Local Head Lice Alerts
Helping families stay informed, prepared, and supported.
Each month, schools across Ventura County and Santa Barbara County report confirmed cases of head lice. To support families, school staff, and community partners, we compile these reports into a simple, easy-to-read monthly roundup.
Our goal is not to alarm — but to educate, reassure, and empower.
Lice happens. Early awareness helps prevent widespread outbreaks and keeps families stress-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What To Do If Your Child’s School Appears on the List
There is no need to panic. But a quick check at home can prevent a full household infestation.
Do a simple scalp check:
Look for:
Small moving lice
Oval eggs (nits) attached to the hair shaft
Itching or irritated scalp
If you're unsure, we can help.
✔ Professional Lice Checks
Accurate, gentle, and quick.
Call to schedule: (805) 334-0951 (by appointment only)
✔ Same-Day, Non-Toxic Treatment
Our 3-step dehydration process safely removes lice and eggs in a single visit — guaranteed.
How can I get lice?
The primary way you can get head lice is when your head comes in direct contact with the head of an infested individual. Head-to-head contact like that doesn’t guarantee that the infestation will spread, but it gives lice the best opportunity to move from the hair of the infested person to your hair.
Head lice don’t jump, swim (although they can hold their breath in water for hours) or fly (they don't have wings). Without strands of hair to grab with the claws on their front legs, they have trouble getting around at all. However, they can crawl very quickly along the hair, so if your hair comes in contact with an infested head, it doesn’t take much for a louse to hitch a ride on a strand of your hair and make its way to your scalp. Sometimes as quickly as three seconds.
How long can lice live?
Lice eggs hatch after about 8-10 days. Head lice can live for approximately 30 days on your head. As parasites, they feed on human blood several times a day. An adult louse can lay 3-10 new eggs daily.
If they are removed from their food source (your scalp) – perhaps by getting brushed out of your hair or knocked out of your hair with your hand – they can survive 24-48 hours off the human head, all the while seeking a new human host for survival.
Do I need to deep-clean the whole house?
No. A few quick steps are enough:
Dry bedding on high heat for 10–15 minutes
Boil or freeze brushes and combs
Avoid sharing hair accessories
How can I kill lice?
Getting rid of lice has become more difficult than ever because of Super Lice and the fact that over-the-counter toxic treatments such as Rid or Nix, or even prescriptions, such as Sklice, aren't effective enough to do the trick. Most of our clients have tried 1-3 different forms of over-the-counter or "natural" remedies before they find us for the final cure. Often times, parents over use toxic treatments because they believe they've done something wrong when it doesn't work. This is dangerous for the child and a never-ending battle. Our clinic treatment was developed to cure the problem in about one hour through a combination of dehydration, combing and commercial grade non-toxic oil.
What should I do after treatment?
Head lice do not survive long if they fall off a person and cannot feed. You don’t need to spend a lot of time or money on housecleaning activities. Follow these steps to help avoid re–infestation by lice that have recently fallen off the hair or crawled onto clothing or furniture.
Machine wash and dry clothing, bed linens, and other items that the infested person wore or used during the two days before treatment using the hot water (130°F) laundry cycle and the high heat drying cycle for at least 30-40 minutes. Clothing and items that are not washable can be dry–cleaned OR sealed in a plastic bag and stored for three days.
Soak combs and brushes in hot water (at least 130°F) for 5–10 minutes. Or you can freeze them in a baggie overnight. Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat. You can also use a tape roller on furniture and in your car. The risk of getting infested by a louse that has fallen onto a rug, carpet or furniture is very small, approximately 2%. Head lice survive less than 24-48 hours if they fall off a person and starve. Nits (eggs) cannot hatch and usually die within a week if they are not kept at the same temperature as that found close to the human scalp. Spending a lot of time and money on housecleaning activities is not necessary to avoid re-infestation by lice that may have fallen off the head or crawled onto furniture or clothing. Commercial sprays for furniture don't really help and are a waste of money.
Do not use fumigant sprays; they can be toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
Does insurance cover treatment?
We are happy to offer you the paperwork needed to file a claim for your FSA or HSA savings accounts! It's our understanding that Kaiser Permente has started to cover lice treatments. Consult with your health insurance provider if you have private insurance and would like to know if this procedure is covered under your plan.
Do OTC lice shampoos work?
Most do not. Lice have developed resistance to OTC chemicals, and these products do not reliably kill eggs.