Lice Facts

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How it spreads

Lice spread through direct head-to-head contact with an infected person. They can also spread
through sharing personal items such as combs, brushes, hats, scarves, bedding, and clothing.
Contrary to popular belief, lice do not hop or jump from one head to another. They also do not
burrow into the scalp.

Life cycle
Each stage lasts about 7-9 days and the average life cycle is about 30 days total. The three stages
of development are egg (nit), nymph, and adult. Adult lice will die within two days if they fall
off a person and are not in contact with a scalp. 
*Treatment is necessary to break the life cycle and prevent re-infestation*

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More Information 

Head lice, or Pediculus humanus capitis, are parasitic insects that feed on human blood. You can
find them mostly on your head, but also on your eyebrows and eyelashes. Adult head lice are
roughly 2 – 3 mm long (about the size of a sesame seed or grain of rice).

Common Misinformation

Getting head lice is not related to cleanliness of you or your environment. 
Contracting lice from a wig or hairpiece is extremely unlikely. Especially if the wig or hairpiece
has been worn in the past 48 hours by a person with head lice. 
Head lice can survive under water for several hours but are unlikely to spread in a swimming
pool. Chlorine levels in pool water do not kill head lice.
Animals do not get or spread head lice.

Prevention
 Avoid head-to-head contact during play and activities at home, school, and active
environments ie (sport fields, playgrounds, slumber parties, camps).
 Do not share clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons, or
barrettes.

 Do not share combs, brushes, or towels. Disinfest combs and brushes used by an infected
person by soaking them in hot water (at least 130°F) for 5 – 10 minutes.
 Do not lie on beds, couches, pillows, carpets, or stuffed animals that have recently been
in contact with a person with head lice.

How to treat

There are plenty of over-the-counter options for treating lice at home. Proper consistent
treatment and extremely thorough nit picking are both required for the lice to be completely
removed as soon as possible. Most over the counter treatments need to be applied again after 7 to
10 days because lice eggs can survive the first treatment. The second treatment kills the lice that
hatch during the week after the first treatment.
When using the counter treatments: apply a lot of the product to the scalp and hair, spread
evenly, leave in for time specified in the instructions, and use the product on dry hair (wet hair
can dilute the active ingredient). Because adult and nymph lice are very small, move quickly, and
avoid light, they may be difficult to find. A fine-toothed louse comb may help you find lice.

Where we come in…

First, we apply FDA approved cosmetic grade dimethicone to the hair. This silicone-based oil
suffocates the live nits and lice. We then brush through and remove all bugs. Next, our medical lice
device uses heated air to dehydrate the eggs, effectively killing the lice. Next, we do a gentle comb-out
to remove eggs and any remaining dead lice.
If re-applying treatment and combing through the hair for anywhere between 7-10 days doesn’t
seem do-able within the business of your life, come to us. We want to help you as effectively and
efficiently as possible so that you kill and get rid of lice without needing to treat repeatedly over
the course of a month.

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Cleaning

 

 Machine wash and dry clothing, towels, bed linens, and other items that a person infested
with lice wore or used during the two days before treatment. Use the hot water (130°F)
laundry cycle and the high heat drying cycle. If you can't wash or dry clean items, seal
them in a plastic bag and store them for two weeks.
 Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where person sat or lay. However, spending
too much time and money on house cleaning activities is not necessary to avoid
reinfestation. Lice need to be caught at the source and cannot live on surfaces past 2
days. 
 Disinfest combs and brushes used by an infested person by soaking them in hot water (at
least 130°F) for 5 – 10 minutes.