What are head lice?

 
Head lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp.
 
They lay eggs called nits, which stick to hair very close to the scalp.

  

How do you get head lice?

 
By contact with an already infested person. Contact is common during play at school and at home (slumber parties, sports activities, at camp, on a playground).

 
By wearing infested clothing, such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, or hair ribbons.

 
By using infested combs, brushes, or towels.

 
By lying on a bed, couch, pillow, carpet, or stuffed animal that has recently been in contact with an infested person.


Life Cycle

Eggs: Nits are head lice eggs. They are cemented at the base of the hair shaft nearest the scalp. Nits take about 1 week to hatch (range 6 to 9 days)

Nymphs: The egg hatches to release a nymph. Nymphs mature after three molts and become adults about 7 days after hatching.

Adults: Adult lice can live up to 30 days on a person’s head. A maximum of 6 to 10 nits are laid each day by each female.




Facts of Lice

 
Lice like clean, healthy heads the best

 
Lice are nearly as common as the common cold

 
Pets do not transmit head lice to humans or vice versa.

 
Anyone can get Lice

Symptoms of Head Lice

 
You may not have any symptoms at first.

 
Itchy scalp may start weeks or months after lice have started to spread.
- May be worse behind your ears or on the back of your neck.

 
Sores on the scalp (caused by scratching) that may become infected.

 
Tiny grayish white, football-shaped eggs (about the size of a poppy seed) clinging to hairs close to the scalp.

Can’t I just go to the drugstore and buy a lice removal product?

 
Many of he products sold in drugstores or prescribed by doctors are called Pediculicide (Nix, Rid, Clear, etc). Be careful, read the warnings... they are toxic and quite harmful.

- Pediculicides are the insecticidal shampoos and creme rinses used to treat head lice. These products contain pesticides.

Problems with Pediculicides

 
For several years the media, mothers, school nurses, and entomologists have been reporting that many head louse populations have become resistant to the chemicals used to treat them.

- Heads Up: "Products that have been working aren't working anymore," -John Erdmann, entomologist, University of Massachusetts

Fairy LiceMothers will ease your mind and help you get rid of this itchy problem without the use of any chemicals.






More Information

American Academy of Pediatrics

Center for Disease Control

National Pediculosis Association

Harvard School of Public Health

 

Lice Removal Services in other States

Florida
Lice Solutions Resource Network
The Nit Fairy

California
Lice Patrol
The Hair Angels
Mothers Hair Rescue

Georgia
Head Hunters lice removal service
Elimilice, LLC

Michigan
Lice Brigade

Illinois
The Nit Pickers

Massachusetts
Nit Be Gone - 781-296-6201
Desperate Lousewives

New Jersey
Fairy LiceMothers-New Jersey

Oregon
Nit Nanny

Pennsylvania
Goodbye Lice

Texas
Fairy LiceMothers-Texas

Washington
Lice Knowing You