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What Does Lice Look Like?

What Does Lice Look Like?

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A head lice infestation can be one of the trickiest conditions that caregivers can come across when handling small children. The reason is, if left unchecked the condition can not only worsen but spread to anyone who comes into contact, especially if they live under the same roof.

There is an onslaught of information available to us via the internet and some of us can spend hours researching all things head lice. We might even feel like pros after we have consumed as much information as we can. But hang on a moment. 

When dealing with head lice it is absolutely crucial that caregivers seek the proper medical and professional care as soon as possible. Using Google to make a treatment decision is not exactly the best move to make. It’s understandable why many would seek treatment options that they can do at home, but the importance of timeliness and the risk of further infestation cannot be stressed enough. 

We at Fresh Heads Lice Removal in Savannah Georgia, and Jacksonville and Orlando, Florida, understand how overwhelming all of this can be. That is why our staff takes pride in not only offering signature one-time treatment options but also a wealth of reliable and factual information about head lice. We value understanding treatment options for our clients but also making sure they know the ins and outs of head lice. 

Before you take a look into treatment options, let’s get a firm understanding of head lice: physiology, life cycle, and common myths. 

Head Lice: Physiology

To understand why it’s important to seek professional care when coming across a head lice infestation, we have to understand what they look like and how they operate. 

Firstly, adult head louse are about the size of a sesame seed and are light in color. However, studies have shown that if you have darker hair color, then the head lice will be darker in color as well. A unique camouflage trick. 

They are a parasite that feeds on blood from the scalp, hence the name head lice. They have six legs in total and at the end of each are these c-curved hooks that allow them to grip onto the hair shaft firmly. 

Lastly, they cannot jump from place to place like fleas. They simply crawl around on the scalp and just stay there to feed. Female head lice tend to be a little wider than males and they can lay up to 10 lice eggs, or nits, a day.

Head Lice: The Life Cycle 

Lice starts as an egg or a nit. It’s about the size of a single knot in a piece of thread. They are usually the same color as the hair of the person they infected, just like how they do when fully grown. If you thought seeing an adult head louse was difficult, a nit is even more so. They’re so small, they’re often confused with dandruff or water droplets in the hair. 

After about six to nine days, the nit will hatch into a nymph. At this stage, they are about as big as a pinhead and begin feeding on blood from the scalp to grow in size.

After a few more days they are fully grown into an adult head louse. Females can lay about six to ten nits per day. With a constant food supply, head lice can survive for about 30 days.

As you can see from lice eggs to nymphs, to adult head louse the life cycle of these parasites is brief but rapid. This is why we at Fresh Heads Lice Removal put a strong emphasis on seeking professional treatment sooner rather than later.  

Myths

As previously stated, there are a lot of myths about head lice in general, including treatments. 

No, you cannot drown lice and their nits out by submerging your head under water, this includes swimming pools. Some people think that the chemicals in swimming pools, namely chlorine, are strong enough to kill head lice and nits. If not, then submerging their head ought to do the trick. 

This is simply not the case. 

Earlier we mentioned those hooks that adult head lice have at the end of each of their legs. This prevents them from being removed from the hair so freely. Essentially, trying to get rid of them by wetting your hair is like trying to play a tug-of-war game that you just cannot win. Head lice and their eggs can only be removed from the hair through proper professional treatments and products from a licensed clinician. 

No, mayonnaise or any other kind of occlusion-based product is not an effective lice treatment. You cannot suffocate head lice. They need to be removed through warm heat, prescribed topicals, or by hand with a comb specifically designed for lice removal. 

Head lice are transmittable through direct head-to-head content. This goes back to the fact that head lice need a constant blood supply from the scalp in order to survive, which means that the longer they remain off the scalp, the higher their mortality rate. 

Why Us? Check Out Our Savannah, GA Location Today.

Now that we have answered the question, what do lice look like, let’s briefly get an overview of what treatment options are available.

Our most popular treatment is the AirAlle. Our signature treatment system uses warm air to eliminate all adult head lice and their nits from the scalp. The entire process takes about 90 minutes and comes with a 45-day guarantee. This means that if re-infestation occurs, the person who initially received treatment will be retreated for free as well as anyone who shares a household with the infected individual. This will occur once a head check by a Fresh Heads technician is performed. 

We offer an array of other lice treatments within our facilities, fitting any budget to ensure that our clients and their families get the effective care they need. We value our one-treatment-guaranteed systems as well as informing each of our clients about how to treat a head lice infestation properly. Effective treatments with detailed and concise knowledge at budget-friendly prices are of utmost importance.

And that’s the Fresh Heads Lice Removal difference. 

To schedule an appointment at either our Savannah, Georgia location or at our Jacksonville or Orlando locations, visit our website and give us a call today! 

Schools Without Lice.

Schools Without Lice

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, our mission is to get rid of lice in schools across the United States. We’ve partnered with the Lice Clinics of America to create the Schools Without Lice program. Through this program, we provide school nurses and teachers with free screenings, resources, and treatments. Together, we can have schools without lice!

Common Signs Your Child Has Lice

Common Signs Your Child Has Lice

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What are lice? Lice are parasitic insects that are about the size of a sesame seed. They can only be spread through head-to-head contact and children are more likely to get lice than adults. Even if your child has good hygiene, there is still the possibility of a lice infestation as hygiene is not an indicator of whether or not you can catch lice. If you are worried your child has lice, what signs should you look for?

Signs of Lice

When looking for signs of lice, the most common sign is itching. If you notice your child is itching their scalp more than usual, that is a big indicator of lice. 

Other symptoms include:

  • A tickling feeling of something moving on your head 
  • Sores that developed from scratching
  • Irritability
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Red bumps on your head, neck, or shoulders

What to Do if You Believe Your Child Has Lice

If you believe your child has lice, you can do a head check to be sure. To check the scalp, you should look for small, brown insects moving around on the head. You should also look for lice eggs or nits stuck to the hair. Lice eggs or nits look like a small, oval blob on a strand of hair. If nits are yellow, tan, or brown, it means the lice haven’t hatched yet. If the nits are white or clear, the lice have hatched, and just the egg remains. 

The most common places to find lice and lice eggs in hair are around the ears and near the neckline at the back of the head. It is important to note that if you believe your child has lice, you should make an appointment at a lice clinic immediately. Leaving lice untreated could cause sores to form on the head. These sores can lead to infection, resulting in your child getting sick. Although getting sick from lice is the worst-case scenario, it is better to address the problem sooner rather than later. 

Come to Fresh Heads Lice Removal to be Lice-Free

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, we will safely remove lice from the head. We want to stop the lice in their tracks and get your child back to normal life as soon as possible. At our clinic, we offer a variety of treatments to remove lice from the head. Our most popular treatment is the AirAllé Treatment. 

The AirAllé device blows gently-heated air onto the scalp, which then dehydrates the lice. This dehydration effectively kills the lice and lice eggs in the hair. If your child has lice or lice eggs in their hair, come to our clinic in Jacksonville, FL. We also have locations in Orlando, FL, and Savannah, GA. Come to our clinic today to be lice-free and stress-free. Book now today.

Schools Without Lice.

Schools Without Lice

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, our mission is to get rid of lice in schools across the United States. We’ve partnered with the Lice Clinics of America to create the Schools Without Lice program. Through this program, we provide school nurses and teachers with free screenings, resources, and treatments. Together, we can have schools without lice!

Nits VS Lice; What are the Main Differences Between the Two?

Nits VS Lice; What are the Main Differences Between the Two?

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You keep seeing the word “nits”, but you are not sure what it is or what it has to do with lice? It’s simple, nits are the lice eggs produced by the lice, while lice is the actual bug that is making your head itch. Lice are very common and nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s estimated that 6 to 12 million people every year get lice. At Fresh Heads Lice Removal in Jacksonville, we are dedicated to solving this frequent issue. 

What are Lice Nits?

Female lice can lay 6 to 8 eggs a day. As you could imagine, that can lead to lots of lice over the course of a few days. Their eggs are typically white in color, very small, and oval shaped. You can find them close to the scalp, but they’ll be attached to individual pieces of hair. A good way to decipher if it’s lice nits or dandruff is that dandruff will easily come out of the hair and is not hard or oval shaped. Lice nits do not come off the hair easily and can be seen with the naked eye.

What Do Lice Look Like?

Lice are the six-legged, wingless bug you are seeing crawling around on your scalp. They tend to be dark in color but can be lighter.  They are very small, but can still be seen with the naked eye. If you see one, chances are you’ll be able to find others.    

How To Know You Have Head Lice?

A good way to tell if you have lice or not is to evaluate your level of itchiness on your scalp, neck, or shoulders. The itchiness can become unbearable at some points and can disrupt your everyday life. Another good way to see if you have lice is if you see nits. The lice nits will be on individual pieces of hair and close to the scalp. These nits will be white and oval-shaped, and will not come out of your hair so easily. 

Lice Treatment in Jacksonville, FL 

The most efficient and best lice treatment is with us at Fresh Heads. We use our exclusive AirAlle machine that kills the lice by using heated air. Its warm air kills the lice and lice eggs without having to use any harsh chemicals or having to come back for a second treatment. With our simple process, no hourly fees, and no hassle of having to come back for follow-ups, we’re happy to provide you with the best lice treatment. Call or visit our website to book your appointment today at one of our locations in Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville Beach, Orlando, FL, or Savannah, GA.  

Schools Without Lice.

Schools Without Lice

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, our mission is to get rid of lice in schools across the United States. We’ve partnered with the Lice Clinics of America to create the Schools Without Lice program. Through this program, we provide school nurses and teachers with free screenings, resources, and treatments. Together, we can have schools without lice!

What Are Lice Eggs?

What Are Lice Eggs?

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If you or someone in your family has head lice, it’s only a matter of time before they have lice eggs in their hair too. These tiny lice eggs are called nits. If you have a fresh case of head lice, there may not be any nits attached to the roots of your hair yet, so it is important that you seek treatment as soon as possible. The life span of head lice is only about 30 days long, so the production of nits can be very rapid. Here are a few facts about nits, how to spot them, and how to get rid of them.

What do lice eggs look like?

Lice eggs take on an off-white, almost brownish color and can be found near the roots of the hair. If you see a tiny oval-shaped blob attached to the base of your hair, chances are, it’s a nit. If it appears white or clear, then it is merely a shell. If the blob is brown or tan it means that the louse has yet to hatch. These eggs can be less than half a millimeter long, and they are difficult to remove by hand.

What to do if you have nits.

Seeing lice eggs in hair can be pretty unsettling, so what do you do to get the tiny eggs out? One of the most popular and effective ways of removing head lice is called wet combing. All you need is a fine-tooth comb, some detangler or conditioner, and some water. You want to start off by getting the hair wet and dividing it up into sections to make the combing process easier and more thorough. Start at the tips of the hair and slowly comb through until you can be sure there are no more lice or nits in that section. After that, just keep combing section by section until the job is done. It is also important that you have something to use to wipe off the comb. You wouldn’t want the lice you just removed to get transferred into a different section of hair.

How long till lice eggs hatch?

If you have head lice, then waiting around for a solution isn’t an option. Nits only take 7 to 10 days to hatch, so the longer you wait to take care of the problem, the worse it gets and the more time you have to spread it to others. Lice can live in the hair for multiple days before they are discovered, giving them plenty of time to lay eggs. 

Fresh Heads Lice Removal in Orlando, FL

Finding a safe and efficient cure to head lice is what we specialize in here at Fresh Heads Lice Removal. If you or someone you know is dealing with head lice then please visit our clinics in Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach, FL, Savannah GA, and Orlando FL. We are dedicated to a chemical-free treatment for head lice that takes just 90 minutes. 

Schools Without Lice.

Schools Without Lice

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, our mission is to get rid of lice in schools across the United States. We’ve partnered with the Lice Clinics of America to create the Schools Without Lice program. Through this program, we provide school nurses and teachers with free screenings, resources, and treatments. Together, we can have schools without lice!

Bugs That Can Be Mistaken for Lice

Bugs That Can Be Mistaken for Lice

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Every parent’s wish when they examine their child’s head is that it’s not head lice but maybe another creepy crawler. There is a chance it could be something else other than head lice because there are other bugs that most definitely can be mistaken for lice. However, even though other pests might look like lice there are some distinctive differences in characteristics between lice and other insects. By knowing what lice look like and the symptoms you will be able to spot the difference between other insects and head lice much faster.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs look very similar to head lice since they are both small oval-shaped insects. However, head lice are transparent in color, and bed bugs are brownish to reddish color. Both head lice and bed bugs bite their hosts causing itchy and uncomfortable sores. But the key difference between the two is head lice bites are limited to primarily the scalp. Whereas bed bug bites can be found anywhere on the body. Bed bugs can reside anywhere in one’s house, including the mattress, furniture, and even clothing, which is why bed bugs will bite humans anywhere they have access to.

Scabies

Scabies has similar symptoms as lice, but they are microscopic mites that burrow into the skin where it then lays eggs. One differentiation between the two is head lice can be seen with the naked eye and normally in the form of lice eggs. While scabies cannot be seen, only their symptoms are evident. Symptoms include intense, frequent itching causing a pimple-like rash to occur, which head lice also cause. Another key similarity between scabies and head lice is they’re both transmitted via direct contact. If you are ever questioning whether your child has head lice or scabies the way to confirm is by examining your child’s head and seeing if nits are present. If nits are there it’s time to take your child to our lice removal service..

Fleas

Fleas mainly affect and live on animals such as dogs and cats but since they’re a parasite they don’t discriminate against humans. Normally, flea bites will be found on the feet and legs which crosses out the potential of it being head lice. Another striking difference is fleas jump and you can normally see them jumping on your pet or on your carpet.

If It’s Head Lice

If you’ve done your research and canceled out the possibility of it being other insects and head lice is the only one that checks all the boxes it’s time to let the professionals look. Our head lice removal service located in Savannah, Ga, is meant to be a quick one-time process that rids your child of head lice so you can get back to your day. Book an appointment with us today at either of our locations in Jacksonville, Fl, Orlando, Fl, and Savannah, GA.

Schools Without Lice.

Schools Without Lice

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, our mission is to get rid of lice in schools across the United States. We’ve partnered with the Lice Clinics of America to create the Schools Without Lice program. Through this program, we provide school nurses and teachers with free screenings, resources, and treatments. Together, we can have schools without lice!

The OTC Lotion Permethrin is Potentially Harmful

The OTC Lotion Permethrin is Potentially Harmful

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Research and evidence have suggested lice have been around for approximately 5.5 million years. Scientists have even found head lice in the tombs/coffins of well-preserved mummies dating back to 3000 B.C. Throughout the millions of years head lice have managed to evolve, adapt, and survive it all. Which is why it comes as no surprise when a new strain of lice was produced, they were known as super lice.

What Is Permethrin?

Both permethrin and pyrethrins are made from synthetic pesticides and sold as an over-the-counter lotion treatment used to treat common head lice. This lotion only can kill live lice and is unable to eradicate the lice eggs (nits). Due to the fact permethrin can only kill live lice that can cause a potential problem to arise because if the nits hatch the head lice infestation begins all over again.

Super Lice

When “super lice” is brought up many people have a million questions zooming through their head. What does super lice look like? How are they different from common lice? Are they more harmful or dangerous? The only difference between common lice and super lice is super lice are a divergent strain that have become resistant to permethrin and pyrethrin. They look identical to common lice, and they do not carry or transmit any diseases. The key difference is if your child has a head lice infestation of super lice and uses the OTC topical permethrin it will be ultimately useless. Instead, bring your child into Fresh Heads Lice Removal. Whether your child has super lice or common lice, one single treatment using our AirAlle system will remove all lice the first go around.

The Dangers of Permethrin

Permethrin has been around for some time and because of this many physicians and researchers have identified permethrin as potentially harmful due to its toxic components. For example, permethrin has been linked to endocrine disorders and disruption in children. Specifically, commercial grade permethrin was found to interfere with androgen receptors which can interfere and delay puberty in children.

As a parent your number one priority is your children’s safety and by using permethrin as a way to treat head lice, you’re putting their safety at possible risk. Throw away the permethrin lotion because there are too many dangers and risks attached. Instead bring your child into our lice removal service in Orlando, FL, where your child’s safety is never a question but a guarantee.

Our Fresh Heads Clinics are the #1 Choice in Orlando, FL

Here at Fresh Heads Lice Removal our AirAlle treatment is FDA approved and in one single treatment can dehydrate lice and lice eggs safely. There are no toxins or pesticides used because we understand keeping your children healthy and safe will always be at the core. Stop by one of our many locations: Jacksonville, FL, Orlando, FL, and Savannah, GA.

Schools Without Lice.

Schools Without Lice

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, our mission is to get rid of lice in schools across the United States. We’ve partnered with the Lice Clinics of America to create the Schools Without Lice program. Through this program, we provide school nurses and teachers with free screenings, resources, and treatments. Together, we can have schools without lice!

What Do Lice Eggs Look Like?

What Do Lice Eggs Look Like?

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Lice eggs (nits) are often more difficult to identify than live adult lice, and many parents have a hard time finding them in their child’s scalp. Parent’s are often unsure how to identify what they see in their child’s hair, and nits are often confused with dandruff, or even hair casts—leading to unnecessary false lice scares. Because we frequently encounter parents who are unsure what lice eggs look like, we thought it would be helpful to put together a short guide on how to identify lice eggs and distinguish them from other common scalp and hair debris.

What Do Nits Look Like?

Many parents look solely for live adult lice in their child’s hair, but we like to stress the importance of also looking for and identifying nits. Nits are just as important to identify as live lice are because even if you identify and kill adult lice, if nits remain, they will hatch and “re-infest” your child. Nits have translucent outer casings that house baby lice (called nymphs) inside. Many parents think that they are looking for “white lice eggs” in their child’s hair, but nits will appear brown in appearance, not white. This is because the nymphs inside the translucent casing are brown, and so when placed against a white background, the nit will also appear brown. Nits are round on one side and pointy on the other with a tail-like antenna coming out of the pointy end. If you see something that fits this description and is about the size of a sesame seed (maybe smaller), you are likely looking at a nit.

Lice Eggs on Hair Clippings

Lice eggs on hair clippings.

 

Lice egg under magnification.

Lice egg under magnification.

Hair Casts and Dandruff

Hair casts and dandruff are common scalp debris that is often mistaken for nits. The easiest way to distinguish between dandruff and nits is that dandruff easily combs out of the hair, whereas nits don’t comb out. Nits are very difficult to remove from the hair because they secrete a cement-like bonding agent that adheres them to the hair shaft. Also, nits typically remain close to the scalp, whereas dandruff flakes can migrate farther down the length of the hair.

Hair casts (often called “pseudo nits”) are thin, elongated, and white tubes that are found along the hair. Because most people assume that they are supposed to be looking for white lice eggs, hair casts are often mistaken for nits. If you see these narrow and cylinder-shaped white tubes along your child’s hair shaft, rest assured that they are not lice, but rather a normal hair concretion.

Let Our Trained Professionals Look for Lice Eggs

It is possible to identify nits in your child’s hair but recognizing what lice eggs look like can be difficult, and you shouldn’t be upset if you have trouble finding them. Nits are often difficult to recognize to the untrained eye and often require professional technicians or medical personnel to spot them. At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, we pride ourselves on being a lice service that your family can rely on for the safe diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of lice. Our trained technicians can identify eggs or lice at any stage of infestation, and help you get the lice treatment you need. To learn more about our list of services and featured products, contact us at one of our Jacksonville, FL, Orlando, FL, or Savannah, GA locations today!

 

 

Schools Without Lice.

Putting an End to Lice in Schools

Fresh Heads Lice Removal clinics want to keep our children safe in schools across the country, which is why we have partnered with Lice Clinics of America to create the Schools Without Lice program. Our goal is to completely eradicate lice in schools from California to Florida, and everywhere in between. By supporting our educators, we can take another step toward creating schools without lice. Learn more about Schools Without Lice!