Head lice are greyish or tan insects that are usually the size of your typical strawberry seed.
A head louse feeds on the human blood that circulates through a person’s scalp, which is where the head lice usually reside.
After laying her eggs, the female louse also produces a sticky-like substance that attaches the eggs to the hair shafts.
This substance is sticky enough and firmly attaches the eggs on the hair shafts until it’s time for them to hatch.
Each egg is attached to the base of your hair shaft and not more than 5 millimeters or 3 inches from your scalp.
The Life Cycle of Head Lice
Like most living things, a head louse must go through some significant stages before it matures to a full blood-sucking insect.
The stages are three in number and here is how the whole process plays out:
1. Stage One
The first stage is where the eggs are produced by the female louse. These eggs are tiny and can’t be easily spotted using your naked eyes. After the female louse lays her eggs, the eggs usually take about 6-9 days to fully hatch.
Another thing worth noting is that a female louse can lay from 6-10 legs in a single day, which means that it can do some good damage to a person’s scalp if not properly tended to immediately.
2. Stage Two
The second stage comes immediately after the lice eggs fully hatch. This usually happens after the ninth day when the eggs hatch.
Stage two comprises the nymphs, which are immature forms of the already hatched lice eggs.
The nymphs will most likely grow into mature lice after 9-12 days of the cycle.
This means that it will take a louse up to 12 days to fully mature into an adult after the female louse lays her eggs.
The only problem with this cycle is that it will most likely be happening on top of someone’s scalp – right on their hair.
3. Stage Three
The final stage of a louse’s life cycle is where it now becomes a fully mature adult capable of causing you some significant troubles.
As for the lifespan of lice, a fully mature adult louse can live up to 3-4 weeks on average.
While lack of hygiene might not be the main cause of head lice, it’s still advisable to keep your clothes, home, and environment clean always.
The Transmission of Head Lice
Because head lice can’t jump or fly, the only way they can move from one person to the next is by transmission.
And for the transmission to happen, there must be close contact between two individuals.
Of course, the two parties must have a head lice infestation for the transmission to happen.
Now, this means that to avoid getting head lice from other people you have to avoid any possible close contact with them.
Children playing together in schools or at home are usually the most common parties of head lice transmission.
This is because it’s hard for a child to resist close contact when playing with his/her friends out on the field.
Other than direct transmission, head lice can also move from person to person through indirect contact.
This can happen when individuals share personal garments, and one happens to have head lice infestation.
Some of the garments shared and that can cause indirect head lice transmission include:
· Combs, brushes, and headphones
· Wearables like hats, gloves, and scarves
· Some hair accessories
· Upholstery, pillows, and towels
Additionally, you may also get head lice if you store your clothes together with the clothes of someone with head lice infestation.
Another misconception about the spread of head lice transmission is blaming the pets.
Note that pets, including dogs or cats, don’t play any particular role in the spread of head lice.
With that in mind, the following are some of the most common symptoms of head lice infestation:
· Frequently scratching on the head
· Itchiness
· Feeling a crawling-like sensation on your head
· Recurrent skin irritation
· Presence of swollen lymph
· And having troubles sleeping due to itchiness
Note that these symptoms can also point out to a range of different other issues aside from head lice infestation.
Therefore, it’s always advisable to confirm the issue before rushing on to seeking treatment solutions.
And the best place to check for live lice infestation on your head or your child’s head is usually behind the ears. But an active head lice infestation is only possible if the lice found on the head, neck hairline, or behind the ears are alive.
How to Treat Head Lice Infestation?
While preventing head lice transmission is essential in avoiding this inconvenient encounter, it doesn’t always go so well.
So, what happens when you experience head lice infestation?
Well, the first thing you should know is that you can treat this condition using viable products and tools.
There are dedicated lice combs and shampoos, among other effective products that ensure you rid the infestation completely.
And the best part is that most of these products used to treat head lice are typically easy to use.
You don’t have to necessarily visit a doctor even if it’s just your first encounter with head lice.
This is because these products are self-explanatory and have easy-to-follow instructions for the users. Therefore, you only need to pay attention to the instructions on using head lice treatment products and the results will be effective.
Final Thoughts
So, what does head lice look like?
As you’ve read earlier in the guide, a head louse will usually be the size of a regular strawberry seed. The head louse will also look greyish or tan in color and can take about 6-9 days to hatch.
After hatching, this insect can cause you real inconvenience and complications as well if left to persist.
So, ensure you adhere to the information above on preventing the transmission of head lice.
But if you are unfortunate to have already gotten an infestation of head lice, you don’t have to worry.
We have effective and easy-to-use products that can treat the issue and ensure that you don’t get any complications from head lice infestation.
By visiting our website, you’ll find all the necessary products to combat head lice for effective results.
