Can Head Lice Get Under Your Skin?
WouterIf you’ve ever wondered, “Can head lice get under your skin?” it is likely that you’ve been in close contact with an infected person. These tiny parasites live in the scalp, and are spread through head-to-head contact, and even from sharing personal items worn on the head. You’ll need to wash all of your personal items often, including your hairbrush and comb.
When head lice attack, they start off as nits. The eggs of this parasite are smaller than a sesame seed, and are usually gray, white, or tan in color. The nymphs live for about 9-12 days and hatch from the eggs. Lice lay up to ten eggs per day. Once the eggs hatch, the adult lice live for around 3 weeks and lay more eggs. Lice eggs are found on the head and are visible to the naked eye, and are often present in the hair, pillowcase, or clothes.
There are several effective medications to treat head lice. There are nonprescription treatments with pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide, which are applied to the head and hair. These medications are applied for 10 minutes and rinsed off with water. Prescription products contain malathion, which is effective at killing adult lice. However, these medications are not recommended for children under two years of age or pregnant women.
Lice are tiny parasites that live in the skin and feed on human blood. They normally stay near the scalp and behind the ears. However, some are also found on eyelashes and eyebrows.
