How Lice Turn Your Hair Into Their Jungle Gym | Deep Look
- Posted on 26 March, 2019
- Hair Knowledge
- By Anonymous
Why are itchy lice so tough to get rid of and how do they spread like wildfire? They have huge claws that hook on hair perfectly, as they crawl quickly from head to head.
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Head lice can only move by crawling on hair. They glue their eggs to individual strands, nice and close to the scalp, where the heat helps them hatch. They feed on blood several times a day. And even though head lice can spread by laying their eggs in sports helmets and baseball caps, the main way they get around is by simply crawling from one head to another using scythe-shaped claws.
These claws, which are big relative to a louse’s body, work in unison with a small spiky thumb-like part called a spine. With the claw and spine at the end of each of its six legs, a louse grasps a hair strand to hold on, or quickly crawl from hair to hair like a speedy acrobat.
Their drive to stay on a human head is strong because once they’re off and lose access to their blood meals, they starve and die within 15 to 24 hours.
--- How do you kill lice?
Researchers found in 2016 that lice in the U.S. have become resistant to over-the-counter insecticide shampoos, which contain natural insecticides called pyrethrins, and their synthetic version, known as pyrethroids.
Other products do still work against lice, though. Prescription treatments that contain the insecticides ivermectin and spinosad are effective, said entomologist John Clark, of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. They’re prescribed to kill both lice and their eggs. Clark said treatments such as suffocants, which block the lice’s breathing holes, and hot-air devices that dry them up, also work. He added that tea tree oil works both as a repellent and a “pretty good” insecticide. Combing lice and eggs out with a special metal comb is also a recommended treatment.
--- How long do lice survive?
It takes six to nine days for their eggs to hatch and about as long for the young lice to grow up and start laying their own eggs. Adult lice can live on a person’s head for up to 30 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
--- Can your pet give you lice?
No. Human head lice only live on our heads. They can’t really move to other parts of our body or onto pets.
---+ Read the entire article on KQED Science:
https://www.kqed.org/science/1939435/h...
---+ For more information:
Visit the CDC’s page on head lice: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/hea...
---+ More Great Deep Look episodes:
How Mosquitoes Use Six Needles to Suck Your Blood:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD8Sma...
How Ticks Dig In With a Mouth Full of Hooks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IoOJu...
---+ Shoutout!
Congratulations to HaileyBubs, Tiffany Haner, cjovani78z, יואבי אייל, and Bellybutton King, who were the first to correctly ID the species and subspecies of insect in this episode over at the Deep Look Community Tab:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-3Sb...
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It can start as an itch., Maybe a tickle, on your scalp. It’s, head lice., Tiny and tenacious. Thanks to millions of years of evolution. These suckers are not easy to get rid of.. You might end up in a salon, but not the kind for haircuts. Young lice are so small they’re, almost impossible to see with the naked eye.. Our scalp is their buffet.. They feed on our blood.. You can see it inside this adult louse. It’s, the brownish stuff. That’S moving. The secret to their success. Their claws – called tarsal claws – and this little part called a spine. A pair on each of its six legs. They’ve, evolved to fit perfectly around a human hair.. They make lice into speedy little acrobats using our hair. Like a tightrope., They can’t jump or fly, but they get around. Say two kids – one blond, one brunette – touch heads., The louse just scoots right, over. It’s been one long game of hopscotch from human head to human head., And it has to be us. Our Head lice, can’t live on other animals.. In fact, other primates have their own species of lice, adapted to their unique hair., And birds have lice that hide in their feathers. Ooh. Cozy., And we all want them. Gone. Common insecticides, won’t kill our head lice anymore. They’ve become resistant to them.. Even their eggs have serious staying power glued to individual strands of hair., But lice do have a weakness.. They can’t survive away from our moist. Warm scalp. Head lice, cannot even live on other hairy parts of our body., So if you – or a professional – painstakingly comb them out, they’ll starve and die within hours.. Ok, it’s, not fun., But it’s. Just a temporary encounter with a tiny hitchhiker that is biologically destined just for you. Anyone else feeling itchy Here at Deep Look. We think all critters – even the less lovable ones like mosquitoes and ticks– deserve their moment in the spotlight.. You agree right So support us on Patreon. Click that link in the description. Thanks.
Comments
Gabriela Quiros: Hi Deep Peeps. I produced this episode of Deep Look. I also wrote an article about treatments to get rid of head lice. Check it out: https://www.kqed.org/science/1939435/how-lice-turn-your-hair-into-their-jungle-gym Thanks for watching!
Andrea Abella: "If you don't get rid of them fast, they will fly you up on the sky" — My filipina mom.
that random nice army: Me: I finally don't have lice! Dandruff: *Why hello there*
bigbroG King: Ladies n gentleman, this is why we invented flamethrower
Jaebeommie’s Besshie: “Biologically designed just for you” Wow that made me feel special!
sasageyosasageyoshinzouwosasageyoidontknowtherest: “birds have lice in their wings” me staring at my two birds:
Urmi Rupa Pal: Who remembers the special double edged small combs aka torture devices used to comb these pests out of our heads.
chelsea: When I had lice, my dad would often comb out the lice with this comb with really small gaps and just stab it with his nail.
Elliot :]: “You agree right” Me the whole time: *KILL IT*
Regular Invader: When I first got lice, my mom didn't realize until during my bath. While soaking in the tub is when a single louse lost its grip and floated in the bath water. My mom initially thought it was a funky-looking spider that fell in and killed it. Then she noticed another louse floating around and then realized my hair was infested after taking a closer look at the body. Even though combing them out was the only solution of getting rid of them, I sometimes wonder if leaving my hair soaking in bathwater would have caused all the lice to lose their grip and float everywhere.
Deadly Nightshade: "it's hard to see young lice" Me: haven't meet any Indian mom I guess
Akash Pande: I got an itch in my hair while watching lice in my hair : hey he is watching our video, lets peek
Alisia: Every time my daughter scratches her head I start combing and washing and checking and find nothing I’m that paranoid she will get lice cos I went thru it and I try to prevent it
Lam-ang: "Head lice cannot even live on other hairy parts of our body" crab lice: amateurs
juste pourquoi.: "Thanks to millions of years of evolution, this *suckers* are not easy to get rid of"
シ Sy: I've never felt so disgusted but interested at the same time .
Aquarius-Naga: “Warm, moist scalp”- Me with my dry frizzy hair
highoffmcr: my whole friend group got lice together in jr high and we thought it was the coolest bonding moment ever. there was 7 of us and my friends mom got rid of mine since i didn’t have anyone to help me at home, she was a real one.
Annalyn Udtohan: This Girl Narrating makes it sound like we're lucky to have Lices EDIT: Thanks for 20-21 likes
Aria H: I had lice in elementary school and I just haven't been the same since
elektron117: Teenager: I'm so lonely Lice: Am I a joke to you!?
Suki: Me: *finally getting all my lice off* My friend with lots of lice: Fear me
Yeet the Yeeter: I got rid of the lice by dyeing my hair, seeing these things again made me shiver.
NetherWolves: As soon as she said “it can start as an itch,” my whole head started itching profusely
cai: This is getting me goosebumps ;-;
Bloop Bloop: Me : watches these lice crawl Me : my body shivers Also me : head starts itching automatically
Yuri Lee: No one: Me a Filipino: **Grabs Lice Eggs by Finger**
sasaritias: no one: the lice making asmr with their claws:
Q-mii Productions: I will never forget seeing my first head louse on a comb.
Craftkid Gaming: i dont know whats more smoother, the transitions or the voice
maki pizon: Watching this makes my head itch.
Patricia Joyce: My head itched while watching this. Looks like it’s time to shave my hair off
HumanityBeforeDivinity: “Biologically destined for you” Reminds me of always wondering why even weeds and dangerous insects has economic importance during my early science classes.
Mermaid Daniela: I’ve had lice since elementary I’m now in high school, I’ve been working so hard to get rid of it. There are times I get rid of it but all my cousins which are like 9 of them, and they live near me, they all have lice even their moms so whenever I don’t have any they somehow they manage to give me some even if I have a braid or coconut oil in my hair. Been using the lice brush for years, I have super horirble hair because of it. Huge split ends, and cannot go to a hair dresser not even to get my purple highlights I’ve always wanted, it’s torture! And a lot of times I am just scratching my head in school and one gets stuck in my nail and have to get it out without no one seeing me, most of the times it falls on the desk or paper so I have to brush it off secretly.
Pink Pudding: "Head lice *cannot* even live on other hairy parts of our body." When I tell you the RELIEF I felt when I heard that-
Dulcinea Rose: Ah the days where my Mom would look for lice and kill them with her bare hands
Angel Fejj Anonuevo: I mastered the “kapa” method and when I catch one i’ll “tiris” it with my nails AHAHAHHAA The kapa method works like a charm! I even got the baby ones— but it does take more time and energy to do it ;(
Ezekiel Joe Abenio: its so amazing how a blonde hair looks very clear at a microscope
Tommilyn Tarpley: Her: "That is biologically destined just for you" Me: Not with all this oil in my head
Nishat sheikh: How many of u thinks that it is very Satisfying to kill them? Edit: thank u for so many likes.
POET SOUL NATURE ART and LEARN: Really wonderful Very beautiful work! Nice video uploaded! Thanks for Sharing!
spurthi CHADHARAM: Thank you, I think this is very useful..the main reason for lice growth is due to improper distribution of stress due to blood flow in these areas, and weakness so if we can or shall meditate and practice mindfulness and ensure proper distribution of blood flow all over the body, then we can or shall reduce longterm effects of chemical solutions for lice removal like hair fall loss of strength in hair
Homo Sapiens: That hair comb getting the lice out was so satisfying!
Pakizah Thoughts: Its just beautiful 3d explanation
Kiara Roberts: Why is she narrating it like humans are lucky to get lice?
Piya Das: bet they had their fun friday night party on my head, every time i tried to sleep.
TruthyToothy: Me: *watching while smiling and chaotically killing lice* Google: lice can not feel pain because they don't have emotions Me: *inhale* AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH-
Mark Jason Dimen: I am literally picking with my hair and thinks that there are still some even though that I don't have any anymore
Scarlettlovesunicorns: I've had a phobia of lice for years, thank you for not making this scary to watch T - T
subscribe to me or ill eat your dog: This video should be renamed to "watch this to get instant anxiety"
Prapthi Jjp: Thanks for giving me chills
Sneed: I remember getting them when I was like 12, didn't want to tell anyone so I started boiling water, waiting for it to cool just enough to dip my head and and trying to kill them off using heat. eventually they actually went away so I'm guessing that it worked
Grecia Fajardo: 3:00 is my favorite line of the video
Celeste Katia: I was in highschool and I always have the image stuck in my head, there was the kid who never seemed to wash his hair and I saw the lice jump from his hair to his shoulder and I automatically started to practice social distancing since then lol.
Printers Appreciation Association: *"Everybody has hair until they start itching"* -Lice tyson
Guest: “When you get hair cut” “Haha! You lice are gonna be cut away!”
Suhail Wahab: Excellent information. Thanks. This video made it veryyyy easy for me to explain it to my 5 yeats old son
Erwin Smith: One of my memories ️️
Kitsune Spirit: I remember how I use a pin and stab them while smiling like a psychopath
texans fan157: I remember I got lice in 8th grade but I didn't know it at the time, then I went to the beach and my head itchiness really calmed down, and finally I had caught a live bug in my nails and showed it to my mom, who easily removed the rest of the lice with a kit. The salt water killed lots of the eggs and drowned the young, so I recommend going to the beach before shaving your head
Joshua's D Smalls: Me: Watches weird recommended videos. Lice: oooooooh (combs lice out immediately) Lice: _WAIT WHAT??_ *WE WISH TO RULE YOU!!!!*
Sophie Amelia: Headrin is literally the only thing that had ever worked for me. I remember being a kid and getting my scalp stabbed with a combe for hours every night.
Glory Kezia V. Karra: Sheesh, this video automatically made all of our heads itch.
Nnika Yul: *"They can't jump nor fly"* *my life is a lie* da heck?! 4.1k HAHA yes im an army! stream life goes on
Blood Demons: Watching these creatures gives me the tingles
Caren Martinez: Just drench your hair in alcohol, use the comb made for it as a towel needs to be below your hair start combing. It's works, my mom did it to my sister and me.
SkulZ: Dunno why but my hair started itching suddenly after watching this!
AM-Ranth: My dad just shaved my head when my stepsisters passed on their lice. Took care of the problem real quick, especially after a wash.
Boi _Khun - KOKOMI PLS COME HOME: Every Asian mom: They'll fly to ur head
Susan Nguyen: This music seems so perfect for some reason
Leaves: I FINALLY GOT RID OF LICE AND THEN DANDRUFF WENT "helloooo :)))" I HATE MY LIFE
James7: Nobody: Me: after done watching this Im going to take a shower and overwatch my hair.
Mis Army: I had it once when I was in elementary and I thought of just shaving my head off all the hairs but obviously I didn't do that.... Suffered a few weeks
N O T S U K I: this looks fascinating to me :O
Dustin Casey: I'm glad I've haven't had to deal with these things since i turned into an adult
Lunalgaleo: How can something so adorable be so bad!?
Christine Tabucol: Been curious about this since i was young. Thanks! Hahaha
Dwayne Rockstone: How tf did they take close up shots while filming this.
Fame Abejo: “Hair strands have blood in them” (??) me realizing when i accidentally ripped a hairstrand i am killing them and loosing blood: ♀️
WICKEDGaming: When I had life I used to put Mayo in my hair and then wear a shower cap for a few hours. That usually suffocates them
thedarknight: 3:17. Biologically destined just for you Singles: im not single anymore In relationship.: Am i cheating on my man with head lice?
BlackSamurai: Why starve them when it's so satisfying killing them with your thumbnails on a glass or mirror :)
Safoora Ajmal: Who started itching their head while watching this video?
Meep: That moment when your watching this video and felt something itchy in your head (´⊙ω⊙`)
Anum Khan: I had lices and after a while there was lice eggs on every single strand of my hair . Like it I was atleast 20 eggs in one strand . And it got that serious that I had to shave my hair of even though I didn't want to . But It was definitely worth it . By the way I am an Indian
yo mum: Once I got infected with lice so bad I used to cry from the severe ichiness, it was borderline painful. Even considered being bald for a while
Bharti: i felt so itchy in my head watching this video even though I don't have any lices out there
CELYN ON 52 YEAR OLD credo: *Narrator: they cant jump or fly* *Me: yus!!! The Filipino myth is over yahahaha* Mama!!! Tan-awa oh!!
Mandy Sy: I used to have them as a kid. My dad almost shaved my head but good thing my mom stopped him
Axon Lazer: Seriousness in the video is killed by that background music
꧁ꕥ NeonGirlYt UwU ꕥ꧂: My Mom: Nuh uh, IM TAKING EVERYSINGLE LICE OUT OF YA HEAD Me Who Literally Hates Them: Please do-
S Khan: “Biologically designed just for you” Narrator is making me Feel thankful for having head lice !
Nancy Vasquez: I knew this would make my head itchy but Deep Look has great quality videos so it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to take
Degend: This is why I wash my hair once a week not everday
Magesticwanderer: My parents: oh god you have lice eggs The dandruff: are you assuming my *SpEcIeS* !?
Sayed Elghairb: Glory be to Allah ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Creator of everything
Sachi幸: *Me remembering this every time I am thinking to put my hair down at school* Also me: That’s really terrified of incects
Digitalgaming [CTCC]: "i fear no man." "but that thing" *points at bald man* "it scares me"
Subah Samarruk: Free tips for anyone suffering with lice: Saturate your hair with an oil. Coconut/olive/almond/sesame anything will do. Just make sure to keep it for at least two hours. Then shampoo your hair thoroughly. You should continue doing this for about 7-10 days, everyday.
Sir XtC: "they can only feed on us, no other animals" xD, true true, humans are kind of animals