Dealing with lice can be overwhelming and confusing. We’ve compiled expert answers to help you understand the facts, debunk the myths, and feel confident in your family’s treatment and prevention
No, lice can cause itching and a rash, but do not carry disease.
Adults are about the size of a sesame seed, have 6 legs, are wingless and have a brownish tinge
Nits are laid on the hair shaft, 3mm from the scalp and are glued to the hair shaft. They are oval in shape. They look brown when placed against a white background and are encased in a translucent shell. They are clear shell with a brown bug inside.
Nits take 8-12 days to develop and finally hatch.
A louse lays 2-8 eggs a day and can live up to 35 days before it dies. That means each bug can lay approx. 70-280 eggs per a female adult louse
There is an increasing resistance among lice due to the chemical shampoos/pesticides use throughout the years, and, in addition, some of the more efficacious chemicals have been removed from the pesticides due to their harmful side effects
Head-to-head contact is the most common way to transfer lice. Lice can be transferred through objects like caps, helmets, and hair brushes. Watch out when taking a selfie with friends
Lice feed on human blood from the scalp and will die within 48-72 hours when are off the head
Bed- It is important to change the bedding, wash in high temperature water, dry in high heat. Fabric sofas- vacuum or lint brush or cover with a large sheet for 3 days. Car seat- Lint brush or vacuum. Hair Brushes/ pony ties- Clean hair strands, place in a zip-lock bag and place in the freezer for 12hours / or a side for 3 days. Hats/ helmets/ Scarfes- Wash and dry on high heat or set a side in a trash bag for 3 days. Anything you wore and used in the past 2 days, such as towels and clothes- should be wash and dry or place aside for 3 days
NO. In order to remain viable, nits need to have the warmth of the human. Since the nits are glued to the hair shaft, they generally do not fall off the hair. If a nit does end up in your home, it become unviable very quickly – in the unlikely chance that a nymph pops out of the shell of the nit, that nymph (baby bug) will die before it can move
No. Lice like clean hair. If the hair is oily, it is difficult for the louse to adhere the nits to the hair
Parents should check children’s hair monthly for lice. Put long hair in a bun or braid and cover with hair spray, gel, or mousse. Using essential oils (Rosemary/ Tea Tree) helps prevent lice as the scent hide the human smell, the lice think it’s a plant not a human.
No. A person may have several lice and be asymptomatic or may have one louse and itch a lot
It is better to let his/her friends know so that they can check to see if they have it. If they do, they need to eradicate it so that they don’t give it back to your child. If you refer us to your friends and family, we never share any details about your treatment
The American Pediatric Association has recommended that schools drop “no nit” policies as children were missing many school days. The association states that by the time a case is discovered, the child has been in school already for at least 2 weeks. Some schools maintain a “no nit” policy while others have dropped it.
No. Head Lice and nits only live on human’s heads
