General Facts About Head Lice

There are many questions that people have when they learn that they have head lice. Below, lice technician, Kiara, answers some that she has received.

Lice are a lot more common than we think. Many people associate lice with being dirty but, in reality, lice are simply doing what they are supposed to do. Many clients I have had do not know what lice truly are. Now in this blog I will give facts about lice to help others learn about lice.

Lice are small insects that need human blood to survive, meaning that lice are parasites. They love to feed off the blood in the human scalp. The scalp is a perfect place for them since it is easy to hide and they can be protected by the hair. In addition, the human head is the optimal temperature for lice. Humans are perfect hosts for lice. Lice are not attracted by filth. Ultimately, they are attracted to our blood not our “dirtiness” like it is commonly said. No need to worry, though; lice do not carry diseases, so they aren’t a health issue to us.  

The life cycle of lice is short. The louse starts from an egg (nit), which encases a nymph (baby bug). The egg hatches and the nymph stays put and over 10 days develops into a mature bug. You can not catch lice from a nit; a mature bug must lay an egg on your scalp. The nit typically hatches in about a week after being laid. Once that egg hatches, that is when an infestation could start. From start to finish, lice live roughly 30-35 days. But since they multiply quickly, they are difficult to remove. That is why LiceDocotors is here—to help make the tedious task of eliminating lice a pleasant and easy one.

A common misconception of lice is that they can fly or jump

. Lice can do neither; they don’t even have wings! Lice can only crawl from head to head. This means you can only get lice from having very close contact with someone else’s head. That is why lice are common in small children and within families. It is possible to get lice from other objects that come in close contact to the scalp, but that is not common. Lice will only live a few hours without a host and once a nit is removed, it can not reattach to the hair.

I have presented these facts with the hope of normalizing having lice and to reduce the stigma. It is normal to get lice from time to time. Learning about lice can help people to not feel ashamed or embarrassed; which will help them to seek treatment and prevent future infestations.  

If you or your loved ones find head lice, call us anytime day or evening and a lice professional will come to help. Treatment is done in the privacy of your own home and are guaranteed to be effective. Call and speak to a knowledgeable lice professional at 415-578-1245 . We will help you now.