Head Lice FAQ

Children may barely notice head lice or have only a mild scalp irritation. The most common symptoms include:

• Itching, small red bumps on scalp, neck and shoulders (lice bites)
• Infection, accompanied by swollen glands (less common)

If your child comes home with head lice, choose a safe and proven pediculicide. Follow all the directions carefully.

We recommend using non-toxic Licefreee! Gel or Licefreee Spray! to kill head lice and nits without using potentially harmful pesticides such a pyrethrum or permethrin. Made from the naturally occurring mineral, sodium chloride, USP (Latin: Natrum muriaticum), Licefreee! is safe and effective, and is available without a prescription.

Nits, or lice eggs, should be removed manually after treatment. The female louse lays the eggs at the base of the hair close to the scalp. They are very hard to remove, so a special nit comb is recommended and should be used after each application. Licefreee! includes a patented stainless steel comb for effective removal of dead lice and their nits.

Sources of possible infestation (bedding, furniture, hats, clothing, combs and brushes) must be disinfected by laundering/dry cleaning, or sometimes discarding entirely. Items that cannot be run through the dryer (i.e stuffed animals and toys) can be placed in a sealed plastic bag for 10-14 days, and hair care items should be soaked in hot water for 15 minutes. A thorough vacuuming will get rid of lice or egg shells that are left behind.

Teach your child to avoid sharing combs, hair accessories and hats. If your child has been infested with head lice, report it to their school immediately so other children attending will be less likely to have an infestation themselves.

Normally, Not more than 24-48hrs. Lice need human blood in order to survive.

Head to head contact, sharing personal items such as a hat or hair brush, or sitting on furniture that an infested person has used.

You develop an itchy head sometimes accompanied by sores on the scalp or around the neck and ears. Other signs may include eggs, live lice in hair, loss of sleep, shortened attention span, depression, and in really bad cases swollen lymph glands.

They vary in size from 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch, approximately the size of a sesame seed.

Eggs, also known as nits, are firmly attached to the hair shaft with a glue secreted by the bug. The eggs are usually found very close to the scalp.

Seven to ten days

Off the head eggs die within two weeks.

Seven to ten days

A female can lay over 100 eggs (nits) in their lifetime.

Lice move quickly and shy away from light during a head check.

The clear eggs are the shells from head lice that have already hatched.

When they hatch head lice are clear but they quickly develop a reddish brown color after feeding off the head. Their color often is various shades of brown.

No, they are crawling insects and have six legs equipped with claws to grasp the hair.

Human head lice do not thrive on pets.

Untreated, the lice can live for approximately 30 days on a human host.

Head lice feed off the head every 3-6 hours.

Head lice often prefer clean hair.

You can wash things in hot water at least 125 degrees, then dry on your dryer's hottest setting for 30 minutes. Dry clean items that can not be washed.

No. They both feed on human blood but are different kinds of bugs.

Empty lice shells are usually clear and are stuck to the hair shaft with a glue like substance secreted by the lice. An inhabited egg shell ranges in different shades of white and brown. They are also securely attached to scalp. If what you are seeing comes off the hair easily it's probably flaky skin. If it has to be pulled off the hair shaft, it's probably an egg.

They live and lay eggs on the seams of unwashed clothing, blankets, and sheets. The bugs periodically crawl onto the skin to feed. Occasionally, a bug will lay eggs on body hair.

Itching and rash are normal. Sores may be caused by scratching. Long term infestations may lead to thickening and discoloration of the skin especially around the waist, groin, and upper thighs.

Through direct contact or indirectly through shared items.

Usually a clean change of clothing, a shower, laundering personal items, and treating body with a lice treatment such as Licefreee Spray!

Their legs are made to grasp hairs which are widely spaced so they will prefer the pubic area. They can also be found in eyelashes, head, and armpit hair.

Moderate to severe itching. Often itching worsens at night. Sometimes eggs, and lesions can also be seen. Bites occasionally cause skin reaction that is bluish gray in color.

See page 2 of the Material Safety Data Sheet form

For one full hour.  There is no need to keep the product on for any longer.  If you leave the product on for longer it may start to dry and be difficult to comb through.

See page 2 of the Material Safety Data Sheet form

Licefreee is non-toxic and can be used on children 6 months and older. For infants, we recommend the parent just hand pick the lice and eggs - they typically do not have too much hair and it is safer than using a pediculicide.