How Long Have I Had Head Lice?
WouterWhile knowing how long you’ve had head lice won’t necessarily affect your treatment, it can help you understand where you got the infestation. By knowing where you were exposed to the infestation, you can avoid it in the future. You should also inform others of the presence of lice so that they can avoid exposing themselves to it.
It’s important to note that lice are not attracted to light. The appearance of nits is often an indicator of how long you’ve been infested. It takes about nine days for the nits to hatch and the adult louse to climb your hair. If you see no adult lice on your head, you likely don’t have an infestation.
Adult head lice are one-eighth of an inch long and live for around 30 days. They lay 100 to 200 eggs in their lifetime. Adult lice usually do not produce nits; instead, they’re tiny white or brown. Lice may be present on the scalp or hair but are more noticeable in hair that is darker than the scalp. The lice’s saliva prevents blood clotting. It also causes an itching sensation that can lead to secondary bacterial infections.
If you’ve found an infestation, the next step is to treat it. If you’re unsure of what kind of treatment is appropriate for your particular case, consider consulting a dermatologist. They will give you tips on how to check for and treat lice. The first thing you need to do is make sure that your hair is wet. This will make it easier for you to see nits and lice. Then, separate your hair into sections and carefully comb through your hair. Once you’ve found lice, wipe the comb with a wet paper towel after each section. This way, you’ll have a better chance of finding the lice and treating them quickly.
