WHERE DO HEAD LICE COME FROM?

When you find head lice, you may ask yourself where do lice come from? If you've only found nits (head lice eggs) you are also likely puzzled about where they came from. When considering where your family got their case of head lice it is difficult to tell because as you go about your daily life, you are exposed to people who may have lice and not even know it. You may never know where your case of lice came from, but it started when either a pregnant louse or two live bugs made their way to your human head through head-to-head contact with another human head hosting an active case. If you just have eggs, then there was at one time one pregnant louse on your head.

WHERE DO LICE ORIGINATE FROM?

There are various answers to the question of where did lice come from before humans. Historically, head lice likely have been around for hundreds of thousands of years; nits have even been discovered on Egyptian mummies. Originally, in nature, their ancient origins point to the possibility that they are an offshoot of body lice. This likely happened over 100,000 years ago.

If you are wondering where lice come from when not on human hosts, it is unlikely that your case of head lice came from pets, a pool, or something other than direct contact, but there is a small possibility you may have gotten it from any number of places like a bus seat while traveling or trying on clothes at the mall. Most likely you got this case when a live bug or two made their way onto your head after direct head-to-head contact, by far the most common means facilitating the spread of head lice, with another person's head infested with lice.

HOW DO LICE REPRODUCE?

A short explanation of how lice form is that lice are formed when 2 adult lice of the opposite sex mate. Afterward, the female bug lays eggs on the strands of hair, gluing them firmly about ¼ inch from the scalp close to the base of the hair shaft with a substance she secretes. Over the course of the next week to ten days, lice grow in the eggshell and then hatch. Immature lice, called nymphs, do nothing but feed off of human blood on the scalp. A week to 10 days later, these now adult lice will begin to reproduce.

HEAD LICE LIFE CYCLE

From the time they are laid to the time that they die of old age, an individual head louse will live on ahead without treatment for about 30 days. The lice life cycle timeline is as follows: the nit is the first stage of the head louse life cycle timeline, which is 6-7 days. After it hatches, the nymph stage of the cycle begins. It will last roughly 10 days. Once mature, on day 16, the adult louse will remain in this stage, feeding, breeding, and staying warm until it dies around day 30-32.

Nit

The nit stage of head lice starts as a lice egg laid on a strand of hair. Nits are glued firmly onto the follicle to ensure that they do not fall off. The eggs are attached to one side of the hair of an infested person close to the scalp near the base of the hair shafts. They are about the size of a sesame seed, oval, and when removed have a brown or tan-colored appearance.

Most treatments fail because they do not address the eggs. For total eradication, every egg has to be removed from the hair during lice treatment with a very fine comb or with your fingers to prevent the lice infestation from coming back. There is nothing on the market that will consistently penetrate this eggshell killing the bug inside. The nit stage lasts anywhere from six to seven days.

Nymph

The second phase of the life cycle of the louse begins after the bug emerges from the shell; this baby bug is now referred to as a nymph. This stage lasts approximately 10 days.

After the lice hatch on day 6 or 7, baby lice bugs, or nymphs, cannot reproduce, meaning they cannot lay eggs making an infestation worse. They spend the next 10 days close to the scalp, not moving, and nourishing themselves with the blood from their host's head. Away from the protection of their eggshell, they are vulnerable to lice treatment. Toward the end of this stage, without treatment, head lice may be spread to other humans.

Lice

The mature adult lice will emerge after the third molting stage around 10 days after they hatch from their eggs. During this phase of their life, bugs are still vulnerable to lice treatments. If you are dealing with "super lice" (which are very prevalent), pesticide treatments will prove to be ineffective. Once the bugs reach this stage of a head lice infestation, they are fully mature, and the male and female louse gain the ability to reproduce.

You can tell the difference between a male and a female louse by examining their size. Male lice bugs are smaller and have shorter abdomens than their female counterparts. You cannot tell merely by appearance if you are dealing with super lice or not. After mating, a female louse lays eggs one to two days later on the person's hair. For the next fifteen to sixteen days after reaching maturity, adult head lice will continue to mate, females will lay eggs, and both will feed off of the human scalp. A louse can lay anywhere from six to ten eggs a day during this period, laying a total of around 100 or more eggs. This is the third and final stage of the head lice stages of lice.

Head lice live on the head of an infected person and do not like to leave their host; it's unlikely that you will find head lice on hair brushes or other hair accessories. Contrary to popular belief, pediculus humanus capitis is not contracted due to poor hygiene. Head lice are not a spreader of disease, so no disease control is needed. They are different from body lice that lay eggs in clothing fibers, personal items, and other objects that a human host is likely to spend time near. Unlike head lice which can be treated at lice clinics, body lice spread diseases such as trench fever and relapsing fever and are often found in settings where poor personal hygiene is common. Lice clinics will not treat body lice. The third type of lice is pubic lice and they live and reproduce in the pubic areas of the human body and cannot be treated at lice clinics. Contact with a person with any of the three types of human lice can facilitate the spread from one human host to another.

Lice Anatomy

To identify lice, you need to get an idea of what does head lice look like. When looking at the anatomy of a louse, one can note that it has three distinctive body parts in addition to six legs: the head, the abdomen, and the thorax. The head has an antenna, eyes, and mouth. The mouth is shaped like a tube and there are little sharp teeth that bite the scalp to suck human blood for food. The thorax has six short legs with claws that grab human hair so the bug can shimmy to the scalp. At the back of the louse is the abdomen which contains the intestines. Head lice look different from body lice and pubic lice.

How Do You Get Lice in the First Place?

Head lice are transmitted via physical contact with one or two live adult female lice, most often by head-to-head contact. Kids give hugs, friends wrestle on the playground, and children sit close to other children watching tv or playing games. These activities are usually harmless, unless one of these children has head lice, even if they don't have symptoms.

Today's lice are mostly resistant to common over-the-counter treatments, and this kind of treatment never worked on the eggs. Because over-the-counter treatments aren't working to get rid of them anymore, there are more opportunities than ever to spread this itchy problem. Since treatments are challenging, avoiding exposure in the first place is ideal.

How Easy Is It to Get Lice?

Head lice are highly contagious, even before symptoms develop or nits are visible. They have an easy time crawling from one child's head to another during close contact.

It's even possible to catch head lice by sharing items like hats, combs, clothing, towels, and hairbrushes. This, however, doesn't happen as often as spreading via close contact.

The transmission will usually occur between children (because they have more opportunities to touch heads), who then share the bugs with their family members during hugs. By the time you see symptoms, everyone in the household may need treatment.

Nits and nymphs are not contagious, as the nymphs don't move much and nits (lice eggs) are glued in (but you still need to treat them as the nits will hatch).

Where Do You Get Lice from?

While most commonly transmitted by direct head-to-head contact, someone can contract lice from inanimate objects (like hats or brushes) or an environment that a louse is temporarily occupying.

Yet it's a misconception that head lice live in environments and that an infestation is just waiting in a theater seat or hotel bed for their next victim. Head lice die within a day or two of falling off of the human host, so lice spreading through environments like schools, the playground, or daycare is an extremely limited risk.

Let's debunk some myths about the most common places to get lice for your safety and peace of mind.

Can You Get Lice from the Beach?

You may have heard you can get sand lice at the beach. While true, this term refers to tiny jellyfish larvae getting trapped in your swimsuit and stinging you, not an insect that infests you.

But in terms of head lice, can you get lice at the beach? If you touch the hair of someone who has head lice at the beach, then it is possible to catch head lice.

The same answer applies if you are wondering if can you get lice from the ocean or can you get lice from outside. It’s all about whether you came in contact with an infected person. Some people find sand in their hair and mistake the grains for nits. Pull out what you see and if it blends into a white background, it is not a nit, and you do not need lice treatment.

Can You Get Lice from Sitting Next to Someone?

Can you get lice by sitting next to someone for just a few minutes? It is unlikely but possible. Lice do not like to leave their host's scalp, so unless you come into direct contact with an infested person’s hair, chances are slim. The longer you are next to an infested person, the greater the chances. Keep in mind that lice can not fly or jump from one child to another.

Can You Get Lice from Movie Theater Seats?

Lice can only live for about a day of their host. But if a person were to sit in a movie theatre seat or bus, train, subway, or plane seat that was inhabited by a person with lice shortly before the second person sat there, a louse may be on that seat.

This answer is the same when considering whether can you get lice from a chair or any furniture. It all depends on who sat there last and when, or if the chair is close to another person's head. If lice are in the house and not in the hair, they will die and you do not need a lice removal service.

Can You Get Lice from Animals?

Lice are species-specific; the types of lice that affect people cannot survive by feeding on nor will they reproduce on animals. Since we sometimes share our homes with dogs, cats, goats, and birds, it's important to know that each of these species has its type of lice that may require specialized treatment. But these treatments would be different from treatments designed for humans, and you should never treat your pet with lice removal products designed for humans.

So how does someone get lice from an animal? A person living near an infested pet may find animal lice on their body or personal items, but this will not lead to an active infestation on the person. Treatment of the pet should eliminate the problem.

Can You Get Lice from Hugging Someone?

Hugging is a common method of transmission. When people hug, their heads touch, providing the easiest transportation for head lice to travel from one person to another, since they don't fly or jump.

Many parents contract a case from their infested child during hugs. If your child is itchy on the scalp and you see symptoms like a rash on the skin of the scalp or nits near the scalp, and your child's doctor suspects an infestation, have the doctors or school nurse examine you and their siblings while you're there.

Can You Get Lice from Sitting in a Car?

Adult lice rarely fall off a child onto a car seat. Even if they did, how long can lice live on car seats? Remember the rule for inanimate objects: if it's been 1- 2 days since it touched a person, it's free of live lice.

Even better, head lice are temperature sensitive. Since the temperature inside a car can get very hot or cold compared to the inside of a school or home, head lice die even faster in these extreme temperatures.

Can You Get Lice from Sleeping in the Same Bed?

When someone sleeps close to another person with lice, lice will likely crawl from one scalp to another scalp overnight. If your itchy child sleeps in your bed, it's common that you'd need lice treatment too, even if you have no symptoms. Child sleep-away camps are a prime venue for transmission, as campers pass time hanging out on each other’s beds in the bunk.

Can You Get Lice from Not Washing Your Hair?

Lice is often associated with poor hygiene, and indeed the first thing we think to do when we notice head-scratching is wash our child's hair. But do you get lice from being dirty? This is where you need to know the difference between head lice and body lice. While body lice thrive in unclean environments, head lice survive easier in clean hair than dirty hair. Saturating the hair with olive oil can kill lice if done correctly.

Can You Get Lice from a Pool?

If head lice are washed off the hair into the swimming pool, they generally won't survive long enough to affect other swimmers. You don't need to treat your pool after an infested child swims there. While underwater, lice hold their breath and go dormant. Only a very lucky louse might find another human scalp before drowning.

But this is uncommon. When head lice in human hair are submerged, their claws hold tight to the hair. So when you wonder can you get lice from a pool, you should be concerned with sharing towels after swimming. Keep in mind that chlorine will not kill lice so if your child has a case, swimming is not the answer to lice elimination; you will need a professional lice treatment service.

Can You Get Lice from a Hat?

While uncommon, it is possible to spread head lice by sharing personal items that touch the hair, including clothing, hair ties, combs, brushes, and hats. This mainly applies to hats worn or tried on by different people daily.

But because hats can't provide a louse with a blood meal to survive, if these objects haven't touched a person's head in over two days, they are safe. Here's more info if you'd like to know how to disinfect hats from lice more quickly for extra prevention.

10 Tips on How to Avoid Getting Lice in Public Places

While head lice are not commonly contracted from any things other than another person, there are some environments where people's hair may brush against inanimate objects more frequently. Where do you get head lice from other people using the environment?

1. Be Careful When Choosing Hotels or Temporary Home Rentals.

Hotels are notorious for spreading bed bugs. But how can someone get lice from a hotel? The time between check-out and check-in is only a few hours; not long enough for head lice to die. Changing the towels and bed linens and vacuuming is usually effective, but watch out for an upholstered headboard, upholstered chairs, and children playing on the carpeted floor.

2. Prioritize Cleaning Gym Equipment Before Use.

Because gymgoers are constantly moving from one machine to another, there's a possibility of encountering recently deposited live lice (albeit unlikely). If your hair is going to touch a piece of exercise equipment, use the provided spray and a paper towel to wipe it down before and after using it.

But also be wary of leaving your combs, brushes, or towels in the locker room next to other people's items.

3. Maintain a Safe Distance from Other Passengers When Using Public Transportation.

How do you catch head lice from a bus, train, or subway? Public transportation is most risky when crowded since this magnifies the chances of brushing your hair against someone with lice.

To prevent lice, keep your hair up in tight hair ties so it doesn't brush against other passengers, and try not to lean your hair against upholstered seats.

4. Be Wary of Cloth Seats at Movie Theaters.

You'll often find yourself sitting in close quarters with a stranger at the theater. While head lice can't fly or jump, cloth seats provide an opportunity for an adult louse to crawl from the person next to you across the seat and onto your hair. Keeping your hair up and using hair products are pretty effective to prevent this.

5. Consider the Risks of Trying on Clothes at Stores.

At about the size of a sesame seed, you won't notice an adult louse on a pullover top. Be quick when trying on tops and hats, and wear products like gel or hairspray. When buying clothing you suspect others have recently tried on, prevent infestation by washing on hot or (if the instructions advise against heat) placing it in the freezer overnight.

6. Realize That Co-work Spaces or Shared Desk Chairs May Harbor Lice.

The presence of adult lice on office chairs is not probable, but just in case, don't lean against an upholstered headrest that is used by others frequently. Work can be distracting, and you might get uncomfortable and lean against a chair accidentally. Wear your hairdo up and coated in products, or run a lint roller over the upholstery for prevention. Again, keep in mind that the chance of lice being transmitted this way is remote.

7. Be Mindful When Trying Out Furniture.

Lying down to test a mattress at a furniture store feels natural. But keep in mind other humans have potentially done the same recently, one of whom may have had symptoms of head lice. Many companies will allow you to try a brand new mattress in your home for a certain amount of time instead, which is a safer option.

8. Ensure Your Stylist Cleans Their Tools Before Serving Each Customer.

Hairstylists are obligated to deny service to anyone with lice and nits, so how can you get lice at the salon? Remember that symptoms like head scratching due to an itchy scalp from allergic reactions don't occur for weeks, and lice eggs may not be noticeable without bright light and a magnifying glass. Your stylist must clean their combs, brushes, and other tools between clients, ideally with a product like a bar aside.

9. Be Aware That Your Pets May Carry Lice.

Can pets get lice from humans? Head lice require a human host for feeding and reproducing; pets won't catch them any more than stuffed animals would. But one of these annoying insects could fall off a child's hair while she's hugging your dog, who then transports it to you with the next hug (again not too likely). Comb your pets before bed, and tell children to pet them with their hands only.

10. Reconsider Sharing Lockers to Avoid Potential Risks.

Your child may share a locker, especially in pre-schools or elementary school. The presence of the clothing of another child may rarely spread head lice. Elementary school children could place coats on the back of their chairs instead.

If you encounter resistance from your child to this suggestion, understand that the stress of feeling uncomfortable or even being bullied because of odd behavior might be more significant than the very tiny risk of getting infested from clothes touching.

Can You Get Lice From Trees? No

Last autumn my family was fortunate enough to be able to go on a bayou swamp tour in Louisiana. On a gorgeous cool but sunny day we boarded a flat bottomed boat with about a dozen other people and embarked upon a lazy two hour cruise through the cypress and gum trees.

Our guide was a native of the region with a distinctive mixture of southern drawl and Cajun patois. He narrated our journey with various tidbits, factoids and myths associated with the swamps. We learned that a “bayou” is actually a slow moving river while a swamp is a wetland with trees. 

It was a glorious perfect day. We saw so many beautiful, exotic, mysterious and even creepy flora and fauna.

• ✓    Alligators – check.
• ✓    Great White Egret – check.
• ✓    Bald Eagles – check.
• ✓    Duckweed – check.
• ✓    Cypress trees – check.
• ✓    Spanish moss – check.
• ✓    Lice – cheeecck…. Wait, what?!??

Yep. You heard that right. Our guide cautioned us that we should not get tooooo close to the ubiquitous beautiful draping moss because it housed – you guessed it, LICE! Now He was charming and this was obviously part of his schtick and patter to wow and awe his tour groups, I also didn’t want to diminish anyone’s enjoyment of their excursion, so I kept my lice expertise to myself. But he was quite wrong. Human head lice need HUMANS to survive, so unless there were some truly squirrelly folks living in the trees, there could not be head lice living in the trees either! 

When I got home I had to Google it because I couldn’t imagine what could possibly spawn such a myth. It turns out that chiggers (tiny little red biting bugs that do NOT set up camp and live on human hosts) occasionally live in Spanish Moss and for ages have been misidentified as lice by generations of folks in the southern US. So. For the record. If you should find yourself floating through a swamp, rest assured you cannot get head lice from the beautiful drooping Spanish Moss.
If you do find yourself with head lice from a normal source, like hugs from a loved one, call LiceDoctors in New Orleans and all of Louisiana at  504-521-7573. 

LiceDoctors Eliminates Lice at All Stages

The cycle of head lice continues until all of the bugs and nits are removed. Head lice cases do not go away by themselves. When there is an advanced infestation, it may take longer to get rid of the lice, but your lice specialist will do that when you book an appointment. Whether you have one louse or several lice, this case will be gone for good. LiceDoctors offers a safe, all-natural lice removal treatment that will leave you lice-free. LiceDoctors technicians can eradicate head lice at all stages of infestation! Call us for same-day service at 800-224-2537.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do kids usually get lice?

Through head-to-head contact (hugs, selfies, sleepovers, play) and less often through shared brushes, hats, hoodies and hair accessories.

Can you get lice from Halloween masks or costumes?

It's possible if someone with lice wore it recently, so skip trying on store masks and don't share hats or wigs.

Is there a lice season?

Lice happen year-round, with spikes about 4–6 weeks after kids gather: back-to-school, Halloween, the winter holidays and spring break.

‍

Video Transcript: How Do You Get Lice?

Julie, Senior Lice Technician, LiceDoctors (15 years of experience)

"Lice are typically transmitted head to head, or head to something to head: sharing brushes and hats, and, as kids get older and into middle school, sharing hoodies, bows and other hair accessories. Hugging, selfies, sleepovers — anytime two heads get together and one has lice, the lice don't know one head from another, and if they're active they can transfer. Around Halloween I tell kids not to try on the masks and big costume heads in stores, because you don't know who had them on before you. Once one person gets lice, it very often spreads to someone else in the family, mostly siblings: little ones wrestle and cuddle, older ones share brushes, and moms often get it from sharing brushes with their kids. Lice happen pretty much all year round, but there are upticks, typically four to six weeks after kids gather: after camp, after school starts, after Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring break."

‍