Can Head Lice Be Brown?

You may be wondering, “Can head lice be brown?” The truth is that they are not. Rather, they are grayish-white or tan nymphs. They hatch into adult louse lice in 9-12 days after attachment. Lice spend about 30 days on a human scalp. They are crawling insects and will feed on blood several times a day. The longer the infestation is left untreated, the more eggs the lice will produce.

To get rid of head lice, it is essential to thoroughly clean your child’s head. Clothing that was worn by the child with the infestation should be washed and dried in hot water. Any items that are not washable should be kept in a plastic bag or dry cleaned. If you have tried the home treatment and are still not successful, you should take your child to a dermatologist for further evaluation.

The first step is to identify the head lice. Lice live in the hair of humans and lay their eggs close to the scalp. Lice eggs are small and difficult to detect and are attached to hair strands about half an inch from the scalp. They are a common problem among children and are often spread to other people in the home.

When head lice are present, the first symptom is intense itching. The infestation may last from two to several days. In some cases, the itching can become severe and even turn into sores. Fortunately, head lice do not transmit any disease, but the itching may make it difficult to live.