Not sure if i have head lice?

Question

Just got back from a backpacking trip (about a week ago), staying in hostels most of time, and since i got back i noticed that occasionally i get itches on my head usually just in one spot, and not that often. But because i was backpacking i started to think it might be lice.

So i washed my hair with shampoo, then conditioner, and then went through it about a million times (while still pretty wet) with a lice comb and didn't find any actual adult lice. I found a fair amount of tiny white flakes and pieces, but most of them smeared together when i rubbed them between my fingers so they didn't appear to be solid. They definitely would have hatched by now, as i've been back for about a week and a half, so any suggestions, does it sound like i'm ok?

Answer 1

Could be bed bugs.  Also could just be dry skin from changes in climate.  If it doesn't clear up, go to a dermatologist and have him look at your scalp.

Good luck!

Answer 2

You don't need to worry too much, it doesn't sound like head lice to me.

If you haven't got an infestation, don't go treating yourself with pesticide treatments. Not only is this an overwhelmingly drastic measure, chemical head lice treatments are not meant to work in this way.

Get yourself some tea tree oil from your local health food store and mix 10 drops of it in with some water into a spray bottle. You can also mix it with some leave in conditioner. This will repel any live lice.

You really don't have to worry too much about it until you find live lice in your hair. Until then take these prevention methods and you should be fine.

If you have an infestation, please see the following website for more articles and information.

Good Luck.

Answer 3

did you ever consider knats. they bite your head. or even fleas. you just don't have to have a dog to be bitten. since you stayed in hotel. maybe try some dandruff shampoo. I think you'll be o.k. have someone check your head for a tick. which can be contracted in the woods. take a q-tip put it down in rubbing alcohol place the q-tip on the spot that itches. if you have a tick there this alcohol will make it release. if it is a tick, it will release from your scalp. try this it might sting(maybe) but I hope this helps.

Answer 4

Sounds like dry scalp of dandruff to me. If you have lice, you would have tiny white eggs stuck to your hair that you would have to slide all the way down the hair shaft to get off. If you do have lice, use a product called NIX from the pharmacy. It kills both the lice and the eggs.

Answer 5

Sounds like you have dandruff. See your doctor to be sure that an insect has not laid an egg in your scalp.