Headlice nits verse dandruff

[happygirl]

Okay, I don't have alot of experiece in this. My son daycare says that he has nits. They haven't seen any lice. I have looked all I see is his dry skin. He has had the issue since he was born. Can you mixed up the dandruff and nits?

 

[mjkacmom]

Nits attach themselves to the hair shaft, and have to be removed. Dandruff is easily moved.

 

[luvmy3]

Aren't nits attached to the hair and hard to get off?

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Okay, I don't have alot of experiece in this. My son daycare says that he has nits. They haven't seen any lice. I have looked all I see is his dry skin. He has had the issue since he was born. Can you mixed up the dandruff and nits?

I don't know...fortunately, neither of my kids has ever had nits or lice, but DS 10 used to have a very dry scalp, as it sounds like your DS does. You could clearly tell it was dry/scalp dandruff. Maybe do a google search for pictures of the nits/eggs and make sure what you are seeing is definately the same dry scalp he has always had.

 

[java]

Yes you will see it ATTATCHED to the hair vs. on his scalp. plus I believe they are rather clear at first.

 

[JessicaR]

http://firstaid.about.com/od/children/ig/Head-Lice-Pictures/Dandruff-v--Nits.htm

Dandruff differs from nits in a few ways:
1.Dandruff particles are various sizes
Nits are pretty uniform in size (half to one millimeter each).


2.Dandruff falls off pretty easily
Remember all those TV commercials where the dandruff sufferer would brush flakes off his shoulder? Nits don't fall off -- they're on for good. If you want nits off the hair shaft, you have to pull them off.


3.Dandruff goes everywhere
Nits tend to be more concentrated in areas where head lice like to live. Head lice like heat, so they live at the base of the neck and behind the ears. Dandruff doesn't really have a favorite place to live, so you'll find the flakes all over the head.

That website shows pictures too.

 

[happygirl]

Thanks everyone I have looked again I don't see any nits. Everything I see is bigger and is falling off by itself

I'm still going to preceed as if he does, I have new sheets on his bed and I'm getting ready to wash his clothes.

Would it hurt his head to use Lice shampoo if he doesn't have lice?

 

[java]

Take a comb- thin toothed. Comb a small section and look- really look. They are TINY. (I know this as my brother had these as a child and I had to take care of it) Look near the base of the hair. You really can't just run your fingers through it to see.
Actually the easiest way is to wash his hair and then look- you'll see them as you comb through.

 

[shortbun]

Okay, I don't have alot of experiece in this. My son daycare says that he has nits. They haven't seen any lice. I have looked all I see is his dry skin. He has had the issue since he was born. Can you mixed up the dandruff and nits?

I'd think daycare people would know what nits looked like, they probably have lots of experience.

 

[happygirl]

Take a comb- thin toothed. Comb a small section and look- really look. They are TINY. (I know this as my brother had these as a child and I had to take care of it) Look near the base of the hair. You really can't just run your fingers through it to see.
Actually the easiest way is to wash his hair and then look- you'll see them as you comb through.

Thanks

Another weird question, Could he have nits but no bugs?

 

[smschex]

Take a comb- thin toothed. Comb a small section and look- really look. They are TINY. (I know this as my brother had these as a child and I had to take care of it) Look near the base of the hair. You really can't just run your fingers through it to see.
Actually the easiest way is to wash his hair and then look- you'll see them as you comb through.

I second this. Try to get one of the nit combs with very fine metal teeth rather than just the plastic one that comes with Rid or Nix shampoo. Comb from the scalp outward through a small section of hair where the suspected nits are. If it is truly head lice you will capture at least one tiny black-brown bug, usually crawling on the the comb. After treatment the live bugs should be gone, but you have to comb carefully to get rid of all the nits.

I hope it is just dry scalp. Good luck!

 

[shortbun]

Thanks everyone I have looked again I don't see any nits. Everything I see is bigger and is falling off by itself

I'm still going to preceed as if he does, I have new sheets on his bed and I'm getting ready to wash his clothes.

Would it hurt his head to use Lice shampoo if he doesn't have lice?

Don't use the insecticide lice treatment, lots of little ones have had seizures from it. When my son got lice and then gave them to me, I slathered olive oil on our heads and wrapped them in plastic-then towels. We treated like this everyday for about 3 days at 2 hours daily. We also did two nit checks daily for 5 days, then one a day for another 3, then every other day for a while. We both had long, light hair that was difficult to see nits. They never came back and we never used a lice treatment. I think the secret is really painstakingly thourough nit removal. The oil smothered any lice-we found only a few dead ones-and it really conditioned out hair!!! We did all the bedding in hot water and vacummed the furniture daily. It was awful but compared to exposing ourselves to insecticide....no comparison. You need wicked bright, directable lights, a magnifying glass or similar and great nit combs-have a trash can nearby and keep cleaning the nit comb with paper towels then throw them away.

 

[java]

Thanks

Another weird question, Could he have nits but no bugs?

YES! Nits are step one!

 

[dawson5]

If you don't think it's lice, have him checked out. My mother in law took my brother in law to get his haircut and the hairdresser freaked and said he had lice. She actually made a big stink in the salon. My mother in law knew her son did not and took him to another salon to get the haircut. That hairdresser told her that he only had a dry scalp. You would think that a daycare person could tell the difference, but then you would also think that a hairdresser could tell the difference also. We're all human and make mistakes, if you don't think your child has it, get it confirmed instead of subjecting him to treatments.

 

[CapeMayMommy]

I was innocently hugged one time, and so the story goes... I feel that I am an expert now.

Harvard School of Public Health has said that this misdiagnosis happens all the time. They asked schools for samples of nits found and they got pieces of dandruff,hairspray, dust, etc . Even school nurses sent in things that were not nits.

Don't use lice shampoo on a child without a clear indication of a live lice infestation. It's bug poison.
Get a bottle of coconut conditioner and a nit comb.

 

[shrubber]

Don't use the insecticide lice treatment, lots of little ones have had seizures from it. When my son got lice and then gave them to me, I slathered olive oil on our heads and wrapped them in plastic-then towels. We treated like this everyday for about 3 days at 2 hours daily. We also did two nit checks daily for 5 days, then one a day for another 3, then every other day for a while. We both had long, light hair that was difficult to see nits. They never came back and we never used a lice treatment. I think the secret is really painstakingly thourough nit removal. The oil smothered any lice-we found only a few dead ones-and it really conditioned out hair!!! We did all the bedding in hot water and vacummed the furniture daily. It was awful but compared to exposing ourselves to insecticide....no comparison. You need wicked bright, directable lights, a magnifying glass or similar and great nit combs-have a trash can nearby and keep cleaning the nit comb with paper towels then throw them away.

What? The over the counter lice treatments are safe and FDA approved.

 

[smschex]

The seizures are usually associated with a prescription containing lindane. This is not in the OTC shampoos.

 

[cheermom1]

First I use tea tree oil mixed with conditioner (easier to comb), a nurse told me about this, wrap the hair in shower cap for about 1/2 an hour. This is natural and less invasive for the kid...anyway if you can not tell you need a second opinion..don't use anything on him unless you know he has it...

nits are tiny little things and they attach themselves to the hair near the scalp...if they don't move or fall out than that is what it is...hope this helps

 

[Kae]

Lice is attached to the hair like the others have said but it also kinda looks like a very tiny piece of rice shape was & attaches at the top. so if you look at it, it kinda sticks up. Do not use lice shampoo as a prevenative that is not what they are made for if you have any questions go see your doctor. Or have the school show you & prove it. I have never seen a bug only nits. So yes you can have lice without a seeing a bug.

Kae

 

[happygirl]

Thanks Everyone If he does have it I just want to get it cleared up before it gets passed to his sister and back and forth