Frequently Asked Questions
What are lice?
Lice are a human parasite. They have been around since the beginning of time. They live on the human scalp and feed on human blood. Lice live close to the scalp and lay their eggs (nits) at the base of the hair shaft, gluing them to the shaft. They cannot survive over 24 hours without a human host. Lice cannot jump or fly but they do crawl very quickly. One female lice bug can lay up to 200 eggs over her lifetime. According the Centers for disease Control an estimated 6 to 12 million American children between the ages of 3 and 11 will have lice annually.
How do I check for lice?
Conduct a thorough head check. Lice are typically found at the base of the neck or behind the ears. Make sure to check your child’s hair in a well lit area and part the hair. Your child may feel like something is moving around on their head. For local residents, we offer head lice checks. Contact us for an appointment.
How can I prevent lice infestation?
If your child has long hair keep it pulled back in a ponytail or braid. Teach your children not to share hairbrushes, hats, helmets, jackets or pillows. When the note comes home from your child’s school that someone in their class has lice, make sure to check your child’s head daily. We carry a full line of all natural lice prevention products.
Can lice jump or fly?
Lice do not have hind legs or wings thus making it impossible to fly. They crawl very quickly.
How should I clean my house during an infestation of lice?
Lice can only survive away from the head for 24 hours so think about the last 24 hours for your child. Wash everything that your child came into contact with during that time. If an item cannot be washed, place it in the dryer for 30 minutes on high heat. Run a quick vacuum or lint roller over upholstered furniture. Always remember treating the head is more important than the house.
I have heard of people using a facial cleanser to treat lice? Is this effective?
This method is used as a means of suffocation. This does have some effect on live bugs, but once again has no impact on the nits and is very time consuming. It requires multiple successive treatments and the product does not kill nits!
Do lice prefer clean or dirty hair?
It is much easier for lice to move around clean hair vs. dirty hair. Lice is not a sign of poor hygiene whatsoever.
How did we contract lice?
Head to head contact is by far the most likely way you or loved one contracted lice. While it is less likely, lice can also be spread by sharing hair brushes, pillow, and hats.
What do lice look like?
Adult lice are around the size of a sesame seed. They are very good at blending in with ones hair color making them somewhat difficult to detect. Nits and eggs are typically smaller than the size of a pencil tip. They are round or oval and attach themselves to the hair shaft close to the scalp.
Why should I use your products versus the drugstore’s?
Our product uses a digestive enzyme to dissolve the glue that attaches the nits to the hair shaft. The problem with most other products is they are only designed to kill adult lice leaving the nits attached to hair to hatch later. Our product takes care of adult lice and nits thus breaking the life cycle of lice and preventing re-infestation! Also, our product is free of pesticides and harsh chemicals making it not only extremely effective, but safe as well. Growing research shows that lice are becoming resistant to the pesticide treatments thus making them increasingly ineffective. This is why many standard lice products require a second treatment after seven days. Our product is naturally based and lice will not become resistant to it!
Why do some people seem to contract lice continually?
The most likely reason for this is because they were never past it to begin with. Another reason for this could be they returned to the same environment with the same people, sharing close contact and exposing themselves to re-infestation. Lastly, when lice feed on our blood they leave behind a scent that gives a signal to other lice letting them know that you are a favorable host. It is unknown how long this lasts, but a good rule of thumb is too be extra diligent with checking and combing for 90 days post treatment.
My child came home with a note from school stating someone in her class has lice, should I treat her just to be safe?
NO!! It is quite possible that your child doesn’t have lice at all. Check your child’s head frequently and take preventative measures against an infestation. Many parents treat lice as a preventative measure exposing children to toxic chemicals unnecessarily Think of it this way, if someone in your child’s class has a cold, you don’t give your child cold medicine.
Think You Have Lice?
Contact Us Today!
573 Belle Station Blvd.
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Email: emilyandshelly@licebeware.com
For appointments call: 843-323-5366