Sometimes a lice infestation is obvious. There is an outbreak in your child’s classroom and she comes home with a letter detailing the symptoms and solutions. You might also be facing an ongoing issue in your home and you recognize the little nits in an instance. Whether you are an experienced lice identifier or you are dealing with your first outbreak, recognizing lice is easy. However, there are instances when lice might be confused with other scalp issues.
Begin with a thorough lice check. Even if there are no bugs, your child’s scalp might be covered in lice that are just about to hatch. Keep a close eye on things and see what changes over the course of several hours or a day or two.
If you are having your doubts about the problem being lice, you might only be dealing with dandruff or hairspray flakes. Wash your child’s hair and see if it makes a difference. Lice will still be present after a normal shampooing, but hairspray will vanish. Dandruff is likely to lessen, too, immediately after a wash.
Unfortunately, it could be a bug problem other than lice. Other bugs that take up residence on people include ants and aphids. Luckily, these little critters are not contagious, so you only need to rinse them out of your child’s hair.
The easiest way to avoid lice confusion is to use a natural product that prevents lice. This way you have a plan in place to prevent infestation. Another great option is to use natural lice shampoo, even if you are unsure if the problem is lice. If you choose a potent synthetic shampoo containing dangerous chemicals, you will not want to use the product unless it is absolutely necessary. If you are using a natural treatment, you are not risking your child’s health using it in times of uncertainty.
