Lice

Lice are tiny, wingless insects that feed on human blood. Lice spread from person to person through close contact and by sharing belongings.

There are three types of lice:

• Head lice found on the scalp. They’re easiest to see at the nape of the neck and over the ears.
• Body lice that live in clothing and bedding and move onto the skin to feed. Body lice most often affect people who aren’t able to bathe or wash clothing often, such as homeless people.
• Pubic lice, also called crabs, that occur on the skin and hair of the pubic area. Less often, they may be found on coarse body hair, such as chest hair, eyebrows or eyelashes.

Unless treated properly, lice can become a recurring problem.