SYMPTOMS OF HEAD LICE CAN INCLUDE

  • having an itchy scalp
  • seeing red bumps on your child’s scalp and neck
  • seeing live lice moving around on your child’s head
  • finding nits (lice eggs), which are tiny white or brown tear dropped shaped specks that are attached to one side of the hair strand.

Not everyone shows symptoms of head lice. Itching is an allergic reaction to the saliva the lice inject into the skin while they are feeding that make us itch.

Did you know that most people don’t find a head lice infestation until the 3rd or 4th week? The lice hide from the light and are difficult to see. So don’t feel bad if your child said their head itched and you bought them some head and shoulders. Unless you really knew what you were looking for it’s easy to miss an early diagnosis of head lice.

IS IT LICE OR DANDRUFF?

The golden rule of lice identification is that if you can move the object with a light touch or by blowing on it, it’s dandruff. Lice crawl too fast to really be seen, they are the size of a sesame seed or strawberry seed and lice eggs (nits) are actually glued to the hair shaft and cannot be moved unless cut off or extracted with an nit special comb.

If the ‘white stuff’ is simply dandruff it is on the scalp and not on the hair shafts, then it might not be head lice at all. Instead of lice treatments, you might try a medicated shampoo, like Selsun or Neutrogena T-gel.

Want a professional to come take a look? Our Lice Head Check Service is only $15/person (two person minimum)..

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