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You will feel it when they do this, and, worse still, you might see them. According to research, there exist over 2,000 species of fleas in the world today, but only one of these species survives on human blood. This class of flea is known as Pulex Irritans, and it can live in human hair. Moreover, the other species of fleas can use human hair as a conduit to get to their preferred source of blood. In the United States and other higher income countries, dogs and cats are common sources for humans to come into contact with a flea.
Can fleas lay eggs in human hair?
Adult fleas are about 1/12 to 1/8 inch long, wingless, oval, flat from side to side, and dark reddish-brown. They have six long legs and can jump very high and far, about 200 times their body length. Flea larvae are pale white and measure about 3 mm long, resembling tiny worms. Once fleas find their host animal, they can stay on them, lay eggs, and cause an infestation. The regular flea’s jump being 6 inches will only get the bug to the ankle of an adult (and standing) human being. Therefore, you’ll find most flea bites are clustered around the ankles.
What are the complications of flea bites in humans?
However, bed bug bites often exhibit a distinct line or zigzag pattern. Bed bugs are active at night, and they’ll bite your exposed skin while you’re sleeping, including your face, hands, arms, feet and legs. However, it’s a good idea to check with your healthcare provider before trying some of the following options to get rid of your flea bites.
Precautions To Prevent Fleas
Periodically treating pets for fleas can ensure they do not come back. If a cat or dog has fleas, people can ask a vet for advice on treatment. They may recommend a topical treatment, tablets, or injections.
Bedbugs
People can also use medical treatments to kill lice. People with pets may need to treat them with medications from a veterinarian to kill fleas. Additionally, a person may need to thoroughly clean their home to remove fleas. Though flea infestations in human hair are uncommon and typically not serious, they can cause discomfort, irritation, and possible skin infections from scratching. It’s essential to take prompt actions to get rid of fleas in your hair and protect yourself from future infestations. A flea problem can make everyone in your household miserable—including your beloved furry family members.
Vacuum your furniture and baseboards.
Rarely do fleas live in human hair but never say never. But when these fleas get into your hair – and bite your skin, they’ll cause itching, red bumps, and allergic reactions. Fleas will only get and hide in your human hair if you sleep or lay around flea-infested pets, including cats or dogs.
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Once they have infested the home, you may notice fleas hopping on your carpet, furniture, or drapery. The main symptom of flea bites is itching, which can be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) anti-itch creams, lotions, or ointments. Avoid scratching the flea bites because you can create an open wound that will let in bacteria, and can lead to infection. Allergic reactions to flea bites can be a medical emergency, so call 911 or get to a hospital's emergency department immediately. Tea Tree Oil Shampoos – Tea tree oil is good for killing and preventing fleas as well. If you can find a tea tree oil based shampoo like Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shampoo you can use that to get take care of the fleas in your hair.
How to Get Rid of Fleas on Humans
These fleas may bite you sometimes if they’re hungry, but they won’t live in your hair. On dogs, cats and other animals, fleas live around the ears, neck, back and belly (abdomen). Once inside your home, fleas may jump off an infested animal and hide. They often hide in carpet, furniture, bedding and cracks in the floor. Fleas are excellent jumpers, so if a person’s head is close to a flea-infested surface or animal, the fleas may take the opportunity to jump onto the human’s hair. Fleas do not live on humans, but they can still bite us.
Signs That You Have Fleas in Your Hair?
Most fleas who invade your home are in search of a cat or dog—not you. The only reason fleas will bother humans is if they become very hungry if their preferred host is unavailable. For example, let’s say a recent high school graduate takes the family dog to college. Those starved fleas that had been infesting the resident pooch will be looking for any source of blood they can find, which will likely be you. When the infestation is gone, the fun and games don't end there.
Mosquito bites look a little different than flea bites. After a mosquito bites you, a small, raised bump forms. The raised bump may change colors, and you can sometimes see a small, dark spot in the center. But you may also find fleas, ants, or other insects on your head. Flea eggs and larvae may survive your initial management efforts. You may want to purchase a flea trap to check for new fleas that may have hatched or matured after you cleaned.
That way, you won’t have to go through the trouble of trying to identify the specific species of fleas in your human hair. While most home flea infestations occur in homes with pets, fleas can infest homes without pets as well. Flea Foggers – Not my preferred method of flea treatment but it’s quick and can be very effective.
People should also seek professional advice if they have a persistent or severe flea problem. Although the bites are usually not harmful in themselves, continuous draining of blood can become harmful to small or frail pets. While addressing the source of the fleas, people will also need to remove any remaining fleas or eggs from the home.
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