Can Adults Get Head Lice?

When you think about head lice, chances are that you probably picture a child being sent home by the school nurse. It is quite common for children to get head lice from time to time. However, many people do not think about getting head lice as an adult. Do adults even get head lice?

What is Head Lice?

Lice are tiny little insects that feed off of blood of their hosts. In people, lice attach themselves to hair and feed on blood. The most common type of louse is head lice, which tend to live on your scalp.

How Are Head Lice Transmitted?

To understand the likelihood of contracting head lice, it is important to get a sense of how head lice are transmitted from person to person. Specifically, head lice are transmitted from direct contact with someone who has head lice to someone that does not.

You must have contact with someone else’s hair in order to get head lice. This is because head lice only live on the head. They do not live on any other parts of the body. Children often are the ones to get head lice because they tend to have more contact with others through play.

This also means that there are a number of ways that you cannot get head lice. For example, you cannot get head lice from shaking hands or simply being in the same room with someone who has lice. This is because head lice cannot jump or fly.

Do Adults Get Head Lice?

Thus, this brings us to our overarching question – do adults get head lice? The simple answer to this question is yes. Adults can definitely get head lice. In fact, any person that has hair can contract head lice. However, it is not something that tends to be very common in adults.

There tends to be certain types of adults that are more likely to get head lice. Parents of small children are often at a higher risk as they can contract head lice from their children. Lice can spread fairly quickly with close contact. Thus, if a child brings home head lice from school, it can quickly spread through the family. Since moms tend to have longer hair than dads, they are the most likely parent to get lice.

Do Adults Without Children Get Lice?

It makes sense that parents can get head lice given that it is typically spread by children. However, it is worth asking whether adults without children can get it. The reality is that any adult who has hair can get head lice. However, it is incredibly rare for adults without children to get head lice.

One of the major reasons for this is that people typically do a good job of controlling head lice. Schools check for it in children and parents are typically very careful about completely stopping an outbreak. This also means there is far less head lice in the adult population. In some countries who are less careful about head lice, it can spread more in adults.

If you find yourself with head lice adults can receive the same treatment as kids. Just visit our local clinic at LCA Quad Cities. You can leave the clinic stress free with our signature treatments.

Family spending time together

How To Protect Your Family From Head Lice

Lice are tiny insects that live on human scalps and feed on human blood. They are a common problem in children and can be spread easily from one person to another. Lice are small insects that live on the scalps of humans. They are a nuisance and can be hard to get rid of. If you have lice, it is important to prevent them from spreading to your family.

 

How do lice spread?

 

They are most often found in the hair of the head but can also be found in other body hair, such as eyebrows, eyelashes, and pubic hair. Lice are spread through direct contact with someone who has them or by sharing contaminated items, such as hats, brushes, or towels.

Lice attach themselves to the hair shaft with their claws and feed on human blood through a hole in their mouth. The bite is usually not felt but can cause an itching sensation. Lice can lay eggs (nits) on the hair shaft, which hatch into nymphs (young lice). A nymph matures into an adult in about two weeks and lays its eggs.

 

What are the signs of lice?

 

Head lice are most commonly found in children aged 3-11. The most common symptom of head lice is itching of the scalp. It is caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva of the lice.

 

How can you prevent lice from spreading in your family?

 

First, everyone in your family should avoid sharing hats, brushes, or other personal items. If someone in your family does have lice, they should use a special shampoo and comb to get rid of them. Be sure to wash all bedding and clothing in hot water as well.

 

You can also help prevent lice by the regularly vacuum-cleaning upholstered furniture and car seats. Lice don’t like clean environments, so keeping your home clean is another good way to keep them away.

 

What should you do if someone in your family has lice?

 

If someone in your family has lice, the best thing to do is treat them immediately. There are a few different ways to do this, but the most important thing is to be thorough.

 

Start by washing the affected person’s bedding and clothing in hot water. It will kill any lice that are present. You should also vacuum any upholstered furniture that they have been using.

 

Next, you’ll need to treat the affected person’s hair. There are a few different ways to do this, but the most effective is to visit your local lice clinic or use an over-the-counter lice shampoo.

 

Once you’ve treated the affected person, you’ll need to take steps to prevent the lice from spreading to others in your family.

 

Lice are a common problem, but there are ways to prevent them from spreading in your family. If someone in your family has lice, treatments are available to get rid of them. You can contact your local lice clinic at Lice Clinics Quad Cities. With the proper treatment, you’ll be able to get rid of lice quickly so that you can get back to your regular routine. Contact us today!

 

Cleaning Up Your Childs Bedroom After Head Lice

When you find out someone if your household has head lice it can be an overwhelming experience. Not only do you have to figure out how to treat the infestation but clean up after it. Knowing your children have had head lice can cause a whole new variety of concerns when it comes to cleaning their rooms. Cleaning your child’s bedroom after head lice doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. 

 

Head Lice Facts

 

First off, it’s important to know the facts about head lice so you can be best prepared for them. Head lice do not jump or fly to new hosts but instead spread through direct head to head contact. This means having your children avoid putting their heads near each other or using each other’s accessories that come in close contact with the head can help prevent lice from spreading. Head lice can not survive long without a host either. This means head lice that is in your child’s bedroom cannot live long and you shouldn’t panic. 

 

What Should You Clean?

 

Knowing that lice are only transferred through direct contact can help you determine what to clean. To be on the cautious side we recommend the following 

 

  • Wash all clothing and bedding your child has used. Wash in hot water and dry on a hot cycle. The heat will help kill off any living lice.
  • Stuffed animals, pillows, and other items that cannot be washed easily can go in the dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
  • Toys and hard plastic items like hair brushes can be boiled in hot water to kill off any remaining lice.
  • Mattresses, chairs, car seats, carpets, and sofas can be vacuumed. 
  • Other items that cannot be vacuumed or put in the dryer can be bagged in an airtight bag and left for 24-48 hours until lice die off. 

 

Getting Rid of Head Lice

 

Getting rid of lice in your home can be as simple as an easy home cleaning. Getting rid of head lice infestations in your family can be harder. Let the head lice professionals at your Lice Clinics Quad Cities help get you and your children lice free. We can give advice on lice clean up and remove any infestations without the use of harsh chemicals. Don’t let head lice overwhelm your family, let the lice experts at Lice Clinics Quad Cities remove lice, guaranteed today. 

bottles of peppermint oil with other care items on white background for preventing head lice

Does Peppermint Oil Kill or Prevent Lice?

bottles of peppermint oil with other care items on white background for preventing head lice

In most homes where lice have dominated, people want to know what can kill or prevent the lice from infesting their area. Unfortunately, killing lice can be challenging despite employing chemical and mechanical technologies. However, Peppermint oil can be a great deal in preventing a lice infestation.

Can Peppermint Oil Prevent Lice?

Peppermint oil is one of the substances utilized in lice prevention in homes. According to research, tea tree oil and peppermint oil act as effective repellents against head lice. However, it is good to keep it simple by using repellents made up of peppermint oil.

Regular application of peppermint extracts repels lice, minimizing the likelihood of contracting lice whenever interacting with an individual with an existing infestation. So grab your Peppermint repellent spray and ward off all lice in your surroundings.

Does Peppermint Oil Kill Lice?

If peppermint oil reduces the likelihood of contracting lice, can it kill lice? Sadly, the outcome is no. Although peppermint extract for lice is a useful strategy against lice infestation, it has not been proven to kill or eliminate lice in an area. This is a widespread myth, as many natural lice treatments use peppermint oil. However, peppermint oil is ineffective at killing living lice on the head.

Lice dislike the aroma of peppermint, hence its function as a repellent; however, peppermint is not harmful to lice. To kill lice, a substance must enter the breathing mechanism and remain there for long to strangle them. There are more effective alternatives to peppermint oil that can be used in killing lice.

Can You Use Peppermint Oil in Eradicating Lice eggs?

Peppermint oil for lice prevention cannot be effective in killing lice eggs. It is important to understand that peppermint oil for head lice does not deal with any active infestation of lice. The shell of lice eggs does not allow anything to penetrate to affect the unhatched nymph.

What is the Relationship between Peppermint oil and Tea Tree Oil for Lice?

There has been a misconception that a mixture of peppermint oil and tea tree oil for lice can effectively kill lice from your home. However, that is not the case. Due to the existing notion, many carrier oils have incorporated the mixture of peppermint oil and tea tree oil in their products to lubricate hair while eradicating lice from the head.

The only treatment that is 100 percent effective in eliminating lice is the removal of all live bugs and eggs from the hair. The secret to eliminating lice is the viscous carrier oil, not the scented oils. In addition, the combination of peppermint oil and tea tree oil may produce inflammation or other adverse responses to the scalp.

What Are the Precautions When Using Peppermint Oil for Lice Prevention?

Due to increased research on peppermint oil for lice prevention, there is a rising increase in the invention of sprays made up of peppermint oil. Therefore, be aware of any side effects such as inflammation or irritation if your spray is not properly produced. Peppermint oil is advisable for lice prevention and not killing the lice or the lice eggs. Therefore, you should contact your local lice clinic before using peppermint oil for proper treatment! Contact Lice Clinic Quad Cities today to receive an effective treatment to rid you of lice today.

Flat Ironing Hair

Do Hair Straighteners Kill Lice?

Do Hair Straighteners Kill Lice?

 

Flat Ironing Hair

There are lots of ideas on the internet on how to get rid of head lice at home. From mayonnaise hair masks to kerosene shampoo most of them don’t live up to the hype. We know that heat can be used to treat head lice but can you use a hair straightener to kill lice?

 

How Does Heat Kill Lice?

 

Heat can be effective at dehydrating and killing head lice and nits. Our premium device uses a safe temperature to dehydrate and kill lice without damaging your scalp or hair. The cool air creates a dry environment that lice can not survive in. Devices like hair dryers may seem like a good at home alternative to this, but they can be dangerous. Blow dryers operate at a much higher heat and air flow. This can cause damage to your scalp and hair, potentially burning you. We designed our device with safety in mind and a special shape to reach all lice.

 

Does a Hair Straightener Kill Lice?

 

Hair straighteners are another at home heated device that many turn to for head lice removal. Unfortunately, the heat from straighteners is limited to the device’s area. Like blow dryers the heat is too high to safely use without damaging your hair. Since straighteners can only heat a small portion of your hair at a time, they often miss a lot of lice. Lice can crawl away from the heat as the straightener moves. Nits that are close to the scalp may not be able to be reached with a straightener. This means they will soon hatch and cause another infestation. They are not worth the risk  or damage caused to hair. 

 

Be safe when removing head lice and visit the professionals at Lice Clinics Quad Cities. Our cool air device is designed for head lice and can safely remove your entire infestation.

 

Holiday Lights in Quad Cities

Post Holiday Head Lice Increase

Post Holiday Head Lice Increase

Holiday Lights in Quad Cities

 

 

 

 

 

 

The time from Thanksgiving to New Years is a busy time filled with shopping, gatherings, and more. After the holidays, everything else seems to begin catching up to us. This included illness and of course head lice. All of the holiday gatherings can be the perfect place for colds and head lice to spread. Why exactly does the post holiday season bring on an increase in head lice though?

 

Post Holiday Head Lice Infestations

 

During the holiday season we gather with friends and family. While this can be a fun and joyous time it can also be a breading ground for illness and head lice. The close contact and nonstop running can put a strain on your body and make you more susceptible. Head lice can easily crawl from host to host during packed gatherings and cause head lice infestations to spread. It can often be a few weeks before you begin to notice your head lice infestation. By this time the holiday season is over and the lice have been spread around. 

 

How to Treat Post Holiday Head Lice

 

If you find yourself or a loved one battling head lice after the holiday season our clinic can help. Our staff is made up of trained head lice professionals that can help you get lice free fast. From head lice checks to our premium head lice treatment we’ll have you back to normal in no time. Our treatments are fast, non-toxic and backed by our lice free guarantee. 

 

Stay lice free after the holiday rush with the lice experts at Lice Clinics Quad Cities

Holiday Head Lice Headache

Holiday Head Lice Headache

People gathering for the holidays in Quad Cities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The holiday season is fast approaching, a joyful and fun time of year. Head lice can take that joyful time and turn it into a mess of a headache. We don’t want you to spend the holidays battling head lice and missing out on the fun. Our holiday head lice tips can help keep you and your family lice free.

 

Holiday Head Lice Gathering

 

Holiday gatherings are a staple of the season. Catching up with friends and family is what makes the season bright, but it can also be where head lice spread. Our number one prevention tip is avoiding head lice and not coming in contact with any. This doesn’t mean missing out on the holiday fun just taking a few extra steps. 

 

Holiday Hair

 

When styling your holiday looks, keep hair down it much easier to keep out of the way of head lice. Head lice can not fly or jump, they crawl from host to host. Keeping your hair up and out of the way prevents them from crawling from one head to another. Long hair is an easy target for lice when it is down. Hair that is kept up or even put in a hat is hard for head lice to sneak their way into.

 

Holiday Hugs

 

Hugs are part of the holiday warmth but are also perfect for spreading head lice. Like we said, head lice crawl from host to host. This means all of the holiday hugging and photo gathering can be perfect for head lice. Next time you are hugging someone or squeezing in for a picture be conscious of where your head is at. Try to avoid letting your head or hair touch others. 

 

Holiday Style

 

The holidays are known for fun outfits, warm hats, and cozy mittens. Sharing hats, gloves, and jackets may be common practice in winter, but it’s important to remember how head lice spread. Head lice can live for a short time on garments without a host. Meaning when someone with head lice shares with someone who doesn’t they can be spreading the lice around. Be aware and careful when sharing clothing, hats, and other hair accessories. 

 

The holidays shouldn’t be a head lice headache. The experts at Lice Clinics Quad Cities are here to help you get and stay lice free. Our experts offer head lice advice and state-of-the-art head lice treatments. Enjoy a lice free holiday with Lice Clinics Quad Cities. 

children wearing different halloween costumes and knocking on a door trick or treating

Tips for a Lice Free Halloween

Halloween can be a fun and exciting time, but head lice can easily ruin an exciting time. The fun and spookiness of Halloween can lead to the easy spread of head lice infestations. People gathering and kids playing close together are the perfect mix for head lice. We’ve put together some tips for you to have a lice free Halloween.

 

Tips for a Lice Free Halloween

 

Avoid Direct Contact

 

Direct head-to-head contact is the most common and easiest way for head lice to spread. Kids playing and running from house to house together can be the perfect breeding grounds for lice infestations. As kids play they bump heads and gather close together for photos. This allows lice to crawl from one host to the next. Remind your kids to keep a safe distance while having fun.

 

Be Aware of Costumes

 

Shopping for costumes can be one of the easiest places to pick up head lice. As families come in and try costumes on they can leave behind some of their crawly friends for the next unknowing person. Avoid trying on costumes at stores, especially masks, hats, and headpieces. You can wash costumes before wearing to be sure any possible lice are dead.

 

Perform Head Checks

 

Knowing the way head lice spread and that Halloween can be a peak season it’s important to keep an eye on your family. If your child has been playing close to others and partaking in direct contact activities it is best to perform head lice checks. During times of peak infestations checks should be performed weekly. If you think your family may have come in contact with lice, more frequent checks may be necessary. You can also have a professional check for lice at our local clinic. 

 

Get Treated

 

If you should find yourself or a family member with head lice it is best to get it treated right away. Taking care of your infestation can not only make your life better but prevent any additional spread to those around you. Our clinic offers the latest in head lice removal technology. We use no harsh chemicals and stand behind our treatment with a lice free guarantee. You’ll be back to all the spooky fun in no time.

 

Keep your Halloween fun and head lice free. Lice Clinics Quad Cities offers head lice checks, treatments, and advice to help keep your family lice free!

children sitting at desks facing teacher at the front of classroom

What to Do if There is a Lice Outbreak at Your School

School has been back in session for a while now and along with it head lice outbreaks. Head lice return to school just like your children every year and can wreak havoc on your children’s classroom. If there is a lice outbreak at your school, there is plenty you can do to prevent an infestation.

What to Do if There is a Lice Outbreak at Your School

 

School classrooms are the perfect breeding grounds for head lice. Children sitting and playing close together lead to easy infestations and spread. This can seem overwhelming for parents, but there is plenty you can do for your children. Head lice cannot jump or fly and spread mostly through direct contact. Remind your children to avoid touching head to head or shoulder to shoulder. Put their hair up or tied back to avoid it brushing against others. While playing on the playground your children can keep their hair up or in a hat to avoid direct contact. Remind them not to share items like hats, sweaters, scarves and other accessories that touch the head and shoulders. If your school does not offer head lice checks, be sure to check your child’s hair weekly. We offer head lice checks done by our trained professionals at our local lice clinic. 

What to Do if Your Child Gets Head Lice

 

If your child should find themselves with head lice, don’t panic. Remember head lice infestations can happen to anyone. It is very common and has nothing to do with personal hygiene. When you find head lice, it’s important to get it treated right away. This can help prevent the spread of head lice to other students or your family. Our clinic uses our Zyma Air Therapy treatment to removes lice in one guaranteed treatment. We use a special treatment of heat and oils to remove lice and nits. Our trained head lice technicians can help you with all your head lice needs.

 

Don’t let head lice ruin your family’s school year, let the head lice experts at Lice Clinics Quad Cities help you get lice free. 

family swimming on floaties in a swimming pool

Can Lice Spread in Swimming Pools?

Summer is in full swing and that means lots of family fun days in the pool. Gathering with friends and family to cool off from the summer heat can be just what is needed. But when head lice infestations begin to spread, is swimming worth the risk? Can lice spread in swimming pools?

Does Pool Chlorine Kill Lice

 

It might seem like a great idea to drown your lice in the chlorine treated water. The chemicals may seem like a great way to kill off the pesky bugs, but unfortunately it’s not enough. Head lice are hardy pests and the water and chlorine are not enough to kill them. Head lice can close their bodies for extended periods of time and survive the swim. The chlorine will have no effect on the nits and louse. 

Do Lice Spread in Swimming Pools?

 

Head lice may not be killed by the conditions of the swimming pool, but they are still alive. The good news is head lice will remain attached to their human host while in the water. This means lice will not be floating around in the water waiting to attach to a new host. In this sense head lice will not spread through the pool. However, head lice can still spread through direct contact. Swimming with lice itself will not cause a spread. Direct contact of heads or hair while in the pool can lead to a spread. This means spreading lice in the pool is extremely uncommon unless through direct contact.

Should you find yourself battling lice before a pool day let the experts at Lice Clinic Quad Cities help get you lice free!