Lice Treatment

What is Lice? 

Lice are tiny insects that live on humans and feed on blood. An infestation of Lice is when a large number of lice live and multiply on a person's body.

Three distinct kinds of lice live on humans:

• Head Lice - usually found in hair, most often on the back of the neck and behind the ears. Head lice are common in preschool and elementary school-age children and can be found in adults who come in contact or live with these children
• Pubic Lice - also called crabs, are usually found in the pubic area and on facial hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, in the armpits, chest hair, and, rarely, on the scalp
• Body Lice - live and lay eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing

Lice spreads easily from one person to another through close contact or through shared clothing or personal items, such as hats or hairbrushes. Lice cannot jump or fly. The most common symptom of lice is itching.

 Head Lice may not cause any symptoms at first. Itching on the scalp may start weeks or even months after lice have started to spread.

Pubic Lice cause severe itching. Their bites may cause small marks that look like bruises on the torso, thighs, or upper arms. If pubic lice get on the eyelashes, the edges of the eyelids may be crusted.

Body Lice cause bad itching, especially at night. Itchy sores appear in the armpits and on the waist, torso, and other areas where the seams of clothes press against the skin.

Frequent scratching can cause a skin infection. In the most severe cases of head lice, hair may fall out, and the skin may get darker in the areas infested with lice.