How do I know if my child has lice?

The most common symptom of lice infestation is itching. However, infestation may continue even after itching stops. In addition, infestation may be present even if there is no itching. Some children experience no symptoms. Return to Top

What does a louse or nit look like?

Lice are tiny, wingless insects that live on the human scalp. They are about as big as sesame seeds. Lice eggs are about the size of poppy seeds and are difficult to see because their color easily blends in with the infested child's hair. Eggs are laid near the root of the hair and are attached with a waterproof, glue-like substance that can't be washed or blown away.

Once lice have hatched from eggs, they leave empty eggshells behind called "nits." Nits vary in color - from yellowish-brown to white.

We have illustrations and details in the section called All About Lice on this site. Return to Top

Can animals get/carry lice?

No. The types of lice that infect humans do not live on pets or other animals. There are other types of lice that live on animals, but these lice do not infect humans. If there is a concern that an animal may have lice, please refer to a vet for additional information. RID® is not approved for use on animals. Return to Top

How long do lice live? What is the lice life cycle?

Lice live approximately 40-50 days and go through 3 stages in their life cycle:

Eggs Stage: The adult female louse lays the egg with a special glue that cements it to the hair shaft near the root. The eggs develop and hatch approximately 10 days later.

Nymphs Stage: Once the louse hatches, it is called a nymph and is barely visible to the naked eye. The nymph cannot reproduce because it is not fully developed. After about 12 days, it becomes an adult.

Adults Stage: The adult louse can lay up to 4-10 eggs a day - starting another generation of lice. The adult stage lasts about 28 days. Return to Top

How do you contract lice? Are lice contagious?

The most common way of getting head lice is through head-to-head contact. Lice cannot fly or jump but they can crawl very quickly. Infestation can be spread by head-to-head contact with another infested person or by sharing personal items. To prevent infestation from spreading, DON'T allow head-to-head contact and DON'T share or borrow hair items (e.g., combs, headbands, etc.), headgear (e.g., hats, headphones, etc.), or other personal items. Return to Top

How do lice survive?

Head lice seek warm temperatures, so they stay close to the scalp. Head lice are parasites that feed by piercing the scalp and sucking blood. The scalp often becomes itchy when the infested person has developed an allergic reaction to this feeding. Return to Top

What types of lice are there?

There are 3 kinds of lice which infest humans: (1) head lice, (2) pubic (crab) lice and (3) body lice. The most commonly reported infestation is head lice. Return to Top

How do I prevent my child from getting lice?

Head lice can be passed from one child to another, usually by head-to-head contact. Make sure your child doesn't do the following:

• Share or borrow combs, brushes, barrettes, hair ribbons, headbands or other personal items.
• Share or borrow hats, sweaters, coats, scarves, helmets, headphones, pillows or stuffed animals.

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How do I avoid reinfestation?

Carefully inspect your child daily for at least 2 weeks. If you see lice or eggs, treat your child again by repeating Step 2 in the Lice Elimination process. Check other family members for head lice. If anyone in the family is infested, follow Step 1 and Step 2. Repeat Step 3 with any articles or items with which they have come into contact. Repeat Step 1 and Step 2, 10 days after first applying the lice killing shampoo. Return to Top

Where can I find head lice products in my store?

Lice treatments can be found in your favorite store in the First Aid or Shampoo aisle. Return to Top

What do I do with the comb when I'm done with one child?

You may use the same comb on another family member as long as you wipe the teeth of the comb with a tissue after every combing. Return to Top

How do I treat head lice so my child can return to school "nit free"?

Review Proper Lice Elimination Steps on this website to learn how to completely eliminate lice and nits. Return to Top

Why is it important to use a RID® Lice Killing Shampoo on DRY hair?

Wetting the hair can dilute the treatment. It is critical that you are careful about reading directions before using the product. Return to Top

What do I do if I apply RID® Lice Killing Shampoo on WET hair?

Rinse out the Shampoo from the hair. Continue with the combing procedure in Step 2. Apply another treatment on DRY hair 24 hours later. This will be the Day 1 application. Re-apply treatment on Day 10 to kill any newly hatched lice. Continue with the combing procedure after each application to take out dead lice, eggs & nits. Return to Top

How much of the RID® products do I need for my child's length of hair?

Each RID® product has a dosage guideline table on its side panel that can assist you in determining how much product you will need, depending on your child's hair length.

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In what sizes is RID® sold?

RID® Lice Killing Shampoo is available in:
2 FL OZ (59 mL)
4 FL OZ (118 mL)
6 FL OZ (177 mL)
8 FL OZ (236 mL)

RID® Lice & Egg Comb-Out Gel is available in:
2 OZ (57 g)

RID® Home Lice Control Spray is available in:
5 OZ (141.8 g)

RID® Complete Lice Elimination Kit contains:
4 FL OZ (118 mL) Shampoo
2 OZ (57 g) Lice & Egg Comb-Out Gel
5 OZ (141.8 g) Home Lice Control Spray
All sizes of the Shampoo, Comb-Out Gel and Complete Kit contain a removal comb and a color-coded detailed insert. Return to Top

Does RID® Shampoo have an expiration date?

Yes, there is an expiration date on the product packaging. Return to Top

Should I ventilate the room when using RID® Spray?

Ventilating the room is a critical step. We recommend ventilating the room prior to reoccupying. However, opening windows during spraying will not effect the efficacy of the treatment. As a precaution, individuals with asthma should not be the one to spray the product. Return to Top

When will I be cured?

When all directions have been followed for the three-step lice elimination process, you will be free of lice after the tenth day, which is your final application. To ensure this, it is critical that all steps be followed according to package directions. Return to Top

How often can I treat/retreat? When do I retreat?

Directions state to use RID® Lice Killing Shampoo on Day one and Day ten. However, it is important to check the hair continually and remove any nits or eggs that may have been missed in the initial combing process. Return to Top

When will RID® begin to work?

Most lice will die within, or shortly after, the ten-minute dosing. Lice are very sensitive to light and will move quickly when alive. If you observe lice crawling after treatment, they are probably affected and will die shortly. You should just comb them out of the hair. Return to Top

What in the house needs to be treated?

Examples of some household items that should be cleaned are:

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How do I comb?

Please see Step 2 of the proper Lice Elimination Steps Return to Top

Can I use my own shampoo/conditioner after treatment?

While it is not necessary to use your own shampoo or conditioner after treatment, doing so will not interfere with RID®'s efficacy. RID® Lice Killing Shampoo + Conditioner will not leave a chemical residue on the hair and its conditioning formula leaves your hair manageable. Return to Top

Can I use RID® on my infant?

No. RID® should not be used on an infant (under 2 years of age) without consulting a doctor. We suggest that you check your infant carefully for lice or eggs in his/her hair. If no lice or eggs are present, there is no need to treat the infant. If they are present, contact a physician before treating the infant. Return to Top

Can RID® be used for Pubic Lice?

Yes. You must treat pubic lice in a manner similar to that used for head lice. Please refer to Pubic/Body Lice section for more information. Return to Top