Head lice are small, wingless parasites that live on the scalp. It is not easy to see them because their body measures only 2-3 mm. The only way to verify their presence with certainty is to look carefully at the scalp and comb the hair very carefully. It's easier to check another person's head, but you can check your own too, with the help of a pair of mirrors.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: When to Check
Step 1. Check for itchy scalp
This is the most common symptom of a lice infestation. However, there may be other ailments that cause itching, such as dandruff and scalp eczema. Itching can also be a symptom of an allergic reaction to hair care products, such as shampoo.
- Sometimes some people with head lice may not feel itchy. It can take up to 6 weeks for the infestation to start causing this sensation.
- Other people may also experience a "tingling" sensation on their scalp or head, as if something is moving or crawling.
Step 2. Check for white flakes on your scalp or hair
These white flakes could be due to dandruff or a form of eczema. They could also be a consequence of an allergic reaction to shampoos or other hair products. But it could also be lice eggs (nits).
- Dandruff typically accumulates evenly all over the hair, while lice eggs usually stick closer to the scalp and don't spread everywhere like flakes of dandruff.
- If you can't brush or shake these flakes easily to detach them from your hair or scalp, it's probably the lice eggs.
Step 3. Examine clothing for head lice
These pesky pests could infest your home through clothing or bedding. They are unable to fly, but they can also make very long jumps.
You may notice small insects on clothing, bed sheets, skin, or hair that resemble light brown sesame seeds
Part 2 of 4: Preparations
Step 1. Find a bright light source
Natural light is fine if it is not filtered by curtains or blinds; bathroom light is often sufficient too. If you need more light, you can use a flashlight or small table lamp.
Step 2. Wet your hair
You can get them wet by putting your head under the sink tap or by spraying them with water from a spray bottle. Head lice are visible on dry or wet hair, but many people find that with wet hair it is easier to spot them.
If the hair is wet it is easier to check the head section by section and separate the strands that have already been checked, in order to proceed meticulously
Step 3. Recognize adult lice
These are difficult to see, especially as they tend to move quickly and don't like light. When you separate the various sections of hair during the check, adult lice can move quickly and recoil towards the hair, in the darkest areas. Although adult lice are very small, you should still be able to see them, especially if you can read the small print of a newspaper.
Adult lice are light brown in color and are roughly the size of a sesame seed. Adult specimens often settle near the scalp, in the hair just above and behind the ears, and along the hairline around the nape of the neck
Step 4. Locate the eggs, also called nits
These stick to the hair firmly, as if they were glued. They are yellowish-brown or light brown before they hatch and look like tiny seeds. Freshly laid eggs are shiny and you can often see them near the scalp.
Step 5. Identify the nits as they hatch
At this stage you should notice that the practically transparent egg shell remains firmly attached to the hair.
Part 3 of 4: Examine the Hair for Lice and Nits
Step 1. Start by separating the wet hair into several strands
Divide your hair into small areas and start by bringing the comb close to your scalp. Use a regular fine-toothed comb, or one specifically for lice, and run it through each strand more than once, starting from the root to the tips.
You can find specific combs for lice in supermarkets or pharmacies. They are smaller than regular combs and have denser teeth, making it easier to trap lice and nits
Step 2. Continue combing the hair section by section
When you finish with a strand, use a hair clip to separate it from the rest of the hair you haven't checked yet. Run the comb along each individual section of wet hair checking the comb after each step.
Step 3. Carefully inspect the area around the ears and the base of the neck
These are the areas where adult lice and nits are easiest to find.
Step 4. Take a live louse between thumb and forefinger
If you see something moving in your hair, try to grab it in your fingers and then place it on a piece of duct tape or a sheet of white paper to take a closer look. It will help you compare it to what you see in the documented pictures of lice.
Keep in mind that it is not dangerous to grab a louse with your fingers. If you can catch one, you can actually see that the person you are examining indeed has an infestation
Step 5. Don't confuse dandruff with lice or nits
People of all ages can have residues that remain in their hair. By combing your hair with all this care you can actually detect the presence of dandruff, knotted hair, fabric residues and other small materials that can deposit on the hair. Nits are not easy to remove, as they cling tightly to the hair. Use a magnifying glass if you want to examine the small debris on the comb so that you know for sure what it is.
Step 6. Check your own hair for head lice
This is obviously not an easy task, so you should get help if possible. However, if you still decide to go it alone, follow these simple steps. All family members should check themselves for lice when someone has an infestation.
Step 7. Wet your hair
Lice and nits are visible on both wet and dry hair, but if you have to check yourself, operations are easier with wet hair.
Step 8. Make sure there is adequate light
Bathroom light is typically brighter than in other rooms, plus you can also rely on the mirror. If you find it useful, you can take a small lamp to increase the brightness of the room.
Step 9. Get a hand mirror
This is useful for carefully analyzing the areas behind and around the ears. Take a clip to lock your hair and position the mirror so that you can clearly see the areas you need to examine.
Step 10. Position the mirror to see the nape of the neck
Look closely for anything that appears to be crawling and to check for nits or egg casings that are attached to the hair in this part of the head.
Step 11. Use a fine-toothed or lice-specific comb
If you want to analyze your hair more carefully, you need to separate it into distinct strands and run the comb several times over each of them. Check the comb every time you run it through your hair. Continue all over your head using a hair clip to part the hair you have already examined.
Remember to pay special attention to the area around the ears and the base of the neck. Examining your hair can be quite difficult, so if you focus mainly on the areas where lice are easiest, you can better understand if you have an infestation
Step 12. Check the comb thoroughly
You should use a magnifying glass to take a closer look at the comb each time you run it through your hair. Try to accurately distinguish dandruff, tangled hair, traces of fabrics and other elements. The eggs look like tiny seeds and are firmly attached to the hair, so it will be difficult to get them out; you will probably have to detach the hair follicle as well; this way you can more accurately understand if lice are actually present.
Part 4 of 4: Treatments
Step 1. Look for treatments for the infested person
It is possible to deal with a lice infestation with products that are readily available in pharmacies without the need for a prescription. Strictly follow the instructions on the package, including all safety measures.
Step 2. Start by asking the person to put on some old clothing
In this way you avoid that the ingredients contained in the product can unintentionally ruin the clothes. Also make sure the person has washed their hair but hasn't used conditioner.
Step 3. Follow the directions on the package
Your doctor or pharmacist may recommend some of the most effective products on the market. Once the subject has been treated according to the instructions, observe his hair after about 8-12 hours. If you still notice lice, but they are moving slowly, the treatment is working. Continue to remove as much lice and dead nits as possible following the technique described above.
Step 4. Repeat the treatment if you see that the lice are still active
When checking your hair, pay attention to whether these parasites still seem active and lively to you as they did before the treatment. Make sure you follow the directions on the package again.
Step 5. If re-treatment is required, please follow the instructions on the package
A second treatment is usually needed after a week. Most of the products available on the market carry instructions for a second treatment. In addition, your doctor or pharmacist, as well as other family members, are able to help you and advise you on this.
Step 6. Disinfect the environment
Wash and dry all bedding, towels and clothing that the infested person came into contact with in the last 2 days prior to treatment. Set a washing machine program with very hot water and a high temperature drying cycle.
If there are any items that you can't machine or dry clean, put them in a tightly sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks
Step 7. Soak the comb or brush
Whenever you use a comb or brush to remove lice and nits, soak it for at least 5 to 10 minutes in hot water, with a minimum temperature of 55 ° C.
Step 8. Vacuum the floor and furniture
Head lice only survive about 2 days outside the host. Nits cannot hatch if they are not in contact with the heat of the human body and die within a week.
Step 9. Wash your clothes and soak your combs
Take all precautions not to mistakenly cause a new infestation. Make sure you wash your clothing and bedding in hot water. Items that cannot be washed should be stored for two weeks in airtight plastic bags. Soak combs and other hair accessories, such as pins and clips, in hot water for at least 5 minutes.
Be sure to wash all soft and fluffy items, such as stuffed animals or pillows, in hot water as well
Step 10. Avoid sharing soft objects with other people
Head lice are often transmitted to children when they use clothing, hats, scarves, or stuffed animals with other people. Don't allow your child to share these things with others.
Also avoid sharing these types of soft objects with other family members until there is no longer any trace of infestation
Step 11. Continue to carefully check the hair of the infested person
Continue combing them according to the technique described above every 2 to 3 days, for 2 to 3 weeks, until you no longer show signs of new infestations.
Step 12. Allow your child to go back to school
Once the lice treatment is successfully completed, the child can go back to school as early as the next day. Don't keep him home from school for too long due to the infestation.
Make sure your child doesn't touch other children's heads at school with his or her own
Advice
- Checking your own head for head lice can be extremely difficult. If possible, you should find someone who can help you.
- Be sure to scan the heads of all family members if you find someone with a lice infestation.
- Head lice are transmitted by direct contact between people. They can also spread through objects that have come into contact with an infested person, such as hats, combs, scarves, and headbands. Never share these items with other people.
- Know that these parasites do not carry bacterial or viral infections.
- Head lice can only live up to 48 hours outside the human host, on which they can feed.
- Depending on the severity of the infestation, you should talk to your doctor for advice on various treatment options, as well as tips on how to disinfect your environment.
