Head Lice: Their Life Cycle, Their Treatment, and Prevention

Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are wingless insects that feed off human blood on the scalp. They are commonly found in school-age children, although anyone can contract them. Data show that head lice can survive under water for several hours but are unlikely to be spread by the water in a swimming pool. Head lice have been seen to hold tightly to human hair and not let go when submerged under water. Most health departments do not require reporting of head lice infestation. However, it may be beneficial for the sake of others to share information with school nurses, parents of classmates, and others about contact with head lice.

You Are Not The Only One With Head Lice!

Medications include pyrethrins combined with piperonyl butoxide and permethrin lotion. The CDC recommends that all people in a family receive head lice treatment if one family member has them. It also suggests that other people in close contact with the person receive treatment and that everyone has treatment at the same time. According to studies cited in a 2023 review, in industrialized countries, head lice infestations tend to occur in school-age children, as they often engage in close social contact. Head lice and nits are very common in young children and their families.

Why do I have white nits but no lice?

Here, we asked experts to weigh in on four widespread beliefs and the truth behind them. "You've still got to get them out of the hair so you might as well just use the conditioner and comb method," Dr Webb says. And even if the lice are not resistant, a treatment may not give them the dose of chemical required to kill them. But after the egg has hatched, the empty egg casing stays glued to the hair.

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“Most tea tree shampoos and conditioners contain less than 1% tea tree oil so would have no effect on lice,” says Burgess. The head louse, or Pediculus humanus capitis, is a parasitic insect that can be found on the head, eyebrows, and eyelashes of people. Head lice feed on human blood several times a day and live close to the human scalp.

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And since they also feature a strawberry flavor, they're even more enjoyable to take on a regular basis. Mites are small insects that cause scabies by digging into the skin and irritating it, which makes the skin itchy. Scabies usually affects the fingers, ankles, or wrists rather than the head. It is possible to develop an infection in the sores from scratching the head. People will need to see their doctor if they get a scalp infection.

White and Brown Nits in Hair: What Lice Egg Color Means

And some essential oils kill lice and other insects naturally. Smothering agents suffocate lice by damaging their breathing organs and stopping them from releasing excess water from their bodies as they feed on blood. Fumigation uses toxic chemicals that may cause harm if they breathe it in or their skin absorbs it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 6–12 million children ages 3 to 11 get head lice each year in the United States. Doctors and other officials do not need to report cases, so the exact figure is unclear. Anyone can get head lice, but they are widespread among children.

Start at the top of the head with the teeth of the detection comb touching the scalp, and gently draw the comb downwards, looking carefully at the teeth for the sesame seed-sized insects. Head lice may be spread by sharing towels or other items that have been in contact with an infested person’s hair, although such spread is uncommon. Children should be taught not to share towels, hair brushes, and similar items either at poolside or in the changing room. School head lice policies often are determined by local school boards. Local health departments may have guidelines that address school head lice policies; check with your local and state health departments to see if they have such recommendations.

But such policies have several flaws, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Plus, nits don't move and, in fact, are affixed to hair shafts with a cementlike substance that makes it unlikely they can be transferred from one person to another. And there's no evidence that banning kids with nits from the classroom is useful. The National Association of School Nurses notes that classroom or schoolwide nit checks aren't effective at preventing incidences of lice in schools.

How long can dead nits stay in hair?

Do wet combing on days 1, 5, 9 and 13 to catch any newly hatched head lice. Some pediculicides (medicines that kill lice) have an ovicidal effect (kill eggs). For pediculicides that are only weakly ovicidal or not ovicidal, routine retreatment is recommended. For those that are more strongly ovicidal, retreatment is recommended only if live (crawling) lice are still present several days after treatment (see recommendation for each medication).

Receive free access to exclusive content, a personalized homepage based on your interests, and a weekly newsletter with topics of your choice. Log in or create an account for a personalized experience based on your selected interests. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about lice nit removal. There’s no need to fumigate if you have lice but you will want to clean your home.

Avocados are a rich source of vitamin E (an antioxidant compound found to fight hair loss when taken in supplement form). They can cause itching and irritation and can be a source of anxiety for some people. If OTC treatment isn't successful, you may need to see a dermatologist for assistance. Swollen lymph nodes can occur due to the excessive scratching injuring your skin, which leads to open sores and a bacterial skin infection.

Eggs are likely to remain cemented to the base of the hair shaft so, you also need to repeat later to catch the new lice that hatch from the eggs. "A lot of people don't even know they have head lice — that's how little impact they have." Many smothering agents can produce strong odors or damage your hair due to strong chemicals.

It is packed with essential fatty acids that help condition hair and protect it from damage caused by oxidative dyes, such as those used for platinum hair. In recent years, this oil has become a beloved treatment for many hair types, including frizzy, coarse, and brittle hair. People who notice a rash and uneven red lines on the skin or scalp might have scabies and should see their doctor, who may prescribe a topical cream as treatment. The itchiness is the result of a local allergic reaction to the lice bites. The eggs, or nits, are tiny ovals that stick to the hair shaft, measuring 0.8 mm by 0.3 mm.

Head lice nits are cemented firmly to the hair shaft and can be difficult to remove even after the nymphs hatch and empty casings remain. And according to Gouge, the idea that school is the primary place for lice infestation has led many schools to implement "no nit" policies. These require children to be sent home from school or kept out of school if nits (lice eggs) are discovered on their scalps.