Treatments
Three lanes. One safety bar.
Physical removal, TGA-registered products, and a honest look at “natural” claims. Nitflix does not sell anything and does not pick a brand for you — your pharmacist does. A phone to the skull is not a fourth lane.
We know this cartoon is not clear. That is why this is here, in writing: never hit a child with a phone. Never hit a nit with a phone either. The phone is for looking — a torch, a magnifier, a camera. It is not a paddle, a comb, a lotion, or Nan’s preferred method.
First-line for many families
Physical — wet combing
Conditioner and a metal fine-tooth comb. No insecticide. Recommended for children under two (unless a clinician advises otherwise) and for anyone who prefers to avoid chemicals.
Ask your pharmacist
TGA-registered products
Australian pharmacies sell treatments with an AUST R or AUST L number. That mark means the product has been assessed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Your pharmacist can match a product to age, hair type, and what you have already tried.
Safety first
Natural options — with honest limits
Tea tree, other essential oils, vinegar, mayonnaise and similar home remedies have mixed, often weak evidence. Some irritate skin or eyes. They are not a substitute for wet combing or a TGA-registered product when live lice are present.
When to escalate
- A child under two needs anything other than wet combing.
- The scalp is broken, weeping, or looks infected.
- Two complete treatment cycles (including the day 7–10 repeat) have not cleared live lice.
- Someone is pregnant, breastfeeding, or on medicines you are unsure about.
- You are not sure what you are seeing after a careful wet comb.