How Long Do Head Lice Live Off the Body?
WouterIf you have a head lice infestation, your first instinct may be to remove it right away. However, it is important to remember that head lice do not survive on their own. They require close contact with the body of their host to incubate their eggs. Typically, females lay 50 to 150 eggs during their lifetime, but some can lay up to 300 eggs. The time it takes for eggs to hatch depends on the temperature and proximity to the host. The average time it takes to hatch an egg is about a week.
Head lice are parasitic insects, meaning that they live on the human host. They feed on the blood of their host. If you’ve ever seen a head louse with a naked eye or a picture of a louse, you know how bloody it is. This blood is the same kind of thing a mosquito carries around its belly.
To kill head lice and their eggs, you’ll need to wash your hair with hot water. You should also put your combs and hair accessories in a Ziplock bag and freeze them overnight. You may also want to wash your furniture and bedding to kill the lice. However, you should avoid using pesticide sprays, because they can harm your household and may even kill your pets. If you want to remove the head lice, vacuuming is the safest way to remove falling hairs that have attached nits.
If your child has head lice, you should take out the bedding and wash it thoroughly. If you don’t remove them, you can try to catch them on your pillow or bedding. Usually, lice will die after two to three days, but they can still lay their eggs.
