Head Lice (Nits) in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Head lice are small, wingless insects that live, breed, and feed on the human scalp. In Grand Rapids, MI, head lice are especially common in school-aged children, daycare settings, and households where kids play closely together—particularly during the school year and indoor winter months.

Head lice are a nuisance but do not generally carry or transmit disease.

How Head Lice Spread in Grand Rapids

Head lice have existed for millions of years and predate human evolution. They spread through direct head-to-head contact. Lice will crawl from one head to another without discrimination—anyone can get them, regardless of hygiene or income.

Key facts about how lice spread

  • Lice cannot fly or jump – they only crawl.
  • They spread through:
    • Playing or cuddling
    • Sports and group activities
    • Sleepovers
    • Sitting or working closely together
  • They are most common in children and their families, especially in:
    • Grand Rapids Public Schools
    • Local private and charter schools
    • Daycare and preschool programs across Kent County

Indirect spread (through hats, brushes, or bedding) is possible but far less common than direct head-to-head contact.

Head Lice Life Cycle and Nits (Eggs)

A female louse lays 3 to 8 eggs (nits) per day. These eggs:

  • Are firmly attached to the hair shaft within about 1.5 cm (½ inch) of the scalp
  • Rely on the warmth of the head to hatch
  • Cannot be brushed off easily

What lice and nits look like

  • Nits (eggs):
    • Oval and about the size of a pinhead
    • Firmly glued to the hair shaft
    • Do not flake off like dandruff
    • A live nit may make a soft “pop” when crushed between fingernails
  • Adult lice:
    • Small, wingless insects
    • Whitish-brown to reddish-brown
    • Have 6 legs, each ending in a claw that grips hair

You can have head lice without itching, so you cannot rely on scratching as the only sign of an infestation.

Symptoms: Itching May Not Go Away Right Away

Many people with head lice experience:

  • Itchy scalp, especially around the ears and the back of the neck
  • Tickling or crawling feeling on the scalp
  • Redness or irritation from scratching

Important points about itching

  • Itchiness may not disappear immediately after treatment.
  • Persistent itch without live lice or new nits is not a reason to repeat treatment.
  • Some people do not itch at all, even with active lice.

If you suspect exposure (for example, your child’s school in Grand Rapids sends a head lice notice), you should carefully inspect the hair and scalp, even if there is no itching.

How to Check for Head Lice

The easiest and most effective way to find head lice is the conditioner and comb method, done at least weekly in households with school-aged children.

Step-by-step: Conditioner and comb method

  1. Prepare the hair
    • Start with dry, brushed (detangled) hair.
  2. Apply conditioner
    • Comb a generous amount of regular hair conditioner onto the dry hair.
    • The conditioner makes it hard for lice to grip or move quickly.
  3. Comb with a fine-tooth lice comb
    • Use a fine-tooth head lice comb (ideally stainless steel with long, closely spaced, rounded teeth).
    • Work in small sections.
    • Comb from the scalp all the way to the ends of the hair.
  4. Wipe and inspect
    • After each pass, wipe the comb onto a white tissue or paper towel.
    • Look for lice and nits on the comb and tissue.
  5. Repeat
    • Comb through every part of the head at least 4–5 times per section.

If you find live lice or viable eggs, the person should be treated.

Note: If the person was recently treated and you only see empty, hatched eggs (they look like nits with the top cut off and are often farther from the scalp), you may not need to repeat treatment.

Do You Need to Clean the House?

For families in Grand Rapids, there is no evidence that deep-cleaning the entire house or classroom prevents head lice.

You only need to:

  • Change the affected person’s pillowcase
  • Wash it in hot water (at least 140°F / 60°C) or dry it on warm or hot in the dryer

You do not need to:

  • Fumigate the home
  • Bag up toys for days
  • Disinfect furniture or car seats

Focus your efforts on the head, not the home.

Treating Head Lice in Grand Rapids, MI

There are two preferred initial treatment options:

  1. Conditioner and comb method alone
  2. Insecticide (medicated) products, plus combing

Using medicated head lice products

In the United States, many over-the-counter products are available at Grand Rapids pharmacies (Meijer, Walgreens, CVS, and local independent pharmacies).

Common active ingredients include:

  • Pyrethrins (natural insecticides)
  • Synthetic pyrethroids (e.g., permethrin)
  • Other prescription options (e.g., ivermectin, spinosad, malathion – typically prescribed by a doctor)

How to use these products correctly

  • Lotions: Apply to dry hair.
  • Shampoos: Wet the hair first, but use as little water as possible.
  • Apply the product to all parts of the hair, from scalp to ends.
  • Follow the exact instructions on the package for how long to leave it on and how to rinse.

After treatment:

  1. Comb through with a fine-tooth lice comb to remove dead lice and eggs.
  2. Check the removed lice:
    • If they are dead within 20 minutes, the product likely worked.
    • If they are still moving, the lice may be resistant to that product or active ingredient.

Important safety notes

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using medicated lice products:

  • If you are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • For children under 12 months
  • For people with:
    • Asthma
    • Allergies
    • Open wounds or irritated skin on the scalp

All topical insecticide treatments can cause skin reactions in some people.

Why Two Treatments Are Needed

No topical insecticide kills 100% of the eggs in one application.

  • You must repeat treatment 7 days after the first application.
  • The second treatment kills lice that hatch from eggs that survived the first treatment.

If you choose not to use an insecticide, you can use the conditioner and comb method every second day until no live lice have been found for 10 days.

Insecticide Resistance and Treatment Failure

In Michigan and across the U.S., insecticide-resistant lice are increasingly common.

If:

  • You have used a product correctly,
  • And live lice are still being removed after treatment,

then the lice may be resistant to that active ingredient.

In that case:

  • Try a product with a different active ingredient, or
  • Speak with your pharmacist or healthcare provider in Grand Rapids.

If several treatments have failed and live lice are still present despite careful combing, see your primary care provider for a referral to a dermatologist (skin specialist).

Prescription Treatment: Ivermectin

For stubborn or resistant head lice, a dermatologist or physician in Grand Rapids may prescribe oral ivermectin.

  • Usually taken as a tablet twice, 7 days apart.
  • It is highly effective in treating head lice when used as directed.

Ivermectin is a medication with a strong evidence base; it is part of a class of drugs that contributed to a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015.

Choosing a Head Lice Comb

Head lice combs are an essential part of effective treatment and prevention.

  • Best option:
    • Combs with long, rounded stainless steel teeth, very close together.
  • Other options:
    • Plastic head lice combs, often included with over-the-counter lice shampoos or lotions.

Any fine-tooth lice comb is better than none, but metal combs tend to be more durable and effective.

School and Daycare Policies in Grand Rapids

Policies can vary by district and school, but in general:

  • Children with untreated head lice may be asked to stay home until treatment has started.
  • Once treatment has begun, children are usually allowed to return to:
    • Grand Rapids Public Schools
    • Kent ISD programs
    • Local private and charter schools
    • Daycare and preschool centers

Most public health experts, including those in Michigan, now recommend that children return to school once treatment is started, even if some nits are still present, to reduce unnecessary absences.

Check with your specific school or childcare center for their current head lice policy.

Preventing Head Lice in Grand Rapids, MI

There is no product that can completely prevent head lice.

However, you can reduce the risk:

  • Check weekly using the conditioner and comb method, especially during the school year.
  • Tie long hair back in braids, buns, or ponytails.
  • Teach children to:
    • Avoid head-to-head contact during play.
    • Avoid sharing combs, brushes, hats, helmets, hair accessories, scarves, and headphones.
  • Let close contacts know:
    • If someone in your household has head lice, inform family, friends, and caregivers who have had head-to-head contact so they can check and treat if needed.

Local Help and Resources in Grand Rapids

If you live in Grand Rapids or Kent County and need help with head lice:

  • Your primary care provider (GP/family doctor)
    • Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health clinics all have primary care offices throughout the metro area.
  • Pharmacist
    • Can recommend appropriate over-the-counter treatments and explain how to use them safely.
  • Dermatologist
    • For resistant or persistent lice that do not respond to standard treatments.
  • Kent County Health Department
    • Offers public health information and may provide guidance on head lice in schools and the community.
  • Grand Rapids Public Health / Local health departments
    • Can provide education materials and may advise schools and childcare centers on best practices.

Key Points to Remember

  • Head lice are most common among children and their families in Grand Rapids and across Michigan.
  • Lice do not spread disease, but they are uncomfortable and can be stressful for families.
  • Itchiness may not disappear immediately after treatment.
  • Persistent itch without live lice is not a reason to repeat insecticide treatment.
  • The conditioner and comb method, done regularly, is one of the most effective ways to find and help manage head lice.
  • Always follow product instructions carefully and check that lice removed after treatment are actually dead.
  • Seek help from a doctor, pharmacist, or dermatologist in Grand Rapids if treatments are not working or if you are unsure what to do next.