Lice are small insects that live on the head of humans and feed on the scalp’s blood. They affect children most of all and can only survive 24 hours without a host.
Lice are parasites that cannot fly or jump; lice crawl. They have six legs and are grayish-white or a tan or tan white color. Adult lice can be 2 to 3 mm long and attach themselves to strands of hair with their legs.
In the warm months, parents are always concerned that their children may get lice. But you can rest easy because lice cannot swim. If you are in a pool with another person who has lice, they will not stick unless you use the same towel.
How does swimming pool water affect lice?
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Chlorine levels in a swimming pool do not kill head lice. When lice come in contact with chlorinated water, they close their holes to choke and breathe. The lice will be completely immobile, and after 10 minutes, they will enter a state of hibernation but will not die.
The hibernating state of lice protects them from conserving their energy, and water will not enter their breathing holes. After removing them from the water, the lice will recover completely.
Does the pool water repel lice?
Lice cannot be spread from person to person in a pool. Studies indicate that lice adhere strongly to strands of hair when soaked in chlorinated water. For this reason, pool water will not repel head lice from humans.
Also Read: Lice Vs Dandruff
Does pool water kill lice?
Does pool water kill lice? The answer is yes. Lice can survive pool water. The levels of chlorine found in pool water are not able to kill lice.
Lice can be spread by sharing towels, brushes, and anything in contact with the affected head, although it is rare. As mentioned above, lice go into a hibernation state and do not die when in contact with pool water. Lice can be recovered after removing them from the water and following their life cycle.
Nothing or washing your hair after a lice treatment can affect them and make them less effective.
How To Use Pool Water To Kill Lice?
Many people trying to find a home remedy for lice wonder if the pool’s water kills the lice. Many parents try to use the water in the swimming pools to eliminate lice in the summer months. A study conducted in 2007 found that lice cannot be contacted by chlorinated water.
As previously mentioned, chlorinated water can interfere with certain treatments. So if you have lice and are undergoing treatment to kill them, you should avoid swimming in a pool. Avoid washing your hair 24 to 48 hours after applying the remedy against these nasty pests.
If you want to eliminate lice correctly, you should look for other treatments that are more effective and remember not to use chemicals that can affect the scalp.
It won’t matter what chemical you use in the pool; chlorinated pool water won’t kill the lice.
