

7 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Head Lice

head lice

Figure 1Image courtesy of tiverylucky/ 

1. Having head lice means you have bad hygiene?

False. Anyone can become infected with head lice. Although having good hygiene is important, it does not help to prevent or kill them.

 2. You can get head lice from sharing a blanket with someone who has head lice?

True. Although lice dies within 24-48 hours when they are not getting nourishment from the scalp, you may still be infected by sharing any articles of clothing, bedding, towels, and hats with anyone who has, or had lice recently.

 3. If your child has lice, you probably will too.

True. Since lice are highly contagious, the chance of a parent becoming infected from their child is extremely high. Usually, it is not as bad as the child’s case. This should never cause parents to avoid their children, but instead use this as a learning time that you can both look back and laugh about.

 4. Rinsing your head with really hot water will kill lice instantly.

False. Hot water will slow head lice down but it will not kill them. Having wet hair makes it a lot easier to comb out head lice and to see them better. Special shampoos and lotions are available to help kill them. Click Here to Book an Appointment if you are unsure of where to start or if at home treatments are not working.

 5. Head Lice is mistaken for Dandruff

True. Nits (lice eggs) are very small and have a flaky appearance to the naked eye. They are often mistaken for dandruff, hairspray, or scabs.

 6. Head Lice Can Also Infect Your Eyebrows and Eyelashes

True. Not only can head lice infect your scalp but they can also attach themselves to your eyebrows and eyelashes. If this happens, it is recommended to see a specialist that can prescribe an eye ointment for your lashes.

 7. Head Lice Receive Nourishment From Hair Protein.

False. Lice live and thrive off of a blood supply. They bite the scalp, and although they do not transmit infections through their bites, they can create an itchy scalp from those bites. Lice bites make it hard to sleep and can be a huge annoyance.

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