The Life Cycle of Head Lice
Some might be relieved to know that head lice do not live forever! Head lice may seem like pesky insects that could live forever, but just like everything else they also have a life cycle. By understanding their life cycle as a parent, you might feel a little more at ease because of this knowledge!
Stage 1: Lice Eggs
The first stage of life for head lice begins with the egg. Head lice eggs are also referred to as nits. The adult female lice lay her eggs on the hair shaft at the base of the scalp. The lice eggs are attached securely to the shaft of the hair, almost like glue. Which makes removing head lice eggs no easy task. Additionally, lice eggs are extremely minuscule so they can be quite hard to see at times. Which is why it’s best to use a flashlight or magnifying glass if you have one. If you do spot the nits, they’re usually circular/oval and are a white color. They’re known to be confused with dandruff, sand, or leftover hairspray. Lastly, lice eggs take anywhere from 6-9 days to hatch and because of this, it’s best to find a lice treatment center close to you so the experts can eradicate all nits as soon as possible.
Stage 2: Nymph
Once the lice egg hatches it becomes a nymph, which is not technically considered an adult louse. The nymph stage is in between the stage of the nit and adult. Even though the nymph may look like an adult louse it’s technically not classified as an adult. Finally, nymphs’ range in size anywhere from 1 mm to 1.4 mm and stay at this stage for 8 to 12 days.
Stage 3: Adult Louse
The final stage of the life cycle of head lice is an adult louse. Adult lice are generally larger in size than the nymph and appear to be a more brown/tan or gray color. As long as adult lice have a human host, they can live for 30 days and during that time period the female louse can lay 8 eggs per day, according to the CDC. However, without a human host to live on lice can only live on its own for 24 to 48 hours.
Come Get Effective Lice Treatment at One of Our Clinics
If you’re wondering “what lice treatment is near me?” Search up one of our lice clinic locations and book an appointment with our Greenville and Anderson, SC lice treatment clinics. Once your child receives a head lice treatment they will be lice-free and both you and your child can go about your day as usual!
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