Can Head Lice Survive in Water?

Swimming in chlorinated water will not kill head lice. This is because lice are hearty pests that can resist many chemicals, including chlorine. One study concluded that swimming in chlorinated water only caused the lice to temporarily become immobile and then recover when they were removed from the water. In addition, chlorine will not kill eggs or nits.

The adult lice can live for about 30 days on a human’s head. After being removed from the scalp, they usually die within 24 hours. Each female louse lays up to 100 eggs during her lifetime. The eggs are attached to the hair shaft and hatch after four to ten days. The female louse matures and mates after nine to twelve days.

The only way to eliminate head lice is to stop them from infesting other people. The best way to do this is to keep your hair clean and dry. If you are sharing towels, head lice may spread through those items. You should also keep your hair in a bun or light braid. In addition to avoiding head-to-head contact, you should never attempt to drown the lice. The reason for this is that lice are very resilient and can survive many chemicals, including the ones found in most head lice shampoos.

Some people think that soaking your hair in water will kill the head lice. While this isn’t true, lice can survive up to two hours in water. If you have an active infestation, it is recommended that you treat yourself and any other family members. Treatment should be repeated after a few days to kill newly hatched lice.