burn the scalp or catch fire. If a weekend of kitchen remedies hasn’t settled things, a head check at our Wantagh clinic will show you what’s really there.
Do drugstore lice shampoos still work? What are super lice?
Sometimes, but resistance is now common. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that lice in many areas have become resistant to the most common over-the-counter ingredients, permethrin and pyrethrins. “Super lice” is the popular name for those resistant lice. If you’ve used a drugstore kit and still find live lice, the product may simply not be working on your family’s case. At our Wantagh clinic we use an enzyme-based solution and a careful comb-out instead.
Are head lice dangerous?
No. Head lice don’t spread disease and aren’t considered a health hazard. They’re a nuisance, itchy and frustrating, and they can leave kids embarrassed, but they aren’t a sign that anything is wrong with your child’s health or your home. The reason to act promptly is practical: an adult female lays about six eggs a day, so a small case does not stay small for long, and lice pass easily to siblings and friends.
Can pets or swimming pools spread lice?
No to pets, and it’s very unlikely for pools. Dogs, cats and other animals don’t get or spread human head lice, so there’s no need to treat the family pet. In the water, lice can survive for several hours, yet they’re unlikely to spread from swimmer to swimmer, and pool chlorine does not kill them. A dip in the pool won’t cause a case, and it won’t cure one either.