How Long Can Head Lice Nits Live Off the Body?

If you’ve been wondering how long can head lice nits live on your body, it’s important to know that they’ll only live for about 30 days without a host. However, lice do have the ability to live on inanimate objects such as clothing or surfaces for a short period of time. However, to become infested, you have to have direct head-to-head contact. It is unlikely that head lice will live on pets or family members.

Adult lice are tiny and grayish-white. They are about 1.1 to 1.3 millimeters long. Adult lice will mature in nine to twelve days, and they won’t grow larger than two millimeters. Adult female lice lay hundreds of eggs in their lifetimes. Each egg is glued to the hair shaft, and it takes about four to ten days to hatch. Once the eggs have hatched, the lice mature in nine to twelve days, then mate and start laying eggs. This process is called viability.

The most common symptom of head lice is itching. Itching can last for one to four weeks after the initial infestation. It is not uncommon for people to experience itching immediately after being infected, although it takes a while for sensitivity to louse saliva to develop. Itching can lead to secondary infections from scratching.