Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Knowing when to check for head lice
• Part 2 of 4: Prepare
• Part 3 of 4: Examining the hair for lice and nits
• Part 4 of 4: Treating lice
• Tips
• Necessities

Head lice are small parasitic insects without wings that live on the scalp. They can be difficult to see because they are only 2 to 3 mm long. The only way to check someone properly for lice is to carefully examine the scalp and comb the hair carefully. It's easier to check someone else for head lice, but you can also check your own head if you have some mirrors.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Knowing when to check for head lice

1. Check to see if the scalp is itchy. An itchy scalp is the most common head lice symptom. However, other conditions, including dandruff and eczema on the scalp, can also cause the scalp to itch. An itchy scalp can also be a sign of an allergic reaction to hair care products such as shampoo.
   • Some people with head lice do not immediately suffer from an itchy scalp. It can take up to six weeks after infection for the scalp to itch.
   • Some people also have a "tickling" feeling on their scalp or head, as if something is moving or crawling there.
2. Look for white flakes on the scalp or hair. White flakes can be caused by dandruff or eczema on the scalp. They can also be caused by an allergic reaction to shampoo or other hair care products. However, the "flakes" may simply be lice eggs (nits).
   • Dandruff usually occurs all over hair. Lice eggs are usually located closer to the scalp and do not appear throughout the hair as is the case with dandruff.
   • If you can't easily comb or shake the flakes from your hair or scalp, they may be lice eggs.
3. Check clothing for lice. Lice can spread throughout your home and get on clothing or bedding. They cannot fly, but they can jump far.
   • You may see tiny insects that look like light brown sesame seeds on your clothes, bedding, skin, or hair.

Part 2 of 4: Prepare

1. Find a bright light source. Natural light is suitable if it does not shine through curtains or blinds. The light in the bathroom is often bright enough. If you need even more light, use a bright flashlight or a small desk lamp.
2. Wet the other person's hair. You can do this under the tap or with an atomizer. Lice can be seen on both dry and wet hair, but many people discover lice more easily when the hair is wet.
   • Working with wet hair will also make it easier to section it carefully. You can also more easily secure the already examined sections with a hair clip so that it does not get in the way and you can continue examining the rest of the hair.
3. Recognize adult lice. Adult lice are difficult to see, mainly because they can move quickly and do not like light. When you divide the hair into different sections, adult lice can quickly crawl back into the hair in dark places. Even though an adult louse is tiny, you should still be able to see them if you can read the fine print in a newspaper.
   • Adult lice are light brown in color and about the size of a sesame seed. They are often located near the scalp, in the hair just above and behind the ears, and at the hairline at the bottom of the neck.
4. Recognize the eggs, also called nits. The eggs adhere very strongly to the hair, as if they were attached with cement. Before hatching, they are tan or brownish in color, and they look like tiny seeds. Freshly laid eggs are shiny and often located near the scalp.
5. Recognize the hatched nits. When the eggs or nits have hatched, the shell of the egg remains firmly attached to the hair. This casing is almost transparent.

Part 3 of 4: Examining the hair for lice and nits

1. Start by dividing the wet hair into different sections. Divide the hair into small sections and start by inserting the comb into the hair near the scalp. Use a regular fine-tooth comb or a lice comb and comb through each section. Comb from close to scalp to ends. Comb through each section several times.
   • You can buy a lice comb at the drugstore. Such a comb is smaller than a regular comb, but the teeth of the comb are a lot closer together, making it easier to search the hair for lice and nits.
2. Continue to comb the different sections. After you've finished combing a particular section of wet hair, use a hair clip to separate it from the hair you haven't examined yet. Comb through each section of the hair, examining the comb each time you run it through the hair.
3. Carefully examine the area around the ears and at the bottom of the neck. These are the areas where adult lice and nits usually reside.
4. Catch a live louse between your thumb and index finger. If you see something moving, try to catch the louse between your thumb and your index finger. Then stick the louse on a piece of white paper so that you can examine it even more closely. It can be useful to compare the louse you have found with pictures of lice.
   • It is not dangerous to catch a louse with your fingers. This ensures that the person you are examining actually suffers from head lice.
5. Don't confuse dandruff with lice or nits. People of all ages have things in their hair that got stuck in there. If you comb through someone else's hair so carefully, you will likely come across dandruff, knots in the hair, dust, and all kinds of other things stuck in their hair. Nits are not easy to comb out of the hair because they are firmly glued to them. Use your magnifying glass to examine the little things you found while combing the hair. This way you can be sure that it concerns head lice.
6. Examine your own hair for lice. Obviously, this is not as easy as examining someone else's hair, so try to ask for help if possible. Follow the same simple steps if you decide to check your own hair yourself. In a household where one person has head lice, all other people should also be screened for head lice.
7. Wet your hair. Lice and nits can be seen on both dry and wet hair, but it may be easier to check yourself for lice when your hair is wet.
8. Make sure you have enough light. The light in the bathroom is often brighter than the lamps in other rooms. In addition, you will need the mirrors in the bathroom. If you need more light, use a small lamp.
9. Use a hand mirror. You will need to carefully examine the areas behind and around your ears. Use hair clips to keep your hair away from the area and hold the hand mirror so that you can clearly see the areas you need to examine.
10. Hold the mirror so you can see your neck. Look carefully for anything crawling and for nits or nits stuck to your hair in this area.
11. Use a fine-tooth comb or a lice comb. To best examine your own hair, you will need to divide the hair into sections and comb through each section several times. Examine the comb thoroughly every time you run it through your hair. Use hair clips to secure the hair you have already examined.
    • Don't forget to focus on the area around your ears and at the bottom of your neck. Examining your own hair for lice is difficult, so focusing on the areas most likely to have lice or nits can help. This way you can determine if you have head lice.
12. Look closely at the comb. You could use a magnifying glass to examine the comb every time you run it through your hair. Determine carefully whether it is dandruff, knots in the hair, dust or something else. Small, seed-like wrappers will adhere tightly to the hair and be difficult to remove. You will likely also remove the hair follicle when you run the comb through it. This allows you to carefully examine what you've pulled out of your hair and what got stuck in the comb to determine if you have lice or nits in your hair.

Part 4 of 4: Treating lice

1. Treat the infected person. You can treat head lice with over-the-counter products. Carefully follow the directions on the packaging, including any safety precautions recommended.
2. Start by asking the person to put on old clothes. This is useful in the event that the ingredients in the product damage the clothing. Also make sure that the other person has washed their hair, but has not used a conditioner.
3. Follow the directions on the package. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you choose the best product. Once you have treated the person according to the directions on the package, recheck their hair after about 8 to 12 hours. It works if you still see lice, but they are moving slowly. Continue to remove as many dead lice and nits as possible by combing out the hair as described above.
4. Repeat the treatment if the lice are still active. When examining the hair, check to see if the lice are still as active as they were in the beginning, before the treatment. If so, follow the directions on the package to treat the infected person again.
5. Follow the directions on the package if a second treatment is needed. You usually have to treat the scalp of the infected person again after a week. The packaging of most products describes how and when to perform a second treatment. Your doctor or pharmacist can advise you on a second treatment, as well as treating other family members.
6. Treat the environment. Wash and dry all bedding, towels, and clothing that the person has come into contact with up to two days before treatment. Use hot water and set the dryer to a high temperature.
   • Items that cannot be washed can be dry cleaned or stored in a well-sealed plastic bag for two weeks.
7. Soak combs and brushes. Anytime you use a comb or brush to remove lice and nits, soak it in hot water at a temperature of at least 55 degrees Celsius for 5 to 10 minutes.
8. Vacuum the floor and furniture. Head lice only live for about two days if they are not on a human. Nits cannot come out if they are not in an environment as warm as the human body. They will die within a week.
9. Wash items of clothing and soak combs. Be careful not to accidentally cause you or anyone else to get head lice again. Wash all clothing and bedding in hot water. Store items that should not be washed in airtight plastic bags for two weeks. Soak combs and other hair accessories, such as hairpins and hair clips, in hot water for at least 5 minutes.
   • Don't forget to wash all soft items, such as stuffed animals or pillows, in hot water.
10. Do not share soft things with others. Lice are often passed on to other children through the sharing of clothing, hats, scarves or stuffed animals. Do not let your child lend these items to others.
    • Do not share soft things with other family members until all signs indicate that no one is bothered by head lice anymore.
11. Continue to carefully examine the infected person's hair. Comb the hair every 2 to 3 days for 2-3 weeks using the method described in this article. This way you can be sure that the person in question has not contracted head lice again.
12. Have your child go back to school. After successful treatment, your child can go back to school the next day. Don't keep your child home from school for several days because they have head lice.
    • Make sure that your child's head does not come into contact with the heads of other children at school.

Tips

• It can be very difficult to check your own head for lice. If possible, ask someone for help.
• Consider researching other family members until you find someone who has head lice.
• Lice are transmitted through human contact. Lice can also be transmitted when someone comes into contact with items that have been in contact with someone with head lice, such as caps, combs, scarves and headbands. Never share this stuff with others.
• Lice do not carry bacterial or viral infections.
• Lice live for up to 48 hours when they no longer have a human host to feed themselves.
• Depending on how persistent the head lice infestation is, you can contact your doctor for advice on different treatment options, as well as suggestions on how to treat the living environment.

Necessities

• Fine comb or lice comb
• Good lighting
• Magnifying glass
• Spray with water
• Adhesive tape
• White paper
• Hand mirror