This is certainly a moment of panic at first – take a deep breath! Lice are extremely annoying and often cause panic in parents, but they are not a sign of poor hygiene and fortunately they do not transmit diseases.

What is needed here is a cool head and a clear plan to get rid of the pests quickly and thoroughly:

Stay calm and check for an infestation
Observation: Carefully examine the scalp under bright light (ideally with a magnifying glass).
Distinguishing between them: Lice are about 2-3 mm long and fly away quickly. The nits (eggs) are yellowish-white, oval, firmly attached to the base of the hair and – unlike dandruff – cannot be simply blown or brushed off.

Start with the right treatment
Get the right product: Get a lice treatment from your local pharmacy (preferably one with a dimethicone/silicone oil base). This will clog the lice’s breathing pores without using chemical insecticides.
Wet combing: After treatment, apply your regular hair conditioner and comb through damp hair strand by strand with a special lice and nit comb. After each strand, wipe the comb on a white paper towel.

Schedule a second treatment (very important!): Remember to repeat the treatment after 8 to 10 days. During this time, any remaining nits will hatch before they can lay new eggs on their own.

Inform and protect the environment
Reporting requirement: Immediately inform your child’s school, kindergarten or daycare. This is required by law and protects all children from the cycle of infestation.
Check the family: Check the hair of all other family members (ideally with a nit comb and conditioner). Only treat those who are really affected.

What to do with textiles and the environment? (Less stressful than you think)

Important: Head lice can only survive without human blood for a few hours, a maximum of 1-2 days. They do not jump or fly!

Hats, pillowcases and favorite stuffed animals: Wash at 60 °C or place them in a sealed plastic bag for 3 days.

Combs and brushes: Soak them in soapy water at around 60 °C for 10 minutes.

No need for a thorough cleaning: Changing bed linen and vacuuming upholstery is completely sufficient – disinfecting the entire apartment for hours is a pure waste of energy.

It may seem uncomfortable at first, but with the right treatment and a follow-up visit in about a week, you will quickly have the problem under control.