How to check for head lice
When you're screening for head lice you're not just looking for live lice. Head lice are very small and move very quickly. They detect movement and quickly move away from bright lights. Also as soon as you start screening on one side of the head, they travel to the other side. You can confirm a head lice infestation by finding their eggs (nits).
Get a good light, a magnifying visor and use two sticks per person. Start by parting the hair and looking at the root of the hair for nits. Look for tiny, oval shaped nits cemented to one side of the hair shaft, close to the root of the hair. Begin on one side of the head, near the ears and work your way around the back of the head to the other ear. Focus on your Hot Spots - the area behind the ears, at the nape of the neck and the crown of the head. Finally have a good look throughout the hair.
If you see anything suspicious, try to move it. If it moves, it is not a nit. If it will not move, check again to make sure that it is oval shaped and stuck to only one side of the hair. If it is cemented to the hair and doesn't come off easily it is possible that it is a nit. Have a closer look for more nits in the area as the female louse usually lays a group of eggs in one area.
Contact us if you are unsure about what you are seeing. We can help you make the diagnosis over the phone, arrange to screen your family, or you can simply mail in your sample and our specialists will make the diagnosis for you.
Regardless of which treatment method you choose, manually removing all lice and nits is critical to ensure complete removal!