What Do Head Lice Eat?
WouterFortunately, there are several ways to treat head lice. The first step to treatment is to eliminate the source of infestation. The most common source of lice infestation is human hair. Lice are tiny, white insects that attach to the hair. They can’t be brushed out, so they must be physically removed. This can be done by using your fingernails or a special nit comb. Head lice can be spread from person to person, but they are most commonly found in children.
The life cycle of a head louse lasts for thirty to 35 days. The female louse lays eggs near the scalp at the base of the hairline. They also like to live behind the ears and nape of the neck. Once attached, nits remain attached to the hair shaft for about seven days.
Lice feed on the human blood, so they need close contact with the human body. The warm skin on a human head is the perfect environment for lice to survive. Lice also feed on dead skin on the hair. Lice can live for 30 days and lay as many as 180 or 300 eggs before dying. The spread of the disease is still a mystery, but researchers continue to work on ways to prevent it.
A good method of treatment for head lice is to wash all items that have been used within the last two days. If they can’t be washed, you should dry clean or seal them in a plastic bag. In most cases, this will get rid of the lice. However, if a home treatment doesn’t work, you should seek medical help.
