The pediculosis is the name given lice infection in the body. Depending on the origin, these parasites will have different characteristics and will be housed in some areas or others, including the most unexpected. The beard, armpits, eyelashes or eyebrows are some examples of body parts that may be susceptible to lice.
Types of lice
Next, we talk about the most common types of lice and we discover some characteristics of each of them so you can easily identify them:
- The most common louse is the head, whose name is hair pediculosis. As you may know, head lice infection episodes are especially common and consistent in children of early school age, as they are not yet aware of the importance of personal hygiene and are easily infected with each other. Parasites do not jump or fly, but usually migrate from one scalp to the other by simple hair contact.
- In second place is the pediculus pubis, commonly called crabs. These lice are those that, as the name implies, are housed in pubic hair. Infection of this type of lice is spread mainly by sexual contact and, due to the characteristics it presents, it is considered an STD or sexually transmitted disease.
- Finally, there is the body or tissue louse, which is that type of louse that lives in the seams of clothing. When a person wears a garment infected by this type of louse, it passes to the skin to feed before returning to clothing. Naturally, this type of parasite is usually more common among those who live in the street.
Contagion and symptoms of lice on the body
With the exception of pubic and corporeal pediculosis, the most common cause of contagion of the hair louse is direct contact with an infected person: the use of the same comb, hat, towel, pillow, etc.
Lice have an accelerated reproduction capacity, since a female can lay up to 8 nits (lice eggs) daily. These nits will take between 7 and 10 days to open and, the life time of an adult louse, is 30 days. You should also know that a person can take 2 to 3 weeks to notice some of the symptoms of lice.
Because the lice feed on blood, the main reaction is itching. In all cases, regardless of the type of louse, the symptoms are:
- Intense itching of the scalp (if it is the hair louse) or in other areas where there is hair: pubis, armpits, beard, etc.
- Redness of infected areas due to itching, as well as lacerations from scratching.
- White dots on the scalp.
Lice on eyelashes and eyebrows
Infection of eyelashes and eyebrows from lice is due to pubic pediculosis. This type of louse reaches these areas mainly through sexual contact, just as it happens when it is in the armpits or in the beard. However, infection of these areas may also be due to the use of infected towels or sheets.
The pubic louse is less agile than the one that inhabits the scalp;Â his body is fat and crushed towards the hind legs and, in addition, his limbs are larger backwards compared to the front.
People with lice on their eyelashes and eyebrows usually suffer from:
- Itchy eyes and itchy eyelids.
- Redness of the eyes
- Constant tearing.
These symptoms are also common when there are eye infections, allergies or conjunctivis, which is why the first diagnoses are not accurate. However, with a magnifying glass or magnifying lamp, it is easy to see the nits on the eyelashes or on the eyebrows or even adult lice.
How to remove lice on eyelashes and eyebrows
The removal of parasites in the eyebrows and eyelashes is carried out manually. Specialized chemicals or ointments should be avoided, since they could cause an eye infection or even major damage, as well as total hair removal in the infected area. Remember that eyebrows and eyelashes have a clear protective function and their removal can lead to more problems.
- With the use of a suitable clamp, remove the nits and lice you see.
- Do an intense review to make sure you don’t leave any parasites.
- To avoid new infections, replace all the towels, pillows and sheets you have with clean ones.
Recommendations to eliminate and prevent lice
In the market there is a wide variety of products that help eliminate head lice: shampoos, special combs that eliminate the parasite from the scalp, lice sprays, etc. We recommend that you consult your case with the pharmacist so you can use the most effective result.
