DeLiceful Lice Facts, Myths, and Treatment

DeLiceful overview of lice facts, head lice myths, and head lice treatment.

Lice Facts

1. What are the symptoms of head lice?

• An itchy scalp
• A tickling feeling of something moving on the scalp or through the hair
• Red bite marks on the scalp caused by excessive scratching or a red rash on the back of neck

2. What are the nits and what do they look like?

Nits (louse eggs) are very small, about the size of a sesame seed. They are laid by the adult female and are attached at an angle to the base of the hair shaft, with a very strong glue. They are yellowish, tan or coffee covered ovals. They are usually, but not exclusively, found on the crown of the head, around the ears, and near the nape of the neck. Nits take about 7 to 10 days to hatch.

3. How can I tell if it’s a nit?

Nits are glued to the hair and will be difficult to remove. They will not blow.

4. Can lice jump or fly?

No, lice are crawling insects. They do not have wings.

5. Can my pet have lice?

No, only humans can get head lice.

6. Will adding gel to my child’s hair prevent him or her from getting lice?

Unfortunately, gel does nothing to prevent head lice. It is better to take the extra time to brush hair and pull it back. A spritz or two of mint spray will help as well.

7. Why shampoos don’t work!

Rid and other lice shampoos only kill adult lice and adolescent newts. These shampoos work by attacking the bug’s central nervous system. Because baby lice or “nymphs” have not yet developed a central nervous system, they can not be killed. In addition, lice shampoos do not kill lice eggs or “nits”. So while you may kill the adult bugs, their eggs will remain, only to hatch a few days later starting the cycle all over again. This is why lice is so hard to eliminate!

In addition, lice shampoos contain toxic chemicals which can enter your system through the skin on your scalp. Many adult lice have become resistant to these chemicals. So in many cases, the shampoos are completely useless.

The only way to guarantee the complete removal of head lice is by hand picking each and every bug and nit. This is exactly the service we provide!

8. Do I have to clean my house from top to bottom?

Absolutely not! Lice cannot live off the head for more than 24 hours. So all those companies that offer to come and clean your homes while delicing your family... totally unnecessary and a BIG waste of money!

9. What is the life cycle of head lice?

Head lice are a human parasite that can survive approximately 30 days when attached to a human host. Generally, lice cannot survive for more than 24 hours off the head. A female louse lays 3-5 eggs (nits) per day. These eggs hatch in 7-10 days, and it takes, another 7-10 days for the nymphs (baby lice) to mature, at which point they can lay their own eggs.

10. Can you catch head lice while swimming with an infested person?

Swimming carries no greater risk of transmission than any other activity. In fact, when lice are submerged in water, they latch on firmly to the hair and hold their breath for more than three hours.

Myths about Head Lice and Treatment

1. Head lice means you have poor hygiene.

FALSE: Lice actually prefer clean healthy heads.

2. Over-the-counter products and sprays are completely safe.

FALSE: Most are toxic pesticides.

3. Once you have lice you’re less likely to catch it again.

FALSE: Actually, the opposite. Lice leave a scent that actually calls for other lice telling them you are a good food source. Additionally you often return to the same group of friends where lice most likely already exists.

4. You can drown and wash away lice if you take a long shower and wash your hair repeatedly.

FALSE: Lice can hold their breath for up to 3 hours and lock their claw-like legs onto the hair shaft; allowing them to hang on for dear life.

DeLiceful locations:

Suffolk County:
1 Angelica Court
Hauppauge, NY 11788
# 631-724-7444

Nassau County:
216 Lakeville Rd (Rear Cottage)
Great Neck, NY 11020
# 516-773-4333

Please visit our website to learn more: http://www.deliceful.com/

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DeLiceful is New York's #1 Professional Lice Removal Service. We use the Shepherd Method™ with organic haircare products to eliminate lice, guaranteed.