Black People Don’t Get Head Lice! Is It True? The FACTS

26/9/2014

Last week Christine asked, “I NEED real advice with LICE - I have struggled with lice with my daughter (coarse hair) for a month. It is just impossible to comb out the eggs with that little comb, they keep coming back...;-( tears, tearing hair out even though she has it short... I am at my wits end and ready to shave it off.... ;-( REALLY ADVICE NEEDED!!!!”

I heard Christine’s cry for advice loud and clear so I took it to my Facebook page, LongHealthyHair, to get as many different opinions on the solution as is possible because I have never had to deal with the problem.

The most shocking thing to me was the number of people that claimed that, “black people don’t get lice.” Personally, I felt offended/disappointed by the statement because we as a race always complain about how we hate being judged according to the colour of our skin and yet, it appeared that when it suits us, we use our race as a defence.

Anyhow, I decided to do some proper research to see whether there was any truth to the statement and what I did find is that the answer is a little more complicated. I actually found a proper research paper on the topic from, the University of California (2001). This is what they found:

It is true that African Americans / Black people in America have much fewer incidences of head lice than Caucasian and Asian Americans. However, Black people in Africa have as many incidences of head lice as Caucasians in America. The reason lies in the hair type and evolution of head lice.

Head Lice In America

Head lice that are found in the US prefer hair that is round in cross-section. This would be white and Asian hair. The hair of black people has an oval/flatish cross-section and this is not as attractive to American head lice, they can't latch onto it easily.

Head Lice In Africa

Head lice in Africa on the other hand have evolved to develop claws that allow them to grasp on to hair with an oval cross-sections. The African variety of head lice are not common in North America so black people in America are not as susceptible to getting head lice.

What Is The Result?

Anyone with an oval cross-section of hair in America, be it African, African-American, Black British, Caribbean, etc. will have a much lower likelihood of getting head lice.

If you’re in Africa, it doesn’t matter what your hair type is, our head lice are ninja and have adapted so that they can latch onto any type of hair, they don’t discriminate. You got hair? Then you’re fair game, only the bald survive!

The Future?

Head lice in America may over time evolve to develop claws meaning that the lower incidence of lice seen amongst black people in America will fall.

So there you have it - a simple explanation

Ref

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Rozamund

24/9/2014 11:09:16 am

I have heard that silica (Diatomaceous Earth {DE} to be precise) is very effective for killing fleas/ticks on cats/dogs/horses. So I'd imagine it would kill head lice too. Food grade DE only.

Maybe you can pass this information onto Christine to research. It is in a very fine, powder form, and it must not be inhaled. Google it, you will be amazed at it's benefits for hair, skin, intestine health, lowering blood pressure and chloestorol etc, if you are not already familiar with it.

I hope this helps.

Love, Peace & Hair Grease ;)

24/9/2014 03:02:12 pm

I also think another reason black people may not be as susceptible to head lice may be due to the amount of hair product we use and chemically treating our hair on a regular basis. We are probably more susceptible to head lice when we go natural...I grew up in Kenya and I suspect some times when I thought I had dandruff I probably had head lice. But I used a hot comb on my hair often as a child and had a perm by the time I was 12 so chances are my hair regiment unknowingly kept the head lice at bay.

Heather Katsonga-Woodward

2/10/2014 03:07:37 am

Very true! Relaxers and product definitely aren't going to be optimal for the survival of any living creature.

Jasmin

25/9/2014 11:29:59 am

I'm not sure it's safe to say that the lice in America may evolve to grow claws. Species tend to evolve when it is vital to their survival, seeing as there is no shortage in America on their hair type there is no pressing need for evolution. Unlike the lice in Africa who found it impossible to survive!

2/10/2014 03:08:18 am

That is such a great point! I didn't think about it from that perspective at all.

H xx

ChaNita Bei

25/9/2014 11:35:47 am

Where is the other research data? One study says yes it can happen, doesn't mean it can or can't.

I know black people in American CAN get lice. It's more prominent amongst elementary aged children. But, the cross sections is not the ONLY determination of HOW.

However, for purposes of this post, you need more than one piece of research. The data from this research paper can be skewed all kinds of ways.

2/10/2014 03:11:04 am

I didn't find any other research papers on the topic unfortunately but one piece of detailed research is better than unbacked hypotheses.

I came across so many blogs that just seemed to be making stuff up so I was very glad to find this piece.

If you find anymore online reports please share a link.

H x

Lerato

25/9/2014 03:45:40 pm

NO NO and NO! That research is talking crap about Africans in Africa having head lice. I mean I was even shocked when I read Christine's fb status and even commented on it. I'm South African and have NEVER heard of such an incident on my people,I don't even know how lice looks like. My hair is type 4C+ and my hair was washed once in a month growing up. I've grown knowing that unclean people,people who are exposed to lice,hobos and "white" people are the ones who contract them. I'm not racist nor colour blind and I can bet that research was done by an American! It doesn't sit well with them that lice are a possible but rare case on African descents, now they talking crap about us (Africans in Africa). Nxa!

2/10/2014 03:12:44 am

I'm not sure you read the article fully, re. the structure of lice in America vs. in Africa. Also, the emphasis was on the cross-section of hair types rather than the race...I'm also African and found it pretty inoffensive.

Cheryl

25/9/2014 08:13:38 pm

I've always heard that black people don't get lice and the reasoning behind it is due to the amount of oils and products that we use in our hair, the lice stay away.

Salome

25/9/2014 09:35:56 pm

I live in Zimbabwe and as kids we used to get lice quite a lot. Combing them out didn't help much but I remember my mom would buy a shampoo called Gill Medicated Shampoo and they'd disappear. I still use it now and my kids never got lice, but 'm not sure if it's because of the shampoo or because they live in a completely different environment from the one I grew up.

2/10/2014 03:09:03 am

Maybe a mixture of the two...

h x

Belinda

26/9/2014 11:34:00 pm

In terms of getting rid of the lice in her daughter's hair, Christine may want to consider heat straightening her hair in order to kill the lice eggs and the lice.

Cinthya link

27/9/2014 12:34:27 am

All black people have the same hair and all lice have claws. Maybe the hair care we use in the US is why. However I look it up & to get rid of head lice they say u much continue the remedy for at least 3 weeks. One is putting real Mayonnaise on hair cover with plastic cap for 2 hrs.

Cynthia link

27/9/2014 12:46:20 am

A remedy that's is sure to work is Gin or put Volka on hair cover with plastic cap for2 hours, rinse out & apply again for 2 hours. Follow up just once for next two weeks in case any babies still remain. One more wash hair with Cetaphil Facial cleaners. I wish u well.

Love

8/11/2015 01:10:29 pm

well to be honest you could just sit in a dryer and majority can be killed instantly of course its extreme heat that shouldn't be applied to your head on a daily basis.

NubianPrize

4/10/2014 05:55:49 am

I'm 50+ years old & have never met a black person that had head lice & always heard that we didn't get them. Folks said mostly white CHILDREN got them. When I went to camp as a child, EVERY incoming kid had to have a head check by the camp nurses because of a severe outbreak the year before. I had a mass of very thick natural but pressed hair & when they checked my head, one nurse said to the other, " We usually don't find them here!". I knew what she meant ! As for who gets lice & why, here's an explanation; has to do with the shape of hair strands. Most lice in America are from a European strain that's adapted to living in straight hair; there are lice in Africa adapted to living in kinky/curly hair. http://liceremovaladvice.wordpress.com/tag/do-african-americans-get-lice/

I had read about that distinction many years ago when i was in either high school or college.

I do somewhat disagree with this statement in the article : "African-American hair tends to produce plenty of sebum or protective oils, generally more than other ethnicity’s hair." If this were true ,we wouldn't need to use so many oils & moisturizers on our naturally dry hair & we wouldn't be able to go for two weeks to a month or more between washes.. We'd just wash our hair & brush all that sebum down our hair like white folks do, I already know our hair is dry because the sebum can't get down the strands easily because of kinks & curls but we wouldn't need products or the oiling of our scalps if we produced enough oil. I knew a few kids with wavy/curly hair who seldom or never had to use products,but they were rare .

Rene

19/8/2015 09:49:47 pm

Why would it be so shocking and offense of the number of black people who claim black people don't get head lice? Your own research shows that American head lice are of a European decent and are prone to white and Asian hair types and not ours! I have four adult children....not one ever had head lice even in classrooms with an outbreak amongst the white kids.

barb

7/9/2015 12:08:24 pm

I have 3 white kids last year and now this year my kids have gotten hear lice. Last year we try over the count and also pricription medication. It did not work. Then a friend who is Africa American told me to use hair oil on the kids hair. I did. I would put it on and then brush it in. I would leave it in for 2 days and then wash it out. For a week at night put the oil back in to make sure we got everything and no new baby from any eggs that is what work last year and I just did it this year and it worked. So could it be , that the oils you put in the hair, Mybe the lice can't live in that? Just asking?

john

12/9/2015 06:09:13 am

Its because white people have horrible hygiene.

Smith

14/9/2015 02:16:33 pm

^that is incredibly rascist and narrow minded.

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Black People Don’t Get Head Lice! Is It True? The FACTS

By Heather Katsonga-Woodward

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