Head Lice Facts: Common Questions Answered
Head lice can be confusing and stressful for families. This page answers common questions about head lice, nits, how lice spread, what they look like, and the safest way to remove them. Use this guide to better understand lice facts and know when to seek professional help.
Head lice are insects that can be found on the head and eyebrows of humans. Sometimes even a beard! as long as they have a sideburn bridge to get back to scalp to feed they can harbor in that area.
Can head lice bugs be easily seen or spotted? Head lice are chameleons and can blend in with their host hair color. Sometimes they can be very hard to spot. Lice move quickly and scoot from the light.
Head lice feed on human blood three times day and live close to the human scalp.
Nits (eggs) use the scalps warmth and moisture as an incubator to hatch. They usually do not hatch off the head. if they do they need to feed within the hour or they will die.
Adults are about the size of a sesame seed, have 6 legs, are wingless, and have a brownish tinge. sometimes can be bright red when first feeding.
They do not jump, fly, or burrow. Only crawl…FAST!
A nit can look white on the hair but once pulled off it will be brown. a nit is laid on one side of the hair shaft. You can look at a hair and not see it until you turn the hair over. Nits will be tear drop shape, usually brown OFF the hair, and always the same size, shape, and color, with a shine and A Tail resembling a tadpole.
Lice can only live on human blood, not pets or other animals. each species has its own lice such as horse lice, chicken lice, etc. and all are host specific.
There are 3 types of lice humans get. Body lice, pubic lice, and head lice. All body part specific, therefore head lice only can live on the head/ scalp.
Lice prefer certain blood types. O+ being the most desired. Once feeding on one blood type, they will die if a different blood type is introduced so the chances of transferring to 0+ is higher due to its being more common thus the lice can survive longer going head to head by encountering the same type. Check out our blog GAB for more Fascinating Facts About Head Lice You Don’t Know…But Should.
A louse lays up to 6-10 eggs a day and can live 30 days before it dies. Therefore a bug can lay 180-300 eggs before it dies.
Research is being done on lice and its potential to carry disease.
No, a nit cannot reattach to the hair once its been removed.
A female louse mates once and is pregnant for life! Therefore contracting 1 pregnant louse can start an infestation quickly.
Prescription oral medications prescribed by doctors contain the same ingredient used to kill heart worm in dogs! It is a stronger pesticide than OTC medications such as RID and NIX.
Neither prescription lice medication nor OTC shampoos can be guaranteed to kill lice. Head lice have become resistant to the pesticides they contain. The best approach is to look at natural remedies for lice which are enzyme based.
Lice transmission is generally from head to head contact. Lice can be transferred through objects like hats, helmets, and hair brushes, but is less common.
Lice prefer any head with a blood supply no matter clean or dirty hair, etc.; no human is immune.
The longer the hair, the greater chance of infestation. Buns or braids are best at containing the hair from mixing with others hair.
The only remedy for head lice is to physically remove the nits from the hair. There are no shortcuts. Nits stick to the hair and you have to pull them off. Nothing kills nits no matter what any product claims.