Frequently Asked Questions
There is so much information and mis-information on the internet, it is hard to know where to turn or who to trust! We have compiled a list of the lice related questions or myths we hear most often and our guidance towards what is true.
Do lice jump or fly? No, they do not jump or fly. They crawl/walk from hair to hair.
Lice carry and spread diseases. No, lice do not spread any known diseases.
Do lice like clean or dirty hair best? Lice do not care if your hair is dirty or clean.
Lice feed on our skin or dandruff. Human blood is the only food source for lice.
Lice and nits can live for weeks off the human head. No, the bugs can only live about 24 hrs off the head. Nits do not come off the hair unless pulled off individually or removed with a nit comb. Nits that are not on a hair that is attached to your head, will not hatch. If a baby bug is actively hatching when the hair is removed from the head, that baby has a 2 hour window to have a blood meal or it dies.
You need to wash everything in your house or bag it all up for weeks when someone has lice. Absolutely not. Lice can hold their breath (or simply not breathe) for over an hour. Most of our hot water heaters are set too low for the temperature of the water to kill bugs, so washing is a waste of time and resources. If you understand that lice cannot live off their human host more than 24hrs, and that eggs on a hair that is not on your head will never incubate and hatch, it makes no sense to go crazy washing and bagging. For our recommended household lice follow up tasks, click the link. https://www.ashevillelice.com/home-care
Can our pets get head lice? No, humans are the only host for head lice.
Can nits (lice eggs) fall off your head and then someone can pick them up and get lice? No, nits do not fall off of the hair.
if a hair comes off your head onto a table or floor, and a nit is actively hatching, that nymph (baby bug) has a 2 hour window to get onto a human head and have a blood meal or it will die.
What are super lice? There is no such thing as super lice. That term has been made up to explain that lice have simply become resistant to some overused lice treatment ingredients.
Does everyone itch when they have lice? No, approximately 50% of the population does not itch when they have lice.
Do I need to spray my cloth furniture, mattresses and carpets with lice killing sprays? No, because your household items are not infested with lice. Lice cannot lice off the head more than 24 hrs, so a quick surface vacuum or throwing a sheet over a cloth couch for 24 hrs is enough. Those sprays often contain chemicals that are toxic to your family and pets and do nothing to kill lice.
Do I need to wait 3 weeks to see if my child has developed lice after an exposure at daycare or a birthday party? No, you can check right away once you learn that someone with whom your child may have had head to head contact has lice. If you do not know they were exposed and they are not an itchy kid, it may take several weeks for you to discover your child has lice, unless you are doing weekly headchecks.
Does Asheville Lice perform headchecks for families? We do offer headchecks. For all of our services and their fees, please follow the link to our Services page. https://www.ashevillelice.com/
Can I buy your lice cleanser ONIT in any stores? Currently, ONIT is only available for purchase in our online store or through the clinic. If you are local, you are welcome to call or text us and we can arrange a time to meet you so you can buy the ONIT kit, an 8oz. bottle of product, or a Nit Free terminator comb. Follow the link to access our store. https://www.ashevillelice.com/category/all-products