Which race is thought to get head lice the most- black or white? and explain your answer please.?

I had a discussion with a friend today and it really bothered me what they responded with. They said that Black people/children NEVER get head lice because their hair is too oily for the lice to stick to and that white people are the one's well known for having a propblem with head lice. I was unaware lice were racist or had an ethnic preference...so obviously you see why their response bothered me. They swore they had never known of a black person to have lice, but they have heard of white people always having a problem with head lice. Racist comment, I know. Regardless of what you were raised to think, what do you think as an adult. Please do not answer with a stereotype or a racist comment. My question is merely meant to find out what you think and know from personal experiences and what you have seen as fact, not your assumptions. So please think carefully before you respond and make sure your answer is based on fact, not assumption. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR INPUT

someone told me-White people wash their hair every other day while black people wash their hair like once a week. Is this a contributor to poor hugiene which could lead to a cause in lice being more common in black people?

Lices have nothing to do with colour of the skin or gender. But with the proximity of the infested person and the amount of personal care.

Lice infestation on the human body (also known as pediculosis) is very common. Cases number in the hundreds of millions worldwide.

Certain lice, such as body lice, can transmit diseases, such as typhus, relapsing fever, and trench fever, but most of the time having lice is more embarrassing and itchy than it is concerning as a disease.

Lice die if they are away from a human's head or body for more than 2 days. Lice are 1-3 mm long (about the size of a sesame seed) and cling to the hair shaft. During the life cycle of lice, the female louse lays eggs, called nits, that attach to the hair shaft close to the scalp or body. These nits, which resemble dandruff, are attached with a gluelike, water-insoluble substance that makes them difficult to remove.

After 6-10 days, the nits hatch as nymphs and become adults in 10 days. Adult lice live about 30 days on their human hosts.

Three different types of lice infest people:

Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis): Head lice are the most common. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 6-12 million people in the United States are infested each year with head lice.

Children aged 3-10 years in preschool, elementary school, or daycare centers are most likely to have lice. All socioeconomic classes are affected.


Lice can appear in anyone's hair (more common in girls than boys), no matter what hair length or the person's degree of cleanliness. Lice are seen less often, however, in African Americans due to hair type.

Head lice will not infect dogs, cats, or other pets.

Body lice (Pediculus humanus corporis): Body lice are seen more often in underdeveloped countries but also among the homeless population in the United States. Body lice are associated with poverty, overcrowding, and poor hygiene.


Body lice infestations occur more often when clothes are not changed or washed frequently.


Body lice live in the seams of clothing (not in the hair) where they lay their eggs but go to the body to feed鈥攎ost often to the back, shoulder, and waist.


Bedbugs are related to lice. They hide among sheets and blankets and really do bite during the night when they seek a warm body for a meal. They usually leave brown or black markings on the bed linen and bite in rows, often leaving 3 or more linear bite marks.

Pubic lice (Pthirus pubis): In general, pubic lice are transmitted by intimate or sexual contact. The lice look like tiny crabs, which is why someone may say they have a "case of crabs." Affected people should be checked for other sexually transmitted diseases. Pubic lice or crabs are often found in the genital area but can spread to the lower abdomen, armpits, eyelashes, and even scalp.


Contrary to popular thinking, pubic lice are not spread by toilet seats.


Condoms do not protect you from getting pubic lice.

For more information, visit:

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/lice/arti...

All the best!/

i did not read the details of ur question, but just from the title, lice is not race related.

It has nothing to do with the race. It is more with the personal hygiene. Such as frequency to take bath shampooing or cleaning hairs. May be white people live in temperate climate and take bath either very hurriedly or less frequently while the blacks if living in tropics due to hot weather take bath more frequently. Oiling the hairs has no relation. The most important thing is that you come in contact with another guy infested with lice.

any one can get head lice. no mater there race!

I can't seem to understand what does lice have to do with race? It's a rather shallow question you've posted.

So please think carefully before you respond and make sure your answer is based on fact, not assumption. <-- This is an absurd question to have any facts at all.

Unlike one of the answers given, personal hygene has nothing to do with having head lice. Any child at school who mixes well with school friends is going to be a potential host to lice. Comes with the territory. When children get older the problem seems to go away. Now if there was one thing that I would like very much as a pale skinned caucasian it would be to have a resistance to sunburn. There are racial differences that are not to be the subject of racial slur, it comes with the territory. Now sometimes, when people of different races come together as partners or friends, there is the occasion when comment might be made that upsets the other person. One or two of these comments over time might just gain a reward; a dispareging retort. Just go over some of the things that you might have said to hurt your friend's feelings and you may have your answer.