How to detect lice yourself? - briefly
Inspect the scalp and hair under bright light, parting sections with a fine-toothed comb and looking for live insects, nits attached within a quarter‑inch of the scalp, or tiny brown specks. Gently pull any suspect nits; if they come out attached to the hair shaft, they are viable eggs.
How to detect lice yourself? - in detail
Detecting head‑lice without professional assistance requires systematic visual inspection and awareness of characteristic signs. The process begins with confirming symptoms: persistent itching, especially after washing, and the presence of small, moving specks on the scalp or in the hair. These specks may be live insects, nymphs, or empty shells (nits) attached to hair shafts.
The inspection routine should follow these steps:
- Prepare the environment – Choose a well‑lit area, preferably natural daylight or a bright lamp. Use a fine‑toothed comb and a magnifying glass if available.
- Section the hair – Divide the hair into small sections (about 1 cm wide) using clips or hair ties. Work from the scalp outward.
- Examine each section – Hold the hair taut and run the comb through from the root to the tip. Look for:
- Live lice: brownish, 2–4 mm, moving quickly and rarely dropping when disturbed.
- Nymphs: smaller, translucent or pale, also mobile.
- Nits: oval, 0.8 mm, firmly attached to the shaft within ¼ inch of the scalp; a viable nit is firmly glued and does not easily slide.
- Check typical habitats – Focus on the nape of the neck, behind the ears, and the crown, where temperature and humidity favor infestation.
- Repeat the process – Perform the inspection on at least two separate occasions, 48–72 hours apart, because early stages may be missed.
Additional indicators can confirm an infestation:
- Scalp redness or small sores – Result of scratching.
- Presence of brown or black debris – Excretions from lice, often mistaken for dandruff.
- Unusual hair loss – Localized to areas of heavy scratching.
If any live insects or firmly attached nits are found, the detection is positive. In the absence of these findings after two thorough checks, the likelihood of an active infestation is low, though continued monitoring is advisable during the next two weeks, as eggs may hatch after the initial examination.