Here's a thought. I know it doesn't sound good, but it could be your problem.
You could have head lice. Head lice are tiny parasites that live in human hair, spending their lifecycle on the human scalp and surviving by sucking the host's blood in much the same way as a mosquito. The female louse lays about 4-8 small white eggs (called nits) per night when the host is still and these 'nits' are cemented to the hair shaft close to the scalp; the temperature of the scalp being ideal for their maturing and hatching. The nits hatch after 6 to 7 days, with the new lice reaching maturity about 10 days later. Adult lice live for about 30 days. Head lice multiply quickly, and are not only a distressing annoyance but in some countries can also carry serious diseases.
Tell Tale Signs:
Persistent, intense itching of the back of the head or neck. (Caused by an allergic reaction to the lice's saliva) or no itching at all.
The appearance of tiny white/brown specks firmly attached near the base of individual hairs. These are the 'nits' or eggs.
Spotting the mites themselves.
How does head lice spread?
Direct by close contact or by shared combs, brushes or caps.
Can also travel from one head to another on a towel, pillow or seat/chair headrest.
Because head lice prefer an undisturbed environment, they are more commonly seen in people with longer hair and/or who don't wash/brush their hair regularly.
Some common myths:
Head lice do not only go to clean hair.
Head lice cannot fly or jump from person to person.
They do not live in pillows or mattresses and nor come out at night!
Treatment:
Modern commercial preparations will usually eradicate infestations in a one step shampooing treatment. Consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Following treatment remove dead mites and nits with a tine-toothed (preferably metal) 'nit comb' Robi-combs are reported to be quite effective in trapping mites and nits.
Head lice are very contagious and it is advisable that all family members are treated promptly and at the same time
Thoroughly wash, dry clean or dispose of any items that came in contact with the infested scalp. These items would include brushes, combs, hair clips, caps, ribbons and hairdressing or household linen.
Some Important Points!
The white shells that can easily be seen is the louse's natural diversionary camouflage. These shells are empty and harmless.
The living eggs are laid close to the scalp as the hair grows outward to reveal previously undetected eggs.
Treatment failure may be assumed as the hair grows outward if it reveals these previously undetected eggs.
If an effective louse/ovicide treatment has been used, no mobile stages of lice will be detected and re-treatment is not necessary.
