Head Lice Treatment Questions and Answers

What are head lice?
  Head lice are small parasitic insects that have evolved to live on the scalp of humans. They depend upon human blood for survival.
What do head lice look like?
  Head lice are around the size of a grain of rice or 2-4mm. Baby lice (nymphs) are almost transparent. In a week they will mature and become grayish white to reddish brown. They do not have wings and cannot jump or fly.
What do the nits (eggs) look like?
  They are about the size of, or smaller than a poppy seed. They are a teardrop shape and yellowish white or tan. They are difficult to remove and will not flake off. They are always found on the hair not on the scalp.
How do people get head lice?
  They are generally transmitted through head to head contact (from sharing hats, helmets, combs, or personal items like towels). Children between the ages of 3-11 are the typical carrier of head lice. This is simply because they are more likely to come into contact with one another through play and interaction. Children are not the only ones that get head lice, any person with hair on their head is susceptible. Dogs, cats, or other household pets do not bring in head lice.
How long have I had lice?
  Basically, the more they have, the longer they have it, but it’s very hard to tell. If you just have bugs, than you have just contracted it.
Can head lice cause health problems?
  Head lice are merely a nuisance and not a health problem. A secondary infection could be caused from an open sore from incessant scratching.
How can I tell if my child has head lice?
  Inspect your child’s head. Look for nits (eggs) near the nape of the neck and behind the ears, they will be located close to the scalp. Head lice eggs cannot be brushed, blown or flicked off, and are difficult to pull out of the hair. Also look for live lice bugs that will be in the hair close to the scalp and usually blend in with the hair color. If you are still unsure contact us for a head check.
What if I find head lice?
  If head lice are found then it needs immediate attention. The reproduction of head lice is an ongoing cycle. Every day that is allowed to go by is another day for the female to lay her eggs. More eggs result in more lice, which means more eggs. Removing head lice is a difficult process and very time consuming. It is well worth taking care of the problem immediately than let a full on infestation take place. Contact us for assistance.
How many eggs can lice lay?
  One louse can lie up to 10 eggs a day. An egg takes 7-10 days to hatch. A nymph is a baby louse. A nymph takes 7-10 days to mature into an adult louse.
Why do I have eggs and not bugs?
  Bugs only live 30 days. They are not as hardy as eggs, which stick to the hair. Also, it’s possible to miss the bugs even with combing, but if you have eggs, you had to have bugs at some point.
Can lice live on any other part of the body?
Do I need to wash all my clothes?
  Just the ones you wore during the time you have had lice.
What should I do with jackets, hats, pillows or things that I don’t want to wash?
  Put in the dryer for ½ hour on high heat.
What do I do with brushes?
What do I do with hair accessories?
Will over the counter lice shampoos work?
  No. These shampoos will not kill eggs under the age of 4 days. Manual removal is still the most important step in eradicating all lice. Remember, all lice killing products are pesticides. If you choose to purchase an over the counter treatment follow the directions carefully and use with caution. Consult your physician before applying or using lice treatment pesticides when the person involved is under the age of 2, pregnant, nursing, has allergies, has asthma, epilepsy, or pre existing medical conditions.
How do I prevent my child from becoming re-infected?
  Always have girls wear their hair up, in a ponytail, braid the ponytail, and then put in a bun. There should be no hanging hair. As an extra precaution, spray the entire head and bun with hairspray. A child should never put on another child’s hat, barrette, headband, or helmet. During our visit we will teach you important preventative steps to follow.
When can my child return to school?
  After all live bugs and visible nits have been removed. We will give you a slip to give to your school as proof that your child has been treated by Pixie Locks and is lice free.
Do you come to schools?
  Yes, we will inspect the entire student body for a special fee.
How do I prepare for an appointment with Pixie Locks?
  Please have hair brushed. Please remove all oil, mayonnaise and any gel or soap from hair before treatment. A little dishwashing liquid mixed with your shampoo can remove most oil from hair.
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