Head lice need human blood to survive, they also need hair to fix onto, and that is why they make their way onto our scalp. They need to attach themselves to the hair on your scalp because it is a secure fixing for the adults as well as the larvae and eggs.
Head lice and body lice are different. Head lice attach to the hairs on heads and body lice have adapted to have claws which can attach themselves to fibres of our clothing. The three types of lice found on the human body are on the pubic area, the skin and the head.
When lice bite you they secrete saliva, this saliva is what makes you itch. Preferred nest and bite locations for the lice is behind the back of the ears and nape of the head as these are particularly warm parts of the scalp. A bite mark will be a small red or pink bump and it can have crusted blood around it. Be sure not to scratch excessively as you can puncture it and cause an infection.
How do I know if I have lice?
You can check for head lice by combing your hair with a lice comb. Ensure that your hair is damp and that you’re combing from the front to the back. If you so desire you can add conditioner and make sure the teeth of the comb are touching the scalp, move the comb backwards and note to see if you have sesame seed size insects on your head. Lice sometimes make your head itch you but that this can be caused by a dry scalp as well
Where do lice come from?
Human lice can be identified into categories a, b and c, they are genetically different from each other but share a common ancestor. They are distributed around the world in various geographical locations. Category b originated from North America and spread to Australia and Europe through migration
I’ve found a louse now what?
If you find lice then I suggest you treat your head using a chemical-based solution where the main active ingredient is dimethicone. This oily substance physically blocks the holes where lice breathe, the lice, therefore, lacks oxygen and suffocates. Ensure that you soak your hair with the product and that you’re also using treatment a week after to treat any newly hatched lice
Older treatments against lice used poison on them but some head lice have become immune to this so these treatments cannot be used any more. New effective products have been developed, you can find these products online. These products drastically reduce the lice population that you have.
Tea tree oil is also an option if you want something natural, it’s poisonous to lice. Be sure to use tea tree that has a concentration of at least 10% but be warned that this might irritate your skin a bit. Non-lice targeting tea tree shampoos and conditioners generally have 1% tea tree oil, this has no effect on lice.
How did I get lice?
Head lice are shared by contact with an infected person. They can transfer on clothing such as coats, hats, scarves. Sometimes you will not see the eggs or the lice as they appear to be dandruff.
Not all people who have lice experience an itchy scalp and just because you have an itchy scalp doesn’t mean you have lice, this can be as a result of eczema or dry skin
If lice detach from your head they become vulnerable as the eggs need warmth to survive. You will probably not find them on bedding and chairs as they need to feed every 5 hours, if not they become weak and ill
My child keeps getting infested what I can do?
- Be sure to let the school know that your child has lice
- Encourage anyone that it’s been around your child to check their hair and be sure to regularly check it yourself
- It is best to get rid of the problem as early as possible before they lay eggs. Over-the-counter prescriptions or tea tree oil can be used to treat your child of lice.
Do they prefer clean hair?
This is a myth was created in the 1970 s. It was created to get middle class families to believe that they can also get lice. In the same breath lice do not particularly like dirty heads but will stay as they need a food source.
Lice do not only affect people with poor hygiene. They affect people from every class, race, social class, age and gender
Can I see lice?
Lice are difficult to see at a glance, that is why it is recommended to comb the hair to see if you have lice. While checking for lice it might also be beneficial to use a bright light to make it easier to see nits, which are lice eggs. These might be attached to individual hairs
The only real way to tell if you have lice is if you can see a living moving louse.
Do lice bite?
Because lice need human blood to survive they will bite you. When feeding on your head they can bite anywhere from the nape of your neck, your eyebrows and the space behind your ears and they can cause clusters of small red dots which will turn into a larger pink ring. This can then turn into a dark patch and thick skin
Can dogs get lice?
Dogs can get lice but these are of a different species to human lice as lice cannot transfer from one species to another. They are species-specific
This is because human head lice need human blood to survive and dog lice need dog blood to survive. So if someone has lice they will not contaminate your pets.
In addition, lice are not common in dogs and cats. Pets are rather infested with ticks or fleas if anything. In addition, lice can be attracted to animals with poor sanitation, weak immune systems, overall health problems attacking the old and the young as well.
Can lice jump from someone to me?
Head lice cannot jump, fly or swim. The only way for them to move from one host to another as by walking on foot or being transported by headscarves and headgear.
They are spread by direct contact with infected persons this is because they can’t jump, their legs do not allow this. This is contrary to other insects which can jump.
If they fall on the floor they can find and attach himself to helmets, ribbons, scarves, brushes and combs. When someone uses the object then the louse will crawl onto their scalp.
Lice combs
The are many combs marketed for removing lice in your hair, but sometimes these combs have teeth which are too far apart or the plastic that is used to create them is flimsy and their teeth might be even inconsistently arranged
If you want to use a comb the ideal detection comb has teeth that are parallel and less than 0.3 mm apart, the comb needs to be flat.
For an in-depth product guide click this link.
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