Mention the word lice and your head starts to feel like it is itching. Just what are lice? Lice are tiny, wingless, parasitic insects that feed on your blood. They develop in three stages – nits to nymph to louse.

Nits are eggs that attach themselves to the hair shaft. They are hard to see because they are small and can be confused with dandruff or shampoo residue.  They are yellow to white in color. A nit takes about a week to hatch into a baby louse called a nymph, which grows to adult size in another week or so. The louse is about as big as a sesame seed and has a tan to grayish color. It needs human blood to live and can survive up to 30 days in a person’s hair.

Facts about lice:

• Lice are easily spread through close personal contact and by sharing belongings.
• Lice can live for 72 hours off a head.
• Lice can only effectively reproduce for 24 hours.
• Lice crawl – they do not hop or fly.
• Lice do not crawl well on plastic.
• Lice do not come from animals or pets.
• Itching of the scalp is usually the first noticeable sign.
• Head lice are not related to bad health or hygiene habits.
• Unless treated properly, this condition can become a recurring problem.
• Chemical lice shampoos can sometimes have serious side effects, and many strains of head lice are resistant to the chemicals found in these over the counter shampoos.

Signs and symptoms of lice include:

• Tickling feeling from movement of hair.
• Intense itching.
• Seeing lice on your scalp, body, clothing, or pubic or other body hair. Adult lice may be about the size of a sesame seed or slightly larger.
• Seeing lice eggs (nits) on hair shafts. Nits resemble tiny pussy willow buds. Nits can be mistaken for dandruff, but unlike dandruff, they can’t be easily brushed out of hair.
• Small, red bumps on the scalp, neck and shoulders.

What should you do if your child has been exposed to lice?

• Check your child’s head daily!! Catching this early is essential!
• Check everyone’s head in your household.
• If your child says their head is itching – check their head!
• Depending on whether you or your child has simply been exposed or currently has nits/lice, call us and we have a treatment plan for you.

We now carry Natural Lice Treatment Products at our office. In our personal experience and the experience of many of our clients and friends, this treatment works better than the chemical lice treatments. 

It is nontoxic, pesticide-free, and proven to eliminate lice and their eggs (nits). Our Natural Lice Treatment products use a combination of natural, safe, and active enzymes and essential oils to eliminate head lice and nits without the risk associated with chemical pesticides. Because these products are safe and non-toxic, they can be used preventatively (in the event you or your child have come in contact with someone with lice) to lower your risk of contracting it. Additionally, they can also be used as a treatment– for someone with eggs/lice.

Now……how many times have your scratched your head just reading this ?!