Detecting Lice

What does head lice look like?

	Egg/Nits: These are lice eggs laid by the adult female louse at the base of the hair shaft near the scalp. The eggs are firmly attached to the hair shaft and are oval-shaped and very small and hard to see. Eggs vary in color from clear to light brown to yellowish-white. They are often confused with dandruff, scabs, or hair spray droplets. Eggs are usually located no more than 1/4in (.635cm) from the base of the hair shaft.
	Nymphs: A nymph is the immature louse that has recently hatched from the egg. Nymphs look like adult lice, but are smaller. Nymphs mature after 3 molts. Like adult lice, nymphs must feed regularly on human blood.
	Adults: The fully grown adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed, has six legs, and is tan to grayish-white in color. To survive, adult lice must feed on blood. An adult head louse can live about 30 days on a person’s head, but will die within 24-48 hours if it falls off a person.

Detection and Diagnosis of Lice

Head lice and eggs are found almost exclusively on human head hair and the scalp, frequently around and behind the ears and near the neckline at the back of the head. Head lice and eggs are sometimes also found on the eyelashes or eyebrows, but this is uncommon. Misdiagnosis of head lice is common.
Nits in hair Lice in hair Lice on comb
The best diagnosis is by finding a live nymph or adult louse on the scalp or hair of a person. Adult and nymphal lice are very small, move quickly, and avoid light, so they may be difficult to find. Using a fine toothed louse comb helps in correctly diagnosing head lice. When doing a wet comb – wipe on a white paper towel. Lice Nits (eggs) will look like little slivers ranging from cream to brown in color. It can be difficult to spot nits because they are extremely small.

Nits resemble dandruff in appearance, however they can easily be distinguished from dandruff, as they are attached to the hair follicle and will not move upon agitation. Usually inspections are conducted with high lighting and a magnifying glass, and hair ties and wooden sticks are used to separate and comb through hair. Lice move very quickly, so adults and nymphs can be hard to spot, but finding any nits close to the scalp, behind the ears or near the neck is a good sign that an active infection is present. If nits are found more than a quarter of an inch from the scalp, then the infestation may be expired and no longer requires treatment. If a conclusive diagnosis cannot be made at home, then the assistance of a medical professional should be sought.

Eggs that are attached within 1/4in (.635cm) of the base of hair shafts suggest the person may have an active infestation. Eggs that are found more than 1/4in (.635cm) from the base of hair shafts are almost always non-viable eggs (dead or empty egg casings).

If no live nymphs or adult lice are seen, and the only eggs found are more than 1/4in (.635cm) from the scalp, the infestation is probably old and no longer active.

Your Local Seattle Lice Treatment and Removal Service

The Lice Clinic offers an all natural in the home head lice treatment.

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Seattle Lice Removal Service Locations

Our lice treatment and removal technicians serve the following areas throughout the Seattle region.

Cities:
Algona, Arlington, Auburn, Beaux Arts Village, Beaux Arts Village, Ballard, Bellevue, Bonney Lake, Bremerton, Brier, Burien, Covington, Capitol Hill, Clyde Hill, Columbia City, DuPont, Eastside (King County, Washington), Edgewood, Edmonds, Everett, Federal Way, Fife, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, Georgetown, Hunts Point, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kent, Kirkland, Lacy, Lake Forest, Lake Stevens, Lakewood, Lynnwood, Maple Valley, Madrona, Martha Lake, Marysville, Medina, Mercer Island, Mill Creek, Milton, Monroe, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, Newcastle, Normandy Parkm North Bend, North Creek, Pacific, Poulsbo, Puyallup, Redmond, Renton, Ruston, Sammamish, SeaTac, Seattle, Shoreline, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, South Lake Union, Spanaway, Sumner, Tacoma, Tukwila, Tumwater, University Place, Upper Fremont, Woodinville, White Center, Woodway, Yarrow Point

Neighborhoods:
Washington Park, Lakemont, Cougar Mountain, North Redmond, English Hill, Montlake, Laurelhurst, Yarrow Bay, Market, Highlands, Madison park, Ballard, Phinneywood, Wedgwood, View Ridge and Sand Point

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Can Parents Get Lice From Children?

What are the chances that mom will have lice if the kids have it? The chances are actually quite high especially when the children are young, and no lice removal actions are taken early in the infestation. Since head lice are transferred via head to head contact, usually the mothers contract lice from their children when they are physically close to the child. Naturally children who need to be carried by their moms or whose moms lie down next to them will very likely pass along their case of head lice.

As young children mature and enter adolescence, where they may try to avoid their parents at all costs, moms may be spared. Dads often are lice-free as their hair is shorter and therefore less accessible to lice. In addition, there is some evidence that suggests that lice are repelled by testosterone. In general, when children are found to have head lice, we always want to check the mom. There is no benefit to eliminating lice in the kids if the mom has it and then ultimately gives it back to the kids. A family must be looked at as a unit and TLC | The Lice Clinic lice treatment and removal service will make sure that the family is deloused and can remain lice-free!