Questions abound from
“All Walks of Lice”
Frequently Asked Questions
Head Lice
Those who find themselves facing their first lice infestation, whether they are moms and dads or teachers and camp counselors, always have a lot of questions about Lice. And it is no wonder with all the misinformation and ineffective products out there! For a more in depth discussion of head lice, please visit our Lice Facts page. But for direct answers to some of a lice victim’s most common inquiries, you’ve come to the right place.
All about lice…
What are head lice?
Head lice, or Pediculus humanus capitis, are tiny parasitic insects that live on human heads and feed on human blood. They require human blood in order to survive. When head lice live long enough on a person’s scalp to multiply, it is referred to as an infestation. Another name for a head lice infestation is Pediculosis.
What do head lice look like?
Lice are tiny; smaller than a grain of rice. An adult louse can be grey, tan, white, or red-ish brown in color. A younger nymph louse is even smaller, about the size of a sesame seed, and is transparent except for a dark center.
Lice have six equally sized legs, but no wings. Because they have no wings, head lice can not fly. And their equally sized legs (no enlarged hind legs like crickets) make it impossible for them to jump either. Instead, a louse’s legs have a “hook” on the end that allow specially designed for climbing up a hair shaft.
What are nits?
Nits are head lice eggs. They take 6-8 days to hatch, but the hallow nit ‘shell’ can remain firmly glued to the hair shaft long after its louse has left the building!
What do nits look like?
Nits are the size of, or even smaller than, a poppy seed. They are oval and usually white or yellowish white in color. They change color as the louse develops inside. Nits are typically found at the nape of the neck and behind the ears, firmly attached to a hair shaft a quarter inch or less from the scalp.
How many nits can lice lay?
An adult female louse can lay 3-10 eggs per day, and will be able to do so for approximately 10-15 days.
My child has nits, but I don’t see any bugs. How can that be?
After emerging from their egg as a nymph, lice only live another 25-30 days. It is possible that your child has the nits of a louse that has already died, or one that has moved on to another head. However, if you have nits, you have to have had adult bugs at some point. Also, adult lice will avoid light and move closer to the scalp and out of sight during a head check. It is very easy to miss the bugs, even with combing.
For more information about head lice stages and how long they live, visit the Lice Life Cycle page.
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All about getting lice and spreading lice……
How do people get head lice?
Lice are generally transmitted by head to head contact. Remember, head lice do not jump or fly, so an adult louse can only crawl from one hair to another. Children ages 3-12 are more susceptible to head lice because of their close contact during play and interaction. Girls get head lice far more often than boys, and women more often than men, because of the close nature of their interactions with each other.
Lice can also be spread by sharing personal items such as combs, brushes and hair accessories, or towels, hats and clothing. It is also possible to contract lice by lying on a pillow, bed, couch, chair, carpet, or anywhere else that was recently used by an infested person, although this is far less likely than by head to head contact. It is estimated that less than 10% of lice infestations are picked up through the environment.
Can lice jump or fly from one person to another?
No. Lice cannot jump or fly. Again, they have no wings or specialized jumping hind legs. Lice can only crawl, and prefer to crawl from one hair shaft to another.
Can lice be contracted from plants or pets?
No. You cannot get lice from plants or pets. Lice are a human parasite, which means that humans are the only host heads on which lice can survive. Head lice cannot live on animals, pets, or plants.
Can my American Girl dolls get lice?
No. It is not hair, but blood that they are after. Lice require human blood to survive. To my knowledge, that is one feature that the doll companies have yet to include.
Where are children most commonly exposed to head lice?
Head lice are spread through head to head contact, so they may be contracted anywhere that close interaction occurs. Schools are often blamed as breeding grounds for lice, but head lice are no more common in schools than anywhere else. Children are equally likely to come in contact with lice outside school; at camp, sleepovers, sports activities, theater troupes, birthday parties, daycares, etc.
Should I be concerned about the rest of the family?
Nit Nabbers recommends head checks for the entire family if one member is infested. Furthermore, in order to control the spread of head lice, it is also important to inform anyone who been in close contact with the infested person during the previous two weeks including classmates, teammates, and friends. Ideally, all infested individuals should be treated at the same time.
Are children with long hair more prone to infestation?
The short answer here is ‘no’. Since head lice concentrate themselves as close to the scalp as possible, having long hair does not provide any better of an environment for them in which to live. That being said, long hair is more likely to hang over and come in contact with an infested friend’s head. For that reason alone, long hair may be more prone to getting head lice. It is recommended that long hair be tied back in a braid, bun, or ponytail, especially when there is a known outbreak of head lice. Nit Nabbers also has preventative hair care products available for purchase to help deter head lice.
Should I cut my kids' hair really short?
In order for a haircut to truly have any positive impact on deterring head lice, it would have to be a buzz cut. With hair cut so close to the scalp, the head is no longer a warm and hospitable place for lice to live and reproduce. However, I can not imagine what poor Sally would look like with a buzz cut, so the better option is to keep her hair tied back and educate her about avoiding head to head contact whenever possible.
How common is head lice infection?
Head lice is a very common condition, especially among children ages 3-12. It is estimated that as many as 12 million people worldwide get head lice each year. In the United States, approximately 10% of 3-12 year olds contract lice each year.
Who is at risk?
Kids are not the only ones who can get head lice. Any person with hair on their head is vulnerable. While preschool and elementary school children, and their families, are infested most often, anyone who comes in close contact with someone who has head lice is at risk. Children ages 3-12 are more susceptible to head lice because of their close contact during play and interaction. Girls get head lice far more often than boys, and women more often than men, because of the close nature of their interactions with each other. Personal hygiene and cleanliness in the home or school have nothing to do with getting head lice.
My children and I are very clean, and so are our children’s friends. Are we still at risk for head lice?
An infestation of head lice has nothing to do with cleanliness or personal hygiene. You can not prevent your child from getting head lice by keeping them clean. In fact, head lice prefer clean hair because the nit glue adheres better to it.
Do head lice prefer one head over another?
Although the reasons are not entirely clear, head lice are attracted to some people more than others. Blood type and RH factor may be a variable.
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All about detecting lice……
What are the symptoms of head lice?
The most common symptom of head lice is an itchy scalp. If you notice your child itching more frequently than normal, you should check for head lice.
How do I know if my child has head lice?
Upon inspection of your child’s head, look for nits behind the ears and at the nape of the neck. They will be located within a quarter inch from the scalp. Unlike dandruff or residue from hair products, nits cannot be brushed or flicked off and are even difficult to manually pull out of the hair. You can also look for live nymph and adult bugs that will be in the hair close to the scalp. They are tricky to find as they usually blend in with the hair color. If you are still unsure whether or not your child has lice, you can always contact us for a head check.
Can head lice live on any other part of the body?
No. There are other types of lice that are human parasites, and they are closely related to head lice. These include body and pubic lice. However, a head louse, or Pediculus humanus capitis, can only live on the head. For more information on these other types of lice, please visit an outside source such as WebMD.
Why do head lice prefer the nape of the neck and behind the ears?
Head lice like to be as safe and warm as possible. Hair is the thickest on our heads behind the ears and at the nape of the neck, and therefore the warmest.
My child has lice but how do I know if I have it too?
While it is certainly more difficult to identify lice on your own head, it can be done. Look for nits around your ears. Also, part your hair and look closely at your scalp, especially around your hair line. You may even be able to spot a live bug if you look carefully. You can also look for small sores and skin irritation that results from an allergic reaction to their bites, as well as your own scratching. If you are still unsure about whether or not you have head lice, you can always contact us for a head check.
What if I find head lice?
If head lice are found then it needs immediate attention. The reproduction of head lice is an ongoing cycle. Every day that is allowed to go by is another day for the female to lay her eggs. More eggs result in more lice, which means more eggs. Removing head lice is a difficult process and very time consuming. It is well worth taking care of the problem now than let a full on infestation take place. Contact us for assistance.
Do head lice cause health problems?
Head lice themselves are merely a nuisance and do not directly cause any health problems. However, small sores and skin irritation can occur due to an allergic reaction to their bites, and more often can occur do to your own scratching. It is then possible for a secondary infection to occur.
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All about getting rid of lice……
How is head lice treated?
Head lice have commonly been treated with over-the-counter shampoos that contain pesticides. If these treatments don’t work, your doctor may prescribe a pill called Ivermectin. However, these over-the-counter shampoos are becoming less and less effective against head lice, and many people find that they no longer take care of the infestation as they claim. Nit Nabbers does not use these shampoos, but rather uses 100% safe and natural products in conjunction with manual lice and nit removal techniques.
What’s wrong with using over-the-counter lice shampoos?
The over-the-counter shampoos that can be found in the local drug store contain harsh pesticides or chemicals that may be harmful to you and your children. If you do choose to try these products, it is important to read the label and follow the directions carefully to try and prevent potentially harmful side effects. We ask that if you have tried these toxic shampoos prior to contacting Nit Nabbers, to be sure to wash the hair at least two times in order to remove the pesticides before our service.
In addition to being potentially harmful, these products may not be as effective as they claim. “Super lice” are growing resistant to treatments that contain chemicals, pesticides, and insecticides. Nit Nabbers does not use these shampoos, but rather uses 100% safe and natural products in conjunction with manual lice and nit removal techniques.
What products do you recommend for getting rid of lice?
Nit Nabbers uses 100% safe and natural products from two different sources. For lice removal, we use and recommend the Lice Killer™ brand of treatment products. We also use and sell this brand of environment treatment products to kill lice in your home. As preventative hair care, Nit Nabbers uses Fairy Tales Hair Care Rosemary Repel™ line of products. For more information, please visit our Products page.
Why should I use your service instead of treating the lice infestation myself?
Nit Nabbers understands how difficult and frustrating treating a case of head lice can be, especially when it affects the whole family. Our trained lice removal professionals will take the worry and frustration out of your head lice infestation. We will treat your family as we would our own, thoroughly removing the head lice and nits in a timely manner without the use of pesticides. That’s why we say, “Got Lice? No Problem!”
While treating your family, the lice removal professional will also advise you about ways to prevent future infestations as well as consult you about home environment treatment products.
How should I prepare for your appointment?
Please make sure that the hair to be treated is clean (at least two washings since the last time you used an over-the-counter shampoo) and dry. You should also have the hair combed out as much as possible prior to the appointment. Our lice removal professional will bring everything that she needs for the appointment, but will need to set up near a sink and an electrical outlet. Please have a spot picked out. You will also want a fresh change of clothes to change into after the treatment is over.
In order for the treatment to be effective, Nit Nabbers would like to perform head checks on all the family members. Therefore, it is best if all family members can be home at the time of the appointment.
Lastly, we like to keep your children distracted during the treatment, so we bring a portable DVD player. We have a few selections that we bring with us, but if your child has a favorite movie, please have that available for us as well.
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All about preventing lice……
How do I prevent a re-infestation of lice?
Treating your home environment after a lice infestation is very important. While lice don’t prefer to live off a human head, and can’t live off a human head for more than 2 days, they can fall off the head into your environment. A lost louse is just waiting for a head to come by so that it can find its next meal.
Some sources say that a female louse will lay its eggs off a head 5 minutes after landing there. While she would certainly prefer to lay her eggs on a strand of hair near a food source, it is not unreasonable for her to lay them elsewhere if she feels that it is a survival technique. Other sources claim that if given the choice, 80% of lice will lay eggs on human hair, but as many as 20% actually prefer flannel.
Either way, while lice in the environment are not the primary way that someone would get infested, it can happen. In addition to the suggestions here, Nit Nabbers has Home Environment Treatment products available for purchase if you are interested in the extra level of protection.
Should I have my rugs steam cleaned?
Vacuuming is treatment enough for rugs and floors. Pay special attention to the area around the bed, bathroom floors and mats, and places where you, or we, have performed head lice treatments. You should also vacuum furniture and car seats where an infested person has been sitting.
How often should I wash sheets?
If you are not going to treat the head itself, don’t worry about the sheets! However, once Nit Nabbers has successfully removed all lice and nits from your child’s hair, you will want to wash the bed sheets thoroughly. Sheets should be washed in hot water, and dried on regular heat. If possible, sheets should be washed everyday for a few days after treatment.
Do I need to wash all my clothes?
You only need to wash clothes that have been worn during the time that you have had lice. Clothes should be washed in hot water, if possible, and/or dried on regular heat for at least 30 minutes.
What should I do with jackets, hats, pillows or things that I don’t want to wash?
Anything that can be put in the dryer should be tumbled on regular heat for at least 30 minutes.
How about items that can’t be washed or put in the dryer, like a wool sweater or stuffed animals?
Items that can’t be washed or dried can be sealed in a plastic bag for 2 weeks. This allows enough time for the live bugs to die(24 – 48 hours) as well as any eggs to hatch (6 – 8 days) and then die (another 24 – 48 hours).
What do I do with brushes and hair barrettes?
Anything made of metal can be boiled for 20 minutes. Items made of plastic can be soaked in rubbing alcohol. Anything that would not do well being boiled or soaked can be put in a sealed bag for 2 weeks.
How do I prevent my child from becoming re-infected at school or camp?
Teach your children about lice and how to prevent catching them. Girls should wear their hair up, or tied back, in a braided ponytail or bun when they are in a group setting. Ideally, there should be no loose hair hanging away from the head. As an extra precaution, use products that naturally repel head lice. Nit Nabbers has preventative hair care products available for purchase. Lice also don’t like hair with stiff hold products, such as gel or hair spray.
Also, instruct your children never to use someone else’s brush, barrettes, or hat. Even winter coats and scarves should not be shared. Girls should also try to prevent head-to-head contact with their friends during play, but let’s face it… girls will be girls!
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