For most people who get head lice, they won’t notice symptoms until 4-6 weeks later. This is the case because it takes time for head lice to establish themselves. It’s not until there’s an infestation that you’ll notice the telltale sign of itching.
Head lice infestations can be mild, moderate or severe. This is why education is so crucial – and why My Hair Helpers is on a mission to teach. By doing simple things like using a lice repellent spray and taking a peek once a week, you can prevent a full-blown infestation from wreaking havoc on your home.
Let’s learn more about mild vs severe head lice infestations, why they make a difference and your best treatment options.
What is a Mild Lice Infestation? How is it Treated?
When you discover only 1-2 adult lice and several nits, this means you’ve identified a “mild” infestation. On average, a louse lays 6-10 eggs per day for the 30 days it lives. When you catch the problem early, the female louse doesn’t have the chance to lay as many eggs.
People don’t always experience symptoms with mild cases, so it’s important to do your homework, especially if you know that someone in the family is in a higher-risk environment like school or daycare. We recommend wet combing your child’s hair once a week using a lice comb.
After your child’s shower or bath, comb through their hair under a bright light. Wipe the comb off on a paper towel and pay attention to lice activity. Lice have six legs and are usually grayish-white or tan. Nits, or lice eggs, attach firmly to the hair shafts. They’re oval shaped and yellowish-white.
If you do find lice activity, you can treat a mild infestation easily. In fact, wet combing often does the trick! As long as you remove the adult lice, they can’t reproduce. If there’s more than a few lice, we recommend getting the problem under control with a nontoxic lice treatment.
What is a Severe Lice Infestation? How Do I Know My Child Has One?
Severe lice infestations usually take a few weeks to develop. Without you knowing, these tiny creatures work hard, laying 6-10 eggs daily. As the nits hatch, it allows the infestation to grow and spread to others. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize they have head lice until the first symptoms appear.
A “severe” infestation usually happens in the third or fourth generation. Your child might have 20 mature lice that are reproducing daily. While these infestations are harder to treat, rest assured they are 100% curable with the right treatments.
My Hair Helpers has a full line of head lice removal products that are safe, effective and guaranteed to work. They get rid of even the most severe infestations! Use our dimethicone lice oil to kill adult lice and our mint-scented mousse to loosen nit glue. We also have shampoos, conditioners and sprays to keep the hair healthy while repelling head lice.
Because severe infestations can be harder to treat, you may feel more comfortable working directly with a professional. My Hair Helpers provides salon and home appointments where we’ll take care of everything! Or, contact a trusted health expert in your area for advice.
