How to Check a Child's Hair for Lice

Symptoms of head lice include frequent head-scratching and/or the sudden appearance of dandruff-like white flecks in the hair. You may receive a note from your child's school reporting that another class member has a case of head lice. In all of these instances, you should examine your child's head for lice.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Latex Gloves
• Combs
• Flashlights
• Hair Lice Treatments

1. Be sure there is adequate lighting when checking your child’s head for lice. A brightly lit bathroom or a flashlight will help you spot any lice or eggs.

2. Begin at the nape (bottom) of the neck and work your way up. Lice and eggs can be anywhere on the head but they do prefer warmer places to hide. The lower hairline is a good place to start.

3. Using either your fingers or a tail comb, slowly part the hair down the middle, from the crown to the nape of the neck. Check the part for eggs on the hair shaft (small white specks attached to the hair shaft) or adult lice. The eggs will be well attached and should only be able to be removed by scraping off the hair with your finger nail.

4. Once the first section is checked, part the hair either to the left or right of your original part in very small sections. Check this new parting for eggs and adult lice.

5. Repeat this process throughout the entire back of the head, paying extra attention to the warmer spots at the nape, hairline and close to the ears.

6. When the entire back portion of the head is complete, part your child’s hair from the crown to the front hairline and repeat the process for the front of the hair.

7. If lice are found on your child’s head treatment must be given immediately.

8. Remove your child’s clothing that they are wearing and all bedding on your child’s bed. Wash immediately or your child will risk another exposure. All materials such as jackets, hats, scarves, pillow or blanket that your child may have come in contact with will be infested and must be washed.

9. Wash your hands thoroughly once the clothes are in the washer.

10. Go to the drug store and purchase a lice shampoo. Follow the directions given with the product.

11. If you have other children in the house check them for lice as well. If you suspect you may be infected have someone check you or use the lice shampoo just to be safe.

12. Be persistent. The treatment may have to be repeated before the lice or eggs are completely killed.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a magnifying glass. It will make the lice easier to see.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• How to Lose 30+lbs Guaranteed. Try it Free.

[rsangal]

on 11/4/2007 Use Listerine. It work wonders! Cover it with the brown mouth wash and shampoo after 3-4 hrs.

[nancy]

on 1/4/2007 Denorex extra stength shampoo may kill lice, but it contains coal tar, a know human carcinogen. A University of Claifornia site suggests using olive oil or coconut oil shampoos as a possible alternative to the lice insecticide shampoos.

on 8/27/2006 I've done everything for my 2 girls and finally found by accident that T-gel works really well. My oldest had bad dandruff and lice and I got T-gel for the dandruff and found it was killing all the nits too. And after every shampoo the lice were dying and falling out of their heads. Also the easiest way to do this is put them in the tub with you and put the T-gel in. I combed with a metal comb while the T-gel was still on the hair and then rinsed and lathered with any kind of conditioner. I use Suave or V05 all the time. But leave conditioner in the hair and then comb some more - the nits come out as well . It is so much easier on the kids and parents. Before rinsing out let the water out of the tub. You don't want any chances of any live ones getting back on the hair. Run the water again while rinsing their heads.

I would do this every other night till no more signs of anything. I've done everything in the book and this does work and does not harm any child. Please try it before torturing your kids or yourself anymore.

on 1/2/2006 The Robi Comb is a device that emits an electrical current safely at the detection of a louse and should be used extensively (5 minutes every day at least) for a month and then every few days after that! This thing caught five of those little buggers in my 3 year old's hair. I'm using Denorex extra strength shampoo, Paul Mitchell's tea tree shampoo and conditioner, a good comb after each washing, and a garlic pill every day.

on 11/22/2005 To kill lice, put 15-20 drops of pure tea tree oil into 1-2 tablespoons of shampoo. Lather head (it will not get really sudsy) and let remain unrinsed on head for 20 minutes. Rinse hair, condition, and nitpick. Put 15-20 drops into your bottle of shampoo, and continue using on a consistent basis - you may have to use this shampoo daily as the nits hatch. Lice that are not protected by the egg sac will die on contact. Tried and true.