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f.a.q.

What are head lice?

Head lice are tiny, six-legged, wingless, blood sucking parasites also known as pediculosis. Head lice vary in color as they have the ability to adapt to their environment. The female louse will lay her eggs by gluing them to hair shafts, which generally take 7 to 10 days to hatch. A female louse will lay approximately 140 eggs in her lifetime of about 30 days.

How do we get head lice?

Lice are transmitted mainly through head-to-head contact. It is more commonly spread among school-aged children although certain people are more susceptible to lice. Blood type and Rh factor are some of the factors that draw head lice to one person over another.

How long can a person have lice before realizing it?

Its totally possible to have lice for years without knowing, especially if the individual does not experience any allergic reactions to the lice inserting their salvia into the scalp when feeding. But generally, once identified, the individual may have had it for at least 2 or 3 weeks.

Does head lice like dirty hair?

Head lice actually prefer clean hair but that doesn’t mean they will not live on dirty hair. So if a person is infested with head lice, these critters will not go away if you stop washing your hair or apply extra hairspray or gel in the hope they would leave. Cleanliness in the home and hygiene does not matter either.

How long does a louse live?

It takes 7 to 14 days for a nit (egg) to hatch. Once hatched, the nymph (baby) becomes an adult after 7 to 10 days. Once the louse becomes an adult, it will mate and the female louse will become pregnant for the rest of her life, which is approximately 20 more days, a total life span of about 30 days. But remember, lice cannot live off the head for more than 24 to 48 hours and will begin to dehydrate and die after 12 hours.

What are the dangers associated with head lice?

Head lice are a problem and are highly contagious, no doubt, and using unsafe treatment methods can put you in danger. But the lice themselves do not cause deaths or are known to spread any diseases.

How many eggs can a female louse lay?

A single female louse lays about 4 to 5 eggs, twice a day once she reaches the adult stage. She will lay approximately 160 to 200 eggs in her lifetime so you can see how lice can continue to multiply exponentially if not treated.

Is there such thing as “super lice”?

Absolutely not. This is just a phrase that people have been using because with time, lice have become more resistant to certain treatment products. Lice have especially built up a resistance to pesticides as they are a common ingredient found in over-the-counter and prescription products that claim to kill lice.

What do I do if I have more questions?

Feel free to call/text us at 630.570.0480 or email us at contact@lylocks.com for any further questions, concerns, or comments as we are more than happy to help families, educational centers, and anyone interested in helping us with raising awareness and removing the stigma associated to lice. Most importantly, we want to restore peace of mind in your home.

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