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| What are head lice? — Head lice (pediculus humanus capitus) are small insects that are no larger than the size of a sesame seed. They can be reddish-brown or gray, but will often be so transparent that they seem to be the same color as your child’s hair. In cases of head lice, there are adult lice and their eggs (nits) present on the hair shaft and scalp. They have six legs equipped with claws to grasp hair. Adult lice, are small parasitic insects that need a warm, moist habitat in which to live, preferably the lining on the scalp and neck of their human host. They bite and feed on blood from the scalp and cannot usually survive for more than 1-2 days at room temperature without a blood meal. Lice do not jump or fly from head to head, but are excellent crawlers. A louse (one lice) may be seen crawling in the hair, while its eggs (nits), will be found attached to the hairs. Lice can live up to 48 hours away from a human host. Head lice live on human beings. Infestations are not caused or spread by dogs, cats, birds or farm animals; head lice need a human host's hair, which has the right temperature, humidity and density to survive. Head lice spread easily and infestations can occur at all social and economic levels. |
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| What causes head lice? — Head lice infestations are caused by direct contact with an infested person’s hair and by sharing combs, hats, earphones, and other hair accessories, clothing or towels. A female louse may deposit more than 100 eggs (nits) at a rate of about 6 each night. The female produces an extremely strong glue-like substance that attaches the nit to the hair shaft. Once laid, it takes 7-10 days for a nit to hatch, at which time they become nymphs. Nymphs feed immediately upon hatching as they must feed within 24 hours to survive. Nymphs molt 3 times (3 growth changes) before reaching maturity in 12-14 days. Once a female matures from the nymph stage to a mature louse she can begin laying her own eggs. This is the reason BioSafe® recommends following the detailed directions provided on their packaging in order to be certain all nymphs will be removed before they mature into adults capable of laying additional nits. |
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| How many lice are considered to be an infestation? — Usually an infested person has fewer than a dozen active lice on the scalp at any time, but may have hundreds of viable and hatched eggs. Eggs (nits) are usually laid at the base of the hair near the scalp and are firmly cemented to the hair shaft. They are a tan color when alive and are translucent white in color after hatching. Hatched nits are those that are found to be more distant from the scalp (at least ≤ - 1 inch from the surface of the scalp). These are old and have passed the time required for normal hatching. They cannot cause a reinfestation, however, they still may be difficult to comb from the hair. Several applications of Schooltime Shampoo® will help eliminate many of the nits, especially if the shampoo is combed through the hair several minutes before or after the final rinsing. Nits off the body can survive 10 days under the right conditions of heat and humidity when a proper head lice product has not been used. |
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| What are the symptoms of head lice? — Infested children and adults usually will experience itching on the scalp, redness and rashes on the scalp, and white specks on the hair that do not brush off. Before using a head lice treatment, or if head lice infestations are not treated properly, the lice can be passed on to others. Continuous scratching can cause bacterial infection of the scalp. The greatest harm associated with head lice results from the well intentioned but misguided multiple use of toxic substances to eliminate the adult lice and nymphs. It is important to eliminate head lice because they can affect a child’s health and performance in school. Children with head lice have an itchy scalp or itchy skin although lice may be present for several days before itching begins. Continuous scratching can lead to secondary infections leaving the child achy, feverish or lethargic. |
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| What should be done to eliminate the problem of head lice? — Check the entire family for head lice including yourself. Head lice infestations are no indication of level of hygiene. In fact head lice are often attracted to the cleanest hair due to their greater ease of movement in clean and residue free hair. Schooltime Shampoo® should be applied to all members of the household in three separate 20 minute applications within a two week period. If any nits should hatch between shampoo intervals, they will not be mature enough to lay eggs until they are 12-14 days of age. Therefore the second and third application of Schooltime Shampoo® will assure that all the nymphs have been eliminated before they were able to continue the lice cycle by laying new eggs. On the same day of each application, wash all clothing and linens that have come in contact with infested family members using the hottest water possible. Dry clothing using a hot dryer for at least 20 minutes. Scrub all combs and brushes and soak them in a favorite hot soapy solution such as Schooltime Shampoo® and water. Vacuum carpets and mattresses and change vacuum bags frequently. Any items that cannot be washed or vacuumed easily such as stuffed animals, throw pillows, etc. should be placed inside an airtight plastic bag for two weeks. Another option would be to place such non-washable items in a hot clothes dryer for twenty minutes. A thorough vacuuming will do, and there is no need to professionally clean sofas, chairs and rugs. When bagging, washing and vacuuming, do not forget about headbands, hats, headsets, helmets and scarves. Remember, a louse cannot live off the human body for longer than one day. If a louse or nymph is off the head, they have fallen out either by accident or on lost hair strands. By vacuuming the hair strands off the furniture and carpets you are eliminating any chance of a louse or nymph returning to the body or from nits hatching at a future date. |
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| What about nit combs and final comb-out after each shampoo? — Nit combs are useful in removing lice and nits from the hair. A thorough final comb-out of nits is important in order to help prevent re-infestation from newly hatched eggs. Special nit combs with small spaces between the teeth are recommended. Combing away from the scalp down the shaft of the hair throughout the entire head is most effective. Take a small section of the hair, start near the scalp and slide the comb down toward the end of the hair. Wipe comb to clean away any collected lice, nymphs and nits or rinse the comb by dipping it in solution of water with several drops of Schooltime Shampoo® Repeat process until all sections of hair have been combed. Wash all clothing or towels used during the shampoo or comb-out in hot soapy water, and when possible place in a hot dryer for at least 20 minutes. |
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| How does Schooltime Shampoo® help with nit comb-out? — Schooltime Shampoo® with its tight foaming action greatly eases the ability to remove the nits during comb-out before or after final rinsing of the shampoo from the hair. A product may claim to be 99% effective in the removal of head lice and nits, but several remaining viable nits can be the beginning of a new louse infestation. We therefore recommend several shampoo applications at specific intervals as recommended on the bottle to be sure the shampoo cleansing process has reached the entire population within the above described 10-14 day life cycle of the louse. We also have provided a generous supply of shampoo in our 12 oz. sized bottle to allow for use by several family members. After applying Schooltime Shampoo® to dry hair, massage it thoroughly through the hair several times during the shampoo process to aid in loosening the lice and nits and ensuring their washing away during the final rinsing.. Combing Schooltime Shampoo® through the hair 5 minutes before final rinsing with a comb that easily moves in the hair will greatly help in loosening and removing many nits. |
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| What are Body Lice and Pubic Lice? — Body Lice are different from head lice and pubic Lice. Body Lice and their nits are generally found in the seams of clothing. They move onto human skin only for a blood meal, and then return to the seams of clothing to lay eggs. If body lice are suspected, be sure to launder clothing with the same procedure as used for head lice and do not reapply exposed clothing that has not been disinfected. Eggs from body lice can survive for up to 30 days. Unlike body lice, pubic lice are very small and can cause severe itching. They may be transmitted by sexual contact, and therefore sexual partners should be treated simultaneously to prevent re-infestation. Pubic Lice appear as brown dots on the skin and lay eggs on the skin surface. They can be found on the heavy body hair of the trunk, thighs, underarms, beards or pubic hair. Clothing should be laundered and disinfected using hot water and the hot cycle of a clothes dryer for at least 20 minutes to eliminate pubic lice. Schooltime Shampoo® may be used successfully for the removal of all types of lice. |
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| Can pets become infested with head lice or infest humans with head lice? — Pets cannot become infested with headlice. Headlice are species specific. Human headlice, body lice or pubic lice cannot live on animals. This also applies to animal lice not being able to survive on humans. |
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| We hope that this information on head lice and nymphs has been helpful. If there are any specific questions that remain unanswered, please submit your question on our Feedback Page and we will add it to our “Information on Head Lice Page”. |
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| * "The statements made in this website regarding this product have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease." |
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