Your lice questions, answered

Adult lice are the easiest to spot because they're the biggest, but at the size of a sesame seed, they still aren't large. They're grayish-white, tan, or dark depending on your hair color. Look at the hair strands about a quarter inch off the scalp for nits (lice eggs): tiny specks glued securely to individual hairs. If you can't easily pull a speck off, it's probably an egg and not dandruff.

The most common way is direct head-to-head contact with someone who has lice. Head lice don't jump, swim, or fly, but they crawl quickly along hair, so when your hair touches an infested head, a louse can easily hitch a ride to your scalp.

Excluding the 9 to 10 days they spend as eggs, head lice live around 30 to 35 days on a host, feeding on human blood several times a day. Removed from their food source, they can survive only 24 to 48 hours before they die.

Super lice are real, and they make it almost impossible to get rid of lice yourself. They evolved from nearly 50 years of repeated exposure to the chemicals in popular over-the-counter products, building resistance to virtually all similar treatments. Our technology and process kill 100% of lice, even super lice, every time.

Zyma Air Therapy™ is a revolutionary alternative to pesticides, heated air, or nitpicking, developed by trained head lice experts. It's FAST (one treatment in under an hour), EFFECTIVE (the cooled-air process immobilizes lice and nits at all stages), and GUARANTEED (we promise 100% success).

You don't need to spend a lot of time or money cleaning. Machine wash and dry on high heat any clothing and bed linens used in the 2 days before treatment. Items that can't be washed can be dry-cleaned or sealed in a plastic bag for 2 days. Freeze brushes and hair ties for a few hours, and vacuum floors and furniture where the infested person sat. Avoid fumigant sprays, they can be toxic.

At Lice Clinics Arizona, pricing is flat and upfront: a Lice Screening is $25 (waived when you treat), a guaranteed Lice-Free Treatment is $185, and a Comb-Out is $95. There are no hidden fees or per-hour surprises, and one guaranteed visit usually costs less than repeated drugstore kits.

Yes. Professional lice removal at Lice Clinics Arizona works in a single session and is guaranteed. Zyma Air Therapy kills lice, super lice, and eggs with cool air in about one hour, so families avoid the repeat failures common with drugstore kits. Same-day appointments are available in Phoenix, Mesa, and Gilbert.

A professional lice treatment takes about one hour. Zyma Air Therapy kills lice, super lice, and eggs in a single visit under 60 minutes at our Phoenix, Mesa, and Gilbert clinics, unlike home treatments that stretch over 14 to 21 days of repeat combing and reapplication.

The easiest test is whether it moves: nits are glued firmly to the hair shaft and will not brush off, while dandruff flakes fall away easily. Lice and nits cluster behind the ears and at the neckline. If you are unsure, a $25 screening at Lice Clinics Arizona confirms it fast.

Yes. Zyma Air Therapy kills super lice because it dehydrates them with cool air instead of pesticides, and lice cannot build resistance to dehydration. This is critical in Arizona, where an estimated 98% of lice now survive common over-the-counter pesticide shampoos. One guaranteed visit clears resistant lice and eggs.

The earliest signs are itching (especially behind the ears and at the neckline), a tickling or crawling feeling on the scalp, small red bumps, and tiny nits stuck to the hair. Because symptoms can take weeks to appear, a quick $25 screening at Lice Clinics Arizona confirms lice early.

Head lice spread almost entirely through direct head-to-head contact, since they crawl and cannot jump or fly. Less commonly they pass through shared hats, brushes, pillows, or headphones. This is why lice move quickly among kids at school and sleepovers, and why whole-family checks matter after one case.

Yes. The CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics say children with lice do not need to be sent home early and can return after starting treatment. A single Zyma Air Therapy visit at Lice Clinics Arizona clears lice in about an hour, so most kids are back the next day.

Yes. Lice Clinics Arizona offers same-day appointments at our Phoenix, Mesa, and Gilbert clinics, so you can clear lice fast with a single one-hour Zyma Air Therapy visit. Call (602) 309-5468 or book online to grab the next available same-day slot.

Yes, Zyma Air Therapy is safe for children because it kills lice with controlled cool air instead of pesticides or toxic chemicals. Lice Clinics Arizona built a kid-friendly experience where children can watch a tablet during the roughly one-hour treatment, making it comfortable and stress-free for the whole family.

Zyma Air Therapy uses controlled cool-air technology to dehydrate and kill lice, super lice, and their eggs in a single visit, with no pesticides or harsh chemicals. The steady airflow dries out lice at every life stage, which is why one session at Lice Clinics Arizona clears most cases in about one hour.

Yes. Zyma Air Therapy at Lice Clinics Arizona is completely pesticide-free and non-toxic, killing lice and eggs through controlled dehydration rather than chemicals. This matters because most drugstore treatments rely on pesticides that today's super lice resist, while cool-air treatment works regardless of resistance.

Yes. Zyma Air Therapy is designed to kill lice eggs, not just live bugs, which is what makes it a single-session treatment. Most over-the-counter shampoos fail to kill eggs, so lice hatch days later and the cycle restarts. Killing eggs in one visit is why our treatment is guaranteed.

Very little. Come with dry, brushed hair and skip conditioner, gels, or oils the day of your appointment so Zyma Air Therapy can work directly on the hair. Lice Clinics Arizona handles the rest in about one hour, and our team walks the whole family through each step on arrival.

Professional lice removal in Phoenix generally ranges from about $100 to $300 depending on the provider. At Lice Clinics Arizona, pricing is a flat, guaranteed $185 for a complete Lice-Free Treatment with Zyma Air Therapy, plus a $25 screening that is waived when you treat. Same-day Phoenix appointments are available.

Most private insurance plans do not directly cover professional lice removal, though some Medicaid and CHIP plans cover lice medications. Lice Clinics Arizona keeps costs predictable with flat pricing and provides an itemized receipt you can submit for FSA, HSA, or reimbursement. Call (602) 309-5468 with questions.

Yes. Lice treatment is a recognized medical expense eligible for FSA and HSA funds, since head lice is a medical condition under IRS Section 213(d). Lice Clinics Arizona provides an itemized receipt for your $185 Lice-Free Treatment so you can pay with FSA or HSA dollars or file for reimbursement.

Usually yes. DIY kits often cost $30 to $50 each and fail against super lice, so families buy several rounds plus laundry and lost time. One guaranteed $185 Zyma Air Therapy visit at Lice Clinics Arizona clears lice and eggs in about an hour, which frequently costs less overall.

Super lice carry a gene mutation that makes them resistant to pyrethroids, the pesticides in most drugstore lice shampoos, and these mutations are now widespread across the U.S. That resistance is why kits keep failing. Zyma Air Therapy sidesteps the problem by killing lice with cool air, not chemicals.

Drugstore shampoos fail for two reasons: most super lice now resist their pesticides, and the shampoos rarely kill eggs, so lice hatch days later and reinfest. Lice Clinics Arizona solves both by killing live lice and eggs in one guaranteed Zyma Air Therapy session in about an hour.

Nits are tiny, teardrop-shaped eggs, white to tan or brown, cemented to the hair shaft within a quarter inch of the scalp. Unlike dandruff, they will not slide off or brush away. You will most often find them behind the ears and at the nape of the neck.

Even a single mature adult louse can start an infestation, since one female lays several eggs per day. Finding any live louse or fresh nits close to the scalp means it is time to treat. A screening at Lice Clinics Arizona confirms how active the case is.

Yes. Many people carry lice for weeks with no itch, because itching is an allergic reaction that takes time to develop and some people never react. That is why lice often spread before anyone notices. Regular family checks and a quick screening at Lice Clinics Arizona catch silent cases early.

Only briefly. Away from a human scalp, lice starve and die within 24 to 48 hours, and nits rarely hatch off the head. So pillows, couches, and car seats are low-risk, and you do not need to tear apart your home. A quick vacuum and hot-dryer cycle is plenty.

It is very unlikely. Lice grip the hair tightly and do not let go underwater, and pool chlorine does not kill them or wash them loose. The real risk at a pool is head-to-head contact or sharing towels, brushes, and goggles, not the water itself.

No. Human head lice only live on humans, and pet lice only live on their animal hosts, so dogs and cats cannot give or catch human lice. If your family has lice, focus on people, not pets, and get whole-family checks at Lice Clinics Arizona.

Prevent spread by avoiding head-to-head contact, keeping long hair tied up, not sharing brushes or hats, and checking heads weekly, especially after school outbreaks. If one person has lice, screen everyone. Lice Clinics Arizona offers whole-family checks and same-day treatment across Phoenix, Mesa, and Gilbert.

No. Because lice die within a day or two off the scalp, deep-cleaning your entire home is unnecessary. Just wash recently used bedding, hats, and clothing in hot water, run a hot dryer cycle, and vacuum where heads rest. Focus your energy on treating people, not scrubbing the house.

Most no longer do. The AAP and National Association of School Nurses recommend ending no-nit policies, because nits alone are not contagious and only live lice spread. Check your school's rule, then clear the case fast with a single guaranteed treatment at Lice Clinics Arizona.

Kids catch lice mostly through head-to-head contact during play, selfies, sports, and sleepovers, not from classrooms or furniture. Shared hats, brushes, and headphones can pass lice too. Because it spreads quietly, screening every child after an outbreak, and treating the whole family together, stops it fastest.

Yes. Zyma Air Therapy is gentle enough for young children because it uses cool air instead of pesticides, making it a safe option when medicated shampoos are not recommended for little ones. Lice Clinics Arizona keeps the roughly one-hour visit calm and kid-friendly for toddlers and up.

Yes. Because lice spread by close contact and can hide for weeks without itching, everyone in the household should be screened when one person has lice. Lice Clinics Arizona offers whole-family checks so you treat every active case at once and avoid a reinfestation loop.

Lice Clinics Arizona has three Valley locations serving Phoenix, Mesa, and Gilbert, with nearby communities like Chandler and Peoria welcome too. Each clinic offers the same signature Zyma Air Therapy treatment and same-day appointments. Call (602) 309-5468 to find the closest clinic.

An appointment is recommended so your family gets a guaranteed time slot, but same-day appointments are usually available. Call (602) 309-5468 or book online, and Lice Clinics Arizona will fit you in at the Phoenix, Mesa, or Gilbert clinic, often the same day.

Book online in a couple of taps or call (602) 309-5468, and Lice Clinics Arizona will confirm a same-day or next-day slot at the Phoenix, Mesa, or Gilbert clinic. Come with dry, brushed hair, and your one-hour Zyma Air Therapy treatment is guaranteed.

Very little. After a guaranteed Zyma Air Therapy visit, wash recently used bedding and hats in hot water, run a hot dryer cycle, and do a few follow-up checks. Lice Clinics Arizona sends you home with clear aftercare guidance so results last and lice do not return.

Usually the same day or the next day. Because Zyma Air Therapy kills lice and eggs in one roughly one-hour visit, there is no multi-day waiting period like drugstore kits require. Most Lice Clinics Arizona families head back to school and work right away.

Not from the treated case, because Zyma Air Therapy kills lice and eggs in one guaranteed visit. Reinfestation only happens through new contact with someone who still has lice, which is why Lice Clinics Arizona recommends whole-family checks and simple aftercare to keep your home lice-free.