Lice detection is easy when you know what to look for
Your step-by-step guide on how to detect lice
Wondering if your child has lice? Before choosing a lice treatment product, it’s important to confirm that lice are in your child’s hair. An itchy scalp should signal you to investigate, especially in children, who are the most common carriers of lice. Additionally, it’s important to do frequent checks when you are aware of a lice outbreak at your child’s school or camp.
With a first case of head lice, itching may not develop for 4 to 6 weeks. In fact, an infestation may be present even if there is no itching. Other symptoms can include a tickling sensation on the scalp or sores on the scalp. While some children may be irritable and have difficulty sleeping, others experience no symptoms at all.
How to check for lice
STEP 1: Lift a 1- to 2-inch section of hair, starting as close to the scalp as possible, and slowly comb through this section of hair to the end. Wipe off the comb with a tissue or paper towel and inspect with a magnifying lens to identify any objects you may find.
STEP 2: Pin back this section of hair and continue combing through another 1- to 2-inch section, repeating this step until the entire head has been checked for lice and/or eggs (nits). Be sure to look carefully around the ears and back of the neck, where lice are commonly found.
STEP 3: If no lice or eggs (nits) are found, do not treat. Carefully reinspect daily for at least two weeks following a suspected exposure to lice. If you do find lice and/or eggs (nits), treat hair with one of the RID® lice treatment kits, all of which include a lice-killing treatment as well as a comb, which you will need to remove eggs (nits) from the hair.
STEP 4: Continue to inspect household members who may have been exposed to lice for at least two weeks.
Helpful tips for lice detection and elimination success
- Head lice may be hard to see because lice move quickly and are very small
- Have the person you are checking sit in a comfortable area where it’s easy for you to move around their head to inspect for lice
- Examine the person’s head under a bright light and use a clean, wide-toothed comb to remove any tangles
- A magnifying lens will make it easier to see lice and their eggs (nits). If there has been excessive head-scratching in a particular area, this is an excellent place to begin looking for lice
TIP: Super lice, which are lice that have built a genetic resistance to traditional pesticide treatments, are identical in appearance to regular lice. So it’s impossible to tell one apart from the other based on appearance alone. That’s why it’s important to use a lice treatment shown to kill super lice, like RID® SUPER MAX, to ensure effectiveness whether you have a case of lice or super lice.
Click to visit our treatment page and learn how to treat lice if lice or eggs (nits) are found.
If you’ve followed the instructions above and no head lice are found, but you’re still concerned about lice, click to visit our lice defense page and learn how to keep lice away if there is an outbreak in your school or community.
What to look for when checking for lice
Adult lice are tiny insects about the size of a sesame seed, that are tan, brown, or gray. They are found close to the scalp, behind the ears, and near the neckline at the back of the head on those who are affected. Adult lice have 6 legs with claws, which allows them to attach tightly to hair.
Nymphs are immature lice that have recently hatched from an egg (nit). They are not yet able to lay eggs. It takes about 9-12 days for nymphs to mature into adult lice.
The eggs (nits) are easier to spot because they are attached to the hair and close to the scalp. Nits look like tiny seeds that are firmly attached to the hair shaft and are usually yellow to white. They may look like dandruff or hairspray droplets but they are easy to tell apart since nits are not easy to remove.
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