Head lice are tiny insects that live on the human scalp and feed on small amounts of blood. Although they are usually not dangerous, they can cause persistent itching, irritation, and sleepless nights. Because head lice spread easily through direct hair-to-hair contact, sharing a bed with someone who has an infestation may increase your chances of catching them.
Dramatic images circulating online often exaggerate what these parasites look like. Understanding how head lice actually spread, how to recognize an infestation, and how to treat it can help protect you and your family.
1. Head Lice Can Spread During Close Contact
Head lice do not jump or fly. They move by crawling from one person’s hair to another person’s hair.
Sleeping close to someone with head lice may create opportunities for direct head-to-head contact, particularly if your hair touches theirs during the night.
Lice can also occasionally spread through recently shared items that come into contact with the hair, such as combs, brushes, hats, or pillows. However, transmission through personal belongings is less common than direct contact.
Having head lice does not mean someone has poor hygiene. Anyone can develop an infestation, regardless of how frequently they wash their hair.
2. What Happens After Head Lice Reach Your Scalp?
Once a live louse reaches your hair, it can remain close to the scalp and feed on blood. Female lice lay eggs, commonly called nits, which are attached firmly to individual hair shafts.
The eggs hatch after several days, and the young lice develop through successive stages before becoming adults.
An infestation may initially go unnoticed because itching does not always begin immediately. Some people develop an itchy scalp only after repeated exposure to louse bites.
Head lice generally remain on the human scalp rather than living throughout the body or burrowing beneath the skin.
3. Common Signs of Head Lice
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