Your child won't stop scratching their head. Your stomach drops. Could it be lice?
Before you panic, take a breath — and take a look. Knowing exactly how to check for lice correctly can save you hours of stress and money on treatments you may not even need. Here's a step-by-step guide from our certified technicians at LCA.
There are two things to look for: live lice and nits (lice eggs). It's important to know the difference, because what you find will determine your next step.
💡 Key fact: Nits are glued to the hair shaft and don't flake off the way dandruff does. If you can easily flick it away, it's probably not a nit.
Sit your child near a window or use a bright flashlight. Lice are fast and blend into hair easily — good lighting is everything. Outdoors in natural light is ideal.
Wet hair slows lice down significantly, making them easier to spot. You can also use a little conditioner to help the comb glide through.
Divide the hair into small sections using clips. Work through the entire scalp methodically — lice won't check themselves, and it's easy to miss patches if you're not systematic.
Lice love warmth. Focus especially on the nape of the neck, behind the ears, and along the hairline at the forehead. These are the most common places to find both lice and nits.
Comb from root to tip, wiping the comb on a white paper towel after each pass. Look at the paper towel carefully — small brown or tan specks that move are lice.
After combing, part sections of hair and look closely at the shaft about ¼ inch from the scalp. Nits look like tiny oval specks stuck tightly to the hair. They won't brush off easily.
This confirms an active infestation. Don't panic — it's common and very treatable. Avoid over-the-counter pesticide shampoos, which have growing resistance rates. A professional treatment at LCA eliminates lice and nits in a single one-hour visit with our FDA-cleared AirAllé® device.
This could be an early-stage infestation or the tail end of one. Nits within ¼ inch of the scalp are considered active. Nits further from the scalp are usually hatched or dead. Either way, have a professional check to be sure.
The scratching may be from dry scalp, dandruff, eczema, or just habit. That said, lice can be hard to spot — if your child was exposed at school or through a friend, consider a professional screening.
🏫 Tip for schools: If your child's school sends home a lice notice, check all household members — not just the child in question. Lice spread through direct head-to-head contact.
You should call LCA if:
Our clinics in San Diego, Orlando, and York County, SC offer same-day appointments with a results guarantee. One visit. No pesticides. Done.
Call us for a same-day screening or appointment. Our certified technicians will give you a clear answer — and a solution if needed.
Call 619-771-9988