Can Heat Kill Head Lice?

Using hot air from a blow dryer is one of the most common ways to kill head lice. The heat can kill the lice as well as the eggs they lay. However, if you aren’t sure whether heat will kill lice, try a different method. Some lice are resistant to certain treatments, so it’s important to keep trying different methods until you get the desired result.

Before using heat on your head, make sure to dry it thoroughly. A temperature of 130 F or 54.4 Celsius is enough to kill head lice eggs. You should never use flammable products to get rid of lice. However, if you are unsure about what you’re doing, you can use hot water to kill head lice. The temperature should be kept hotter than you’d normally feel, and it’s best to keep hot water in a closed container for two weeks. You can also clean any hair care products you’re using on your head with hot water.

It’s important to understand that lice cannot survive outside of the human host for more than 24 hours. In addition, lice do not prefer to live on flat surfaces, so they will not crawl from the head to escape. Consequently, the most common places to find lice are the base of the head, behind the ears, and near the neckline. Symptoms include an itchiness or tickling sensation in the hair. In most cases, the itching is caused by an allergic reaction to the lice bite. In most cases, the live lice will be within one-fourth inch (6mm) of the scalp.