Depending on the length of hair, this can take between 10 minutes (for short hair) to 30 minutes (for longer hair)

Full marks should be applied to dry hair, and protect clothing with a towel around the shoulders because the product can stain fabric. Once you have had three sessions where you do not see any lice, it usually means that you are then free of lice. Shake the bottle then apply the solution to the dry hair and massage in, ensuring that the entire scalp and all the hair are coated with the solution. Most medicines used by the mother will cross the placenta and reach the baby. Sometimes this may have beneficial effects for the baby. There are, however, some medicines that can harm a baby’s normal development. How a medicine affects a baby may depend on the stage of pregnancy when the medicine is taken. If you are on regular medication you should discuss these effects with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant. Medicated methods fall into one of two categories - chemical insecticides and physical insecticides.Wet combing is a way of removing head lice without having to use a lotion to kill them. Briefly, the method is similar to wet combing (detection combing) described in the separate leaflet called Head Lice and Nits. However, you need to do this several times, four days apart. You will need to do this on every member of the household who has head lice. It is suitable for all ages and those with skin conditions. It may be used in pregnancy but is only advised if you have tried wet combing and dimeticone 4% and they have not worked. The information provided is taken from various reference sources. It is provided as a guideline. No responsibility can be taken by the author or the Breastfeeding Network for the way in which the information is used. Clinical decisions remain the responsibility of medical and breastfeeding practitioners. The data presented here is intended to provide some immediate information but cannot replace input from professionals. Full Marks is gentle on your children’s scalp while still being clinically proven to kill head lice and eradicate eggs. Some 69% of parents we surveyed in 2022 said they used a head lice solution, with medicated treatments from Boots, Superdrug, Full Marks, Hedrin, Nitwits and Lyclear all making the list.

Subsequent sessions clear newly hatched lice. Keep doing the combing sessions every four days until you have had three sessions where no lice are detected. Nits are white, empty egg shells left behind when a louse has hatched. They are glued to the hairs – and can be difficult to remove. Using a 'nit comb' or gripping the eggshell between tweezers may help. You need to do the above routine at least four times, every four days. The number of sessions required depends on the last time you see lice:

What are head lice?

The trade name for this treatment is Full Marks®. It works in a similar way to dimeticone. You apply the solution to the scalp and leave in place for 10 minutes. The hair is then combed with a fine-toothed comb to remove lice. Then wash using shampoo to remove the solution. Treatment should then be repeated in seven days' time. The second application makes sure that any lice that hatch from eggs which survived the first application will be killed before they are old enough to lay further eggs. If wet combing has not worked or is not suitable, you could try a medicated lotion or spray. These kill head lice in all types of hair, and you can buy them from pharmacies, supermarkets or online. Insecticides which work in a physical way, by coating the lice and smothering them. Treatments which work this way include: