Common Myths About Head Lice

Head lice are a common occurrence among school-aged children, but many misconceptions and myths still exist about them. When you discover that your child has lice, knowing the correct information will help you understand what to do for effective removal. Below we’ll go through some common myths about head lice and outline the head lice facts you should know!

Myth 1: Lice Are Impossible to See with the Naked Eye

A louse is about the size of a sesame seed, which means that it is possible to see them with the naked eye. It’s best to use a magnifying glass while in natural light. Nits (eggs), on the other hand, may be more difficult to see and require a trained eye.

Myth 2: Lice Can Jump

One of the most important head lice facts for parents to know is that lice cannot jump. Their only “mode of transportation” is crawling. They have no wings and cannot jump, which means that a louse cannot jump from one person’s head onto another. Lice are spread through direct contact when heads, hair, and clothing are touching and close enough to allow lice to crawl from one person to another.

Myth 3: Bad Personal Hygiene is to Blame for Catching Lice

Lice are attracted to blood, not dirt or bacteria. This means that no matter how great a person’s hygiene habits are—they can still get lice. Nits and lice cling to hair follicles and have sticky secretions, which means that shampooing alone won’t rid the scalp of lice.

Myth 4: Lice Carry and Transmit Disease

Lice are harmless in this regard. According to the CDC, head lice do not transmit or carry disease.

Myth 5: You Must Place Your Child’s Toys and Belongings into Plastic Bags to Kill Lice

It’s important for parents to realize that the lice life cycle relies on blood and warmth from a human host in order to support survival. Without the warmth and blood of the human scalp, the lice life cycle is cut short as nits cannot hatch and usually die within a week. This means that once a louse leaves your child’s head, its timeline for survival decreases exponentially. So, while bagging up every single stuffed animal won’t hurt, it’s important to narrow your cleaning efforts to the items that had contact with your child.

Fresh Heads Lice Removal

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, we are committed to empowering our customers with the head lice facts they need in order to safely and quickly eradicate lice. We pride ourselves on being a lice service that your family can rely on to help you safely diagnose, treat, or prevent a full-blown lice infestation. We help you select the most effective lice treatment option so that you and your child can return to normal life as quickly as possible. We have clinics in Jacksonville and Orlando, FL, and Savannah, GA. Contact Fresh Heads Lice Removal today to learn more about our safe and affordable treatment options!

Schools Without Lice

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, our goal is to eradicate lice in schools across the country. We have partnered with Lice Clinics of America to create the Schools Without Lice program, which supports our nurses and teachers with free resources, screenings, and treatments. Let’s take another step toward lice-free schools!