Lice and other scalp parasites are common problems in children, but they can also affect adults. Lice are tiny insects that live on your head and feed off the blood in your hair follicles. They’re most often found on the back of the neck, behind the ears and at the edges of the hairline. They love to hide in thick hair because it’s easier for them to move around in than thinning or sparse locks. Unfortunately, lice aren’t just annoying—they can also cause itching, which may lead to scratching that causes bleeding from broken capillaries under your nails or split ends from rough handling when removing nits (eggs) with a nit comb or fingernails.
Since lice are parasites that live on the scalp and feed off the blood there, they can’t cause hair loss.
Since lice are parasites that live on the scalp and feed off the blood there, they can’t cause hair loss. They can cause itching, though, and that is what prompts some people to scratch their heads so hard that their hair breaks off at the scalp line. It’s also possible for a bad lice infection—which is called pediculosis (say: pay-dye-cue-LOW-sis)—to lead to an infection in your skin called impetigo (say: im-PETTY-go). Impetigo may result in sores on your skin or even blisters if it gets worse.
However, scratching caused by lice can lead to hair loss if the scratching damages the scalp.
A lice infestation can cause itching, but scratching shouldn’t make your hair fall out. If you notice bald patches or significant hair loss in a place that is not usually affected by itching, it’s more likely that the scalp has been damaged by scratching. This can result from an infectious skin condition called dermatitis or from other skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Scratching can also cause bleeding under the skin if broken blood vessels are exposed to air (this is called purpura). You should see a doctor if this happens so they can properly diagnose the problem and treat it.
The scratching may also cause an infection, which can also lead to hair loss from the scalp.
There are several ways that lice can cause hair loss. The first is simply by scratching the scalp, causing it to become irritated and infected. This can lead to secondary infections that may affect the roots of your hair, which in turn causes the follicles to starve and eventually fall out.
The second way lice can be responsible for this unfortunate situation is if you are one of many people who have an allergic reaction to a louse bite — scratching as a result of this will also damage the skin around your head (and lead to further itching), creating even more openings for bacteria or viruses that could enter into your bloodstream and cause harm (like malaria).
The third way scabies might lead directly from getting head lice onto losing all vestiges of body covering left behind by our ancestors is if you scratch hard enough while at home alone without realizing what’s happening until much later when there’s nothing left on top except maybe some dandruff flakes from shampooing too much before bedtime.”
It is also possible for a person’s hair to break off at the scalp line if it is handled roughly when removing lice or nits.
It is also possible for a person’s hair to break off at the scalp line if it is handled roughly when removing lice or nits. While this may seem alarming, it isn’t anything to worry about: your hair will grow back normally and can be trimmed or dyed to cover up the break.
If this happens, however, the hair will grow back.
If your hair falls out and does not grow back, it’s possible that you have a condition called alopecia areata. This is an autoimmune disease that can be treated with medication. If you think you have this condition, see a doctor so they can make sure that it isn’t something else.
No but itching can cause it and so can a bad scalp infection.
While the itching and scratching associated with lice can certainly cause hair loss, it is not the primary cause. The only way to know for sure if your hair loss is due to lice or nits is by visiting a doctor or dermatologist who will be able to determine if there is any sign of lice or nits on your scalp. However, itching and soreness in the head can be symptoms of a bad scalp infection that may also cause hair loss. If you are suffering from severe headaches and are experiencing significant pain in your head, then it might be best to visit a doctor before determining whether it was caused by having lice or not.
We hope we’ve answered your question about whether or not lice can cause hair loss. We know that it can be frustrating when you feel like your hair is falling out, but there are plenty of reasons why this could happen other than lice. If you’re concerned about losing your locks due to scratching, try treating yourself with some anti-itch cream or even a warm compress if the itching gets too bad!
