Can Fleas Live On Human Hair?

Fleas are well known to be attracted to pets as they need fur covering to hide and feed on blood.

Apart from pets such as dogs and cats, fleas will also target other suitable hosts like mammals including rodents and also birds. One thing is common with all of these hosts; cover (consisting of hair and feathers).

With humans having significant hair covering on their heads, does that make human hair livable for fleas? In other words, can fleas live on human hair? This is where most of our discussion will center on.

So, without further ado, we’ll begin our discussion right away.

About Fleas and Human Hosts

According to a study, it was observed that for fleas to have a chance of laying viable eggs on human hosts, they’ll need to feed for 12 straight hours. While this will be possible on most animal hosts, it’s practically impossible on humans.

First off, fleas will readily feed on human blood.

However, humans aren’t the ideal hosts due to the absence of substantial hair which they can use for cover and laying of eggs. A flea feeding on humans for that length of time (12 hours) is difficult as they’re mostly found or could be killed when taking a bath.

When fleas feed on human blood, it isn’t don’t for a significant amount of time as they’re easily found. However, the focus of our discussion is on human hair. The head region has the most hair.

So, can these pests hide and live on human hair?

• Fleas Living on Human Hair; Is it Possible?

It’s highly unlikely that fleas will find human hair a suitable place to live.

First, you’ll need to know how fleas hop onto your lower body. These pests are excellent jumpers and will jump from an area where they wait in ambush, jump from an infested pet or animal, or your couch if an infested pet had previously used such area.

When fleas hop onto humans, they mostly bite the leg area (ankle and feet).

However, traveling all the way up to your hair and living there isn’t common. Humans possess more bodily control over animals in the sense that they’re able to reach most parts of your body comfortably.

As such, you’re likely to scratch an area the moment you feel itchy. Plus, people comb or brush their hair often.

This is in addition to basic grooming actions such as washing the hair with shampoo among other things.

With these actions, fleas have a zero chance of living on human hair. There’s no record of fleas living for extended periods on humans, most especially the hairy regions of the body.

Generally, they can mostly jump up to the leg region.

Upon noticing any bite, anyone would readily scratch or brush off the area. Your reflex action whenever any form of discomfort is sensed makes it difficult for fleas to live on human hair.

Plus, the hair is farther up the body. As such, these pests are only able to feed in lower areas.

How Fleas Spread in Human Dwellings

If you keep pets or other animals around your home, it’s possible you’ve experienced a flea problem or currently do. These pesky insects will readily spread from one location to the next within a home as long as there are animals.

Fleas will lay in ambush around areas where infested pets live.

So, your pet bed is likely to be a hotspot. Moving close to such locations will result in fleas jumping onto your body. There’s no other way of escaping a flea problem than by confronting it.

By confronting a flea problem, we’re simply referring to killing or getting rid of them. Several treatments offer relief from flea infestation.

First, you’ll need to isolate your pets for treatment while also treating their beddings and other likely spots.

Do Fleas Spread Diseases?

Because fleas bite humans as well as animals, it’s only logical to be concerned about the health risks posed by their bites. Your concerns are absolutely justified as fleas are known to carry certain diseases that can be easily transmitted through a bite.

Such diseases include bubonic plague, typhus, tularemia, and tungiasis. You’re also at risk of experiencing certain allergies. This mostly results from flea saliva which is known to cause skin dermatitis in humans.

What more? Flea feces when inhaled by humans could cause asthmatic-type reactions. None of these conditions are pretty. As such, you’ll need to find quick solutions to your flea problem.

Luckily, there are several reliable treatments for fleas that are available.

Treating Flea Problems

Flea problems consist of anything from their presence to bites on your skin and the discomfort caused to your pets. Certain preventive actions help reduce flea-related problems.

These range from frequent vacuuming of your home, checking your pets for fleas, and seeing a veterinarian when the need arises.

• Frequent Vacuuming of Your Home

Frequent home vacuuming is essential to flea control.

These insects lay eggs around in addition to droppings which could lead to allergies. More importantly, you’ll need to have these pests off your property. Vacuuming goes a long way to provide real solutions.

During an infestation, the frequency of your vacuuming should be increased.

Target all possible hotspots such as pet bedding, floors, carpets, and couches. It’s important to dispose of vacuum container bags after each vacuuming session. Also, carry out regular cleaning of vacuum filters.

• Checking Your Pets for Fleas

Pets are the primary targets of fleas. So, to prevent these pests from disturbing both yourself and your pets, you’ll need to have them (pets) frequently checked.

Your pets move around and will easily come in contact with a flea-infested counterpart.

Excessive scratching is one way to notice flea presence on your pets. Have them checked and if fleas are noticed, commence treatment immediately. Treatment includes seeing a veterinarian which takes us to the next point.

• Seeing a Veterinarian

The help of a veterinarian is crucial when dealing with a flea problem. Here, different approaches are available.

This includes oral medications as well as topical treatments. It’s important to follow the advice of your veterinarian for the best results.

We’ve seen so far that fleas cannot live on human hair.

However, they feed on human blood including those of animals. Such bites could cause all such problems. The good thing is; solutions abound for flea problems.

You only need to commence treatment to take care of the problem.