Drape a white-colored cloth across your child’s shoulders while searching. This way if any lice fall off your child’s head while searching, the lice can be collected and easily discarded. If necessary, have a flashlight or headlamp handy so that you can examine the roots more carefully. You may also want to have a magnifying glass on hand to be sure you don’t miss anything.
Pay extra attention to the area of the scalp around the ears and at the nape of the neck. Although lice can live anywhere on the scalp, these areas tend to be tell-tale regions during an infestation. [9] X Research source
Closely examine the comb’s teeth both during and after each comb stroke, using a magnifying glass if necessary. If examining under a blacklight, the nits will appear as light blue in color. [11] X Research source Goldstein, MD, MPH, Adam O, & Goldstein, MD, Beth G. Pediculosis capitis. UptoDate. May 20, 2015.
If nits pose a problem to thorough combing, try soaking hair in a 3%-5% white vinegar bath prior to using the lice comb.
Some experts say that manually removing lice as described above may be more effective (though also more time consuming) than over-the-counter lice treatments. [14] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source
While dry combing is an excellent way to detect lice, picking individual lice with tweezers can be a tiresome and time-consuming activity for both you and your child. Some experts recommend wet combing, as it allows you to quickly diagnose and partially treat the infection more efficiently. [16] X Research source If your child has a hard time sitting still for prolonged periods, try doing lice inspection/removal with a movie or TV show on. Television may provide a welcome distraction for your child while you look for and remove lice and nits.
