If your scalp itches intensely and you feel the sensation of small creatures crawling on your head—both common symptoms of head lice infestation—it’s likely you’re in need of lice treatment.

Head lice—or head louse in its singular form—are tiny, wingless parasitic insects that attach to human head hair and consume blood from the human scalp. When the head louse feeds, it leaves behind a saliva secretion that causes an allergic reaction in humans, leading to small, red bumps and extreme scalp itchiness.

Head lice are a global problem found commonly in school children ages 3 to 11 and their household members. They are most commonly transmitted by close personal contact with a lice-infected individual or by sharing personal belongings such as:

• Brushes
• Combs
• Towels
• Hats
• Hoodies
• Headphones
• Clothing
• Bedding
• Furniture

Because head lice don’t have wings, they cannot jump or fly. Instead, they use their claws to latch onto individual hairs or threads of clothing and crawl from host to host. Household pets, like dogs and cats, do not spread head lice.

Head lice are highly contagious. If left untreated, they will continue to grow in number exponentially. When feeding, a female louse can live for about 30 days, producing about six nits (lice eggs) each day. Off the head, and detached from their food source, head lice will die within three days.

If you suspect that you or a family member has head lice, we recommend that you seek mobile lice treatment immediately.