Lice 911
The Facts of Lice
What do head lice look like? Do head lice jump? Read on for these answers and tips on prevention and more head lice information.
What do I need to know about head lice?
- Lice can live up to 30 days and can lay 4-5 eggs per day.
- They can live off a human head for up to 48 hours and live on a head for approximately 30 days.
- They are most common in children 5-12 years old because of their play habits.
- It’s not about a lack of cleanliness. In fact, lice prefer clean, healthy heads.
What do head lice look like?
- Lice can be gray, brown or black, changing color depending on when they eat. They get darker after they feed.
- They come in all different sizes depending on their age. They can grow to 2 ½ times the size of a sesame seed.
- A newly hatched egg (nit) is black and gets lighter as it ages.
Do head lice jump?
NO, they do not jump or fly. They are usually transmitted by direct head-to-head contact with an
infested person or their belongings.
Some tips on preventing head lice
- DO NOT wash your child’s hair every day. Buildup of natural oils fortifies the hair shaft, making it
more difficult for lice to attach themselves to the hair. - Teach your child to never share brushes, hats, helmets, scarves, jackets, etc.
- Tea Tree Oil is most effective at repelling lice, even more effective than Deet Tea Tree Oil is a
natural antiseptic and repels the same way that Citronella works to repel mosquitoes. - Our Fairytales LICE repel line is an excellent product for keeping lice at bay.
Lice Detection
- The most common symptom of an infestation is persistent itching, particularly around the ears,
back of neck and crown. - Check for small, red bumps or sores.
Identifying Nits
- Nits always attach to one side of the hair shaft and do not come off easily. That is how you know the
difference between nits & dandruff or dried gel. - Nits are tiny white to light gray colored eggs with a pearly shine and are a tear drop shape.
- A good lice repellent shampoo will also prevent nits.
Don’t panic! You do not want your child to feel embarrassed or stressed out. There are a few schools of thought on head lice removal. Some believe in chemical removal, others believe in manual removal or smothering. Call your pediatrician; they may provide a lice removal service or may be able to refer to you a service in your town.