Can I Get Head Lice In My Beard and Eyebrows?

No-Shave November is almost over. And if you’re one of those gentlemen who is blessed with the ability to grow mounds of hair on your face in a short amount of time, you probably have a sizable beard by now. You not only look dashing and masculine, but you’re also making women swoon left and right! There’s a hidden fear you’ve told no one about, however, and that’s probably why you’re here! All men who have beards have probably thought of these questions at least once in their life: “can my beard be infected with head lice? What about my eyebrows and hair on other parts of my body?”

Beards, Eyebrows, and Head Lice

We’ve got good news and bad news for you. Let’s start with the good news first!

What are Head Lice?

Head lice cannot survive in beard hair or on any other part of the body apart from the head! There’s a reason why they’re called “head” lice, after all. Head lice typically require a specific temperature, warmth, and darkness that are only found on our scalps to survive. Beard hair is usually too coarse, too sparse, and not dark and dingy enough to become a suitable home for head lice. Ready for the bad news? Head lice may not be able to survive in beard hair, but pubic lice most certainly can!

Pubic Lice and Your Beard

Pubic lice—also known as crab lice or just crabs—are typically smaller than head lice, have more rounded bodies, and have sharper, larger claws that allow them to hold on to beard hair better. They can reside on hair in any part of the body; chest hair, armpit hair, pubic hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, arm, or leg hair, but are usually found in armpit and pubic hair.

The Takeaway

So long story short, if you happen to find a stray head louse in your beard, it’s probably bound to die in a day or two. But that shouldn’t stop you from seeking out lice treatment, as the stray louse probably got onto your beard from your head! On the other hand, if it’s a pubic louse you found in your beard, you might need to be a bit more proactive and get treated for them immediately! While head lice pose no medical threats, body and pubic lice are a whole other case!

Getting Treated for Head Lice

Now that you’ve found a stray head louse in your beard, eyebrows, or anywhere else on your body, it might be a sign that you’re in need of professional head lice treatment! If such is the case, head on over to any of our Lice Troopers clinics or give us a call and we’ll come to you instead! We have lice clinic Orlando and clinics in various locations including Winter Park, Miami Beach, Brooklyn, Katy, and more in 5 states across America and also conduct house-visits to make our lice removal services accessible to all. Whether you want an in-house treatment or would like to book an appointment for our clinic, we’re always here to solve your head lice problems!