What You Need To Know About Lice Eggs

Head lice affect about six to twelve million individuals in the United States every year. Amongst these cases, the largest demographic are children aged three to eleven years old. You might be wondering what makes them the most susceptible. The answer is simple: children are often in environments that increase their exposure to head lice. 

If you have never been exposed to these pesky parasites before, then it’s understandable why you might feel worried and overwhelmed. Not just about the health of your child but also those you’re in close contact with, like family members. Nevertheless, if treated quickly and effectively, head lice can be a minor bump in the road. Head lice removal is what we specialize in here at Lice Clinics Charlotte. We prioritize our clients’ safety and need to resolve an unpleasant issues effectively. 

We understand that for some, especially those who have never come into contact, head lice can be daunting to deal with at home. While there are many resources and information available to treat head lice, it’s important to note that your best option will be seeking out professional help. It’s not only best for the infected individual, but also for the entire family. That is why we at Lice Clinics in Charlotte value effective treatment and clear communication between our staff and clients. 

To that end, let’s get a basic understanding of what head lice are.

What Are Head Lice?

A head louse, also known as a Pediculus humanus capitis, goes through three life stages: lice eggs, nymphs, to adults. 

Now your first question might be: what do lice eggs look like? Well, in the beginning, stages of their lives, head lice are nits. These nits, or lice eggs, are extremely small, about the size of a single knot in a piece of thread. They are oval in shape and tend to be yellow or white. However, studies have shown that lice eggs and head lice are darker in color if the person they infect has dark hair. Regardless, the nits are sticky and because they are so close to the scalp it is almost impossible to remove them with traditional hair tools or by just simply washing the hair. Lastly, nits are also challenging to detect with an untrained eye because they are often confused for dandruff or water droplets on the hair

After about seven to twelve days the nits hatch into nymphs, baby lice. These tiny bugs, about the size of a pinhead, begin feeding on the scalp and crawl around. Once an additional nine to twelve days have passed, they fully mature into adult head lice and start laying more nits. Adult head lice are about the size of a sesame seed and have six legs. Attached to the end of each are these hook-like claws that allow the bugs to firmly grip onto the hair shaft and move around on the scalp. They lay about six to ten nits a day and have a complete life cycle of about 30 days or so. We mentioned earlier that nits are commonly found about ¼ of an inch above the scalp. Although they can be further away, they need to be a certain distance away if they want to survive. Adult head lice, however, tend to be found in four common hotspots: the nape of the neck, behind the ears, the temples, and the crown of the head.

How Can You Catch Head Lice: Facts And Myths

It’s important to note that head lice are not the same as the fleas we might find on our furry friends. In other words, they might have many legs but that doesn’t allow them to jump. Head lice do not spread this way. 

Another common myth is that you can get head lice from sharing hair tools or accessories. While it is possible for the bugs to be transmitted between people this way, it is not the most common reason why you or your child might have caught them. The simple answer is through direct head-to-head contact with an infected person. 

Now you might be wondering why can’t head lice spread as easily on objects that our heads come into constant contact with. This is because head lice need a constant food supply in order to survive. Meaning that if a louse gets caught in your brush, for example, it won’t survive for more than a day if it stays here. Sharing hair tools, pillows, and towels is just not as common when it comes to the mode of transfer with head lice. 

Treatment

Lice Clinics Charlotte’s lice treatment options are the best in the state, offering a variety of choices to fit every budget.

Our most popular option is our signature Airtral full-service treatment. It is scientifically based and uses warm air to eradicate all head lice and their nits. The second part of this service includes a manual comb-through, performed by a clinician to remove any dead lice and their dehydrated nits. Lastly, they will apply an all-natural treatment solution to the hair and scalp. 

This treatment is so popular because of its simplicity and effectiveness. No follow-up appointment or additional comb-through services are required with our Airtral full-service treatment. You and your family can leave lice-free and resume your daily activities without any worry or stress. 

For those who are worried we have the Peace of Mind Mini Treatment. 

This includes a head check, comb-through, and an application of our Soothing Treatment solution. The Peace of Mind Mini Treatment is a $50 flat fee and if any head lice or nits are found, then you will be able to choose the treatment option best for you and pay the difference. 

An additional service we offer is the traditional comb-through. We will section the hair and use special tools to carefully and meticulously go through each section of the hair to remove the head lice and their nits. This service is great for those who are three years old or younger. 

Lice Clinics Charlotte: Our Promise To You!

At Lice Clinics Charlotte we offer an array of lice treatments 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. We hope the information provided helped answer your question about what lice eggs look like. Effective treatments with detailed and concise knowledge at budget-friendly prices are of utmost importance.

And that’s the Lice Clinics difference. 
To schedule an appointment or see what other treatment options are available, visit our website and give us a call today!