Lice?
 

I don't think I have lice, just dandruff, but what if I'm wrong? I'm not insured, and I'm embarrassed to go get my head checked. I think it would be a great idea, just so the hair stylists can't get in trouble for spreading lice. The barbers I've gone to haven't mentioned anything, but I don't know. They don't inspect hair. They just cut it. I have noticed my head becomes itchier while at work, and while I'm elsewhere, my head isn't really all that itchy. Also, unless it's hot out, then my head is itchy. I might have lice, but there's only one way to find out... I don't know how much it'll cost without insurance, though.

EDIT: I just looked up where you can checked up for lice. I was unaware you could do it yourself.

Oh, I see. Interesting... hmm, well, I should go get the stuff. I do prefer a professional to do it, which would be more expensive, but me following instructions... things don't work out the way they are supposed to, so I feel incompetent when following instructions. One day, I spent 24 hours trying to build my younger brother's toy to a T, but it was... less than impressive. My mama and I decided to say "let's do this" and made a minor adjustment. Did it work? No, but oh well. It's gone now, and I never want to do it again. Helped build a thing with my mama, and it works and is still standing, so there's that.

It does work somewhat better if you can have someone else help you with it, but that's just because it's kinda hard to see the top of your own scalp. It doesn't require any special qualification, just good lighting and patience.

I have read there is a special comb to use, and once used, wipe it on a white... paper towel, and then, if the colour iss a certain colour, it's nits... which are eggs. That's all I know. Anywhere I should go specifically?

I had lice once as a kid. Wasn't fun. :(

Specifically? Nah. Any pharmacy should carry the relevant stuff. Head lice is a common childhood ailment.

I might have has it since middle school.

A friend told me about a dermatologist... but I'm not insured.

I never had lice... when ever mom heard about a lice outbreak she would rinse my hair out with apple cider vinegar every night.

It's a good preventative, and it also helps kill off the lice if they already started an infestation.

I still do vinegar rinses as an adult.. never hurts to be careful.

It doesn't actually kill the lice -- if they're chewing on your skin, it's too late for vinegar to be helpful and you'll need something stronger. And it doesn't prevent the eggs from getting there in the first place, because once your hair has dried it doesn't do anything anymore.

But it does WORK: The acetic acid in the vinegar dissolves the substance that makes the eggs stick to your hair, so they don't get a chance to hatch. So doing vinegar rinses after a risk of exposure will prevent the infestation. It's a good strategy when you have kids going to school, especially in poorer areas.

I might try that some time.
I should try that some time, but only when I have concluded tht wht I am using is not helpful.

That's awesome! Maybe I should try that.

I did a little experiment. I used the anti dandruf thing on my hair twice one week, and I noticed my hair was less itchy while at work, so I believe it is nt lice;however, I do wanna get my head checked out.

It was routine for lice to crop up at my elementary school once in a while. Volunteers would check everyone with little picks, and then those with lice were told to get stuff from the pharmacy. I've never heard of professionals being involved unless something weird was going on. Most hair-dressers can probably spot lice as well, since it would be a problem if any got into a salon. Whatever treatment you use, be sure to change your pillowcase often and put something washable on any surface you rest your head against so that bugs and things don't get caught on the surface and jump back onto your head.

If the dandruff shampoo helped, it's probably a low-grade fungal issue. The fungus is native to the scalp and is an important part of the natural ecosystem there, but sometimes the conditions lead to an imbalance and the fungus grows faster than the skin of the scalp is ready to handle. This causes the skin to shed in flakes instead of in nearly-invisible dust, and it's itchy. The dandruff shampoo cuts back on the fungal overgrowth and gives the scalp a chance to heal.

I don't think there's fungus on anyone's head.