Several misconceptions are associated with head lice both in their essence and in treating head lice.

Once you realize that there are head lice taking up residence within the home, you must be pragmatic about what you are about to do battle against and treat the problem correctly. Several myths exist regarding the nature of head lice and how they affect humans.

Head lice have nothing to do with transferring contagious diseases. Some are under the illusion that lice can jump or fly. Since lice do not possess wings, they cannot fly… but they can and do crawl. Direct contact is the only way these critters are passed from one person to the next, which can be carried out through infested combs, hair products, scarves, hats, or other shared clothing.

Another exaggerated myth is the length of time a head lice can survive once detached from their host. Head lice are completely dependant on their human scalp for nourishment and warmth. Tiny amounts of blood gotten from the human scalp which is their exclusive source of food.

They will ordinarily live for up to thirty days but they can only survive uncoupled from their host for up to 24 hours. Also, it is thought that folks with short hair are almost resistant to lice which is not the case. Lice have no preference as to the length of the hair, the age of their host, or anything else. Additionally, Remember too, head lice are a human parasite and are not transferred by animals.

After treating the hair with medicated shampoo and combing out all of the nits and lice, careful consideration should be taken regarding anything else the infected person has come into contact with. Items that are able to be washed in the washing machine like clothes and bedding should be washed in hot water. Exposing lice and nits to temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes will kill them. Items that can’t be tossed in the washing machine can be thrown into the dryer on the hot cycle for 20 minutes for the same results. You can also go with dry cleaning your items or put them in an airtight bag for two weeks.

You should clean combs and brushes by placing them in a pan of hot water and heat them on the stove for about 10 minutes at 150 degrees. If heating your brushes or combs in this way could damage them, you can place them in phenol solution like Lysol and soak them for an hour. You should also thoroughly vacuum or clean carpets, car seats and interiors of cars and furniture upholstery. You should also painstakingly vacuum the mattress of the infected person. Fumigating your home and using insecticidal sprays on furniture or carpets is not necessary or recommended for killing head lice.

A lot do not go about treating head lice correctly in order to eliminate the problem sufficiently and risk a relapse. However, by being proactive and taking the appropriate actions, you can be positive that you can eliminate the problem before it escalates and becomes increasingly difficult to eliminate.