Excuse my ignorance, but what do head lice look like?

[maviscrewit]

A friend of mine has told me her two children have headlice. My two were in contact with them last week so they might have picked them up. I knew this day would come at some point, but I have no idea what I am looking for! Also what's the best treatment nowadays? I remember having lord knows what sort of chemicals slapped on my head when I was little. My two are 2 and a half and one so don't fancy the chemical route.

Still so much to learn about parenting !

they are very very small dots a bit like dandruff they are more cream/yellow though, they will be STUCK to the hair and not come off easily like dandruff, check behind ears area and back of the neck

they look like this

to the naked eye, they look grey/black and are very small, depending how old they are, the eggs are easier to spot, they are whitish balls stuck to the hair near the scalp, use a magnifying glass to look for them (much easier)

They're very difficult to see depending on hair colour. They're tiny little crawly insects about, say, 2mm long. What you might also see are the eggs - white, look like dandruff but cling to the hair.

Get a fine nit comb and loads of conditioner and comb through as often as poss, if just as a precaution.

Does anyone think on that link they look like the aliens from Independence Day?

thanks freaky, am now very afraid! Right so I am looking for small cream dots in blonde hair, hmmm think a magnifying glass would be handy. How do you treat them?

Ha! I've got 4 dd's, all of them have had head lice. If you look at your kids hair, and they've caught lice, you will see the little blighters walking around waving at you! They are about 2mm long and the colour depends on the colour of the hair - blond=grey, brown=black - clever! If you find them, treat and re-treat because the eggs get stuck and can only be picked out using skill and determination and a co-operative child. Good luck! Once they're in the family, they're hard to get out - check your dp and get him to check you too! I've had them, and they make my neck itch !

Also check behind ears and nape of neck for bites, it looks like a red rash.

Use lots of conditioner and keep picking them out, maybe a little tea tree oil, but not sure about it's safety with a little one. They don't live on furmiture like fleas so once they're gone they don't jump back on (phew).

Have just seen another thread about treatment, seems the balance of opinion is the nitty gritty. Think I will get one as if they are clear this time, I think it will only be a matter of time before they get them for real!