Where Does Head Lice Live?

If you suspect that you have head lice, it’s important to start treatment as soon as possible. The first step in treating lice is to find and remove the eggs, known as nits. It’s essential to remove them before they hatch, because this is the only effective way to kill lice.

Head lice are tiny insects that are around two to three millimeters long and have six legs. They have a tan or grayish white body color, which makes them appear darker on dark hair. Adult lice can live up to 30 days on a human scalp, and they feed several times a day, so you should make sure that you wash your hair regularly. Generally, lice will die within a day or two once they fall off the host.

Head lice can survive in swimming pools for several hours. Swimming pool water is chlorinated, but this does not kill lice. Moreover, head lice tend to stay clinging to the head’s hair, making it hard to spread them. As such, it’s best to give the person whose head lice you’re concerned with a fresh bedlinen. This will help to eliminate any bacteria the lice have spread from person to person.

Unlike body lice, head lice live for up to 30 days before they become inactive. The life cycle of lice begins with the nit, which matures after ten days. The nymph stage lasts for 10 days, and then the adult louse hatches on day 16. From here, they feed and breed, staying warm for up to 30 days.