Everything you need to know about lice.

The most common symptom is persistent itching of the scalp, especially behind the ears and at the neckline. You may also see small white or yellowish nits attached to hair shafts close to the scalp. Nits are often mistaken for dandruff but do not brush off easily, they're glued to the hair shaft. If you're unsure, call us for a professional screening.

Nits are tiny, oval-shaped eggs that are usually white, yellow, or light brown. They are attached firmly to the hair shaft very close to the scalp. Newly hatched nits are darker; empty nit casings are white or clear. The key difference from dandruff: nits don't brush off.

The easiest test: dandruff flakes fall off easily when you touch them. Lice eggs are firmly attached to the hair shaft and do not brush away. Lice eggs are also found very close to the scalp (within 1/4 inch) while dandruff can be anywhere. If you're unsure, we can do a professional screening at any of our 5 locations.

Yes. Anyone with hair can get lice. While children ages 3–12 are most commonly affected, adults, especially parents who cuddle or share beds with their children, regularly catch lice. We treat adults at all of our clinics.

Yes. Any person with hair is susceptible, including infants and toddlers. If other members of the household have lice, babies can catch it through head-to-head contact. Our treatment is safe for all ages.

No. Lice cannot jump or fly. They spread exclusively through direct head-to-head contact by crawling along hair strands. This is why children, who have frequent close physical contact, are most often affected.

Lice cannot survive more than 24–48 hours away from a human head. They require human blood and body heat to survive. This means your furniture, carpets, and car are not major sources of reinfestation, though we still recommend washing bedding and recently worn clothing as a precaution.

No. Human head lice are species-specific, they only live on human heads. Your pets cannot catch head lice and cannot spread them to you.

No. This is one of the most persistent lice myths. Lice don't care whether your hair is clean or dirty. In fact, some research suggests lice have a slight preference for clean hair because it's easier to attach to. Lice spread through contact, not hygiene.

Yes, actually. Research has shown that the head-to-head contact involved in taking selfies, especially among teenagers and tweens, has contributed to increased lice spread in older age groups who previously had lower rates of infestation.

Two reasons: First, many lice have developed resistance to the pesticides in OTC products, these are "super lice" and have been found in all 50 states. Second, even pesticides that kill live bugs have no effect on eggs (nits). The eggs hatch 7–10 days later and the cycle restarts.

No. Mayonnaise, olive oil, and similar home remedies may temporarily slow lice down but do not kill them or their eggs. Lice can hold their breath for up to 8 hours, making suffocation-based approaches ineffective. These remedies leave families in a cycle of repeated treatment that never fully ends.

Our heated air device uses carefully controlled heated air to methodically cover the scalp. The heat kills live lice on contact and dehydrates lice eggs, which require moisture to survive and hatch. This dual action breaks the lice cycle in a single session of approximately 60 minutes.

Yes. Super lice are resistant to chemical pesticides, but they cannot develop resistance to heat. Our heated air method works equally effectively on regular lice and super lice.

Yes. Because our treatment uses no chemicals or pesticides whatsoever, it is completely safe for pregnant and nursing women. This is why many OB-GYNs refer their patients to us.

Wash and dry all bedding and recently worn clothing on high heat (lice die at 130°F+), vacuum upholstered furniture and car seats, and bag stuffed animals and unwashable items for 2 weeks. Remember, lice die within 24–48 hours off a human head, so extensive home treatment is rarely necessary.

Immediately after treatment. Your child will be completely lice-free when they leave our clinic. Texas schools no longer have mandatory "no-nit" policies, and the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that children should not be excluded from school for lice.

Every treatment at Lice Clinics of Texas is backed by our 4-week guarantee, the longest of any lice clinic in Texas.

The most effective prevention is avoiding head-to-head contact. Beyond that: teach kids not to share brushes, combs, hats, or helmets; keep long hair tied back at school; check hair weekly during back-to-school season (August–October) when outbreaks peak.

Lice are a year-round problem in Texas, but outbreaks spike at three times: back to school (August–September), after winter holiday gatherings (January), and at the start of summer camps (June–July). We recommend doing a head check before and after each of these periods.