How Long Do Head Lice Eggs Take to Hatch?
WouterA question often asked by those who suffer from head lice is “how long do head lice eggs take to hatch?” It’s easy to see that the egg-laying process takes about eight to nine days. After mating, the female louse will lay eggs that will eventually hatch and become an adult louse. Then, it will die after spending about 35 days on your head. You will notice that the lice eggs are white and translucent and are usually about 0.8 millimeters in diameter.
In order to determine the exact time it will take to eliminate lice, you should know how long these eggs hatch. A typical treatment may take from one to two weeks for an infestation to completely disappear. However, sometimes, this treatment is not enough. In these cases, it might take another application.
Adult lice have six legs and are about the size of a sesame seed. They mature within two to three weeks and are greyish-white in color. They feed on the blood of their host several times a day. Lice can survive for about two days away from their host’s scalp before laying eggs.
The time it takes for head lice eggs to hatch is dependent on many factors. While scalp temperature is probably the biggest factor, the location of the lice infestation and hairstyle can also play a role. Higher temperatures encourage lice to develop more quickly. In addition to temperature, thicker hair on the head is a prime location for lice to lay eggs.
