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How Do I Know If I Had Lice?
Question: How do I know if I had lice. There was little black dots in my sink. I looked magnifying glass and it just look like a black dot, not white. How can I tell? I am, of course itching terribly by now.
Brief Answer:
The only way is by looking close through the hair.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I am Dr.Rovena.
I had gone through your query and understand your concern.
If the black dots in your sink were lice they would have a specific view. The adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed, has six legs, and is XXXXXXX to grayish-white in color or darker.
The only way to know if you have head lice is by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits (louse baby) or adult louse.
The presence of nits close to the scalp confirms that a person is infested.
You can ask a family member to do it for you,it can be more easy.
If you are not sure whether or not you have head lice, the diagnosis should be made by a health care professional. The nits of head lice are easily visible with a microscope.
If you are sure you have head lice you need to take a treatment.
Lindane shampoo (formally known as Kwell) is a prescription drug and is one of the most common treatments for head lice.The pharmacist can inform you how to use it.
There are some OTC medication (without prescription) to treat head lice such as :Pyrethrins,Permethrins but with this drugs treatment failures are common.
Hope I was able to help you.If you have further questions please feel free to write me,I will be happy to answer.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena
The only way is by looking close through the hair.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I am Dr.Rovena.
I had gone through your query and understand your concern.
If the black dots in your sink were lice they would have a specific view. The adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed, has six legs, and is XXXXXXX to grayish-white in color or darker.
The only way to know if you have head lice is by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits (louse baby) or adult louse.
The presence of nits close to the scalp confirms that a person is infested.
You can ask a family member to do it for you,it can be more easy.
If you are not sure whether or not you have head lice, the diagnosis should be made by a health care professional. The nits of head lice are easily visible with a microscope.
If you are sure you have head lice you need to take a treatment.
Lindane shampoo (formally known as Kwell) is a prescription drug and is one of the most common treatments for head lice.The pharmacist can inform you how to use it.
There are some OTC medication (without prescription) to treat head lice such as :Pyrethrins,Permethrins but with this drugs treatment failures are common.
Hope I was able to help you.If you have further questions please feel free to write me,I will be happy to answer.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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