Subject: It’s not all in my head!
Location: Scalp
March 27, 2013 6:05 am
These insects came from my scalp. Two years ago I started with a small area on my scalp that felt like a bite. The area is now the crown of my head, made worse by using a duo derm patch, not knowing I had a sensitivity to adhesive. My hair grew under the scalp, and that is where these bugs came from.
Signature: Elaine
Dear Elaine,
We sympathize with your situation. We hope you sought professional medical assistance and we would urge you to seek out a definitive identification from your local entomology department. While this creature looks vaguely louselike, it doesn’t seem to match images of Parasitic Lice on BugGuide. Perhaps one of our readers will be able to provide something more conclusive.
Update: March 27, 2013
Tenodera, one of our readers, submitted a comment indicating this resembles a Thrips, and we agree. See BugGuide for a description of Thrips. The mystery is why are Thrips livng on Elaine’s scalp.
I believe this is a thrips. Not sure what it’s doing in Elaine’s hair.
Omg, this is the same exact insect I found in my hair, I was also told it’s all in my head and I have delusional parasintosis. I had been complaining for 6 months something is living in my hair I been to several doc who just said no lice, I was complaining to Docs my hair was moving and wah-lah this little speck came on my comb, I had been seeing specks but never took the time to look at them. I took the speck went to my daughters room put it under her microscope when it focused I almost fainted. I took it to my doc which said it was a louse. But the more I looked at it I can see it is not bcuz I see wings, then a second was on my neck I looked at it under the scope and
there it was, now Elaine or anyone out there, How in God’s name do I get rid of hair thrips. I have been going through HELL..
Omg, this is the same exact insect I found in my hair, I was also told it’s all in my head and I have delusional parasintosis. I had been complaining for 6 months something is living in my hair I been to several doc who just said no lice, I was complaining to Docs my hair was moving and wah-lah this little speck came on my comb, I had been seeing specks but never took the time to look at them. I took the speck went to my daughters room put it under her microscope when it focused I almost fainted. I took it to my doc which said it was a louse. But the more I looked at it I can see it is not bcuz I see wings, then a second was on my neck I looked at it under the scope and
there it was, now Elaine or anyone out there, How in God’s name do I get rid of hair thrips. I have been going through HELL..
Has anybody found a solution to thrips in hair?
My best solution has been mousse as it seems to remove eggs as well as other stages. Say ain’t daily is helpful too . Maui make a coconut hair oil that can be sprayed in the It is very helpful. Leave in 100% of the time. Vegetable oil is helpful too. Pray tell, did these seem to go dormant in the winter and return in the spring? Hi
I recieved two reports od thrips living in human hair. Searching for similar cases, I ended up here.
I have a few ideas for you that will help. One is that these need air – drown them. Lie back in the bathtub with your hair under the water and count to 100. Within 6 hours they will have fallen out. I think they get into the pores, maybe lay their eggs in them so they return. There are shampoos that help, one is millcreek botanicals tea tree oil. The conditioner is very good as well. Start out putting whichever on dry hair. I often just use the conditioner in the morning and leave it on for 3 – 4 minutes. Putting it on dry makes a huge difference. Get a hair brush with the old style bristles, goodie make one that Walmart carry. As you brush you loosen what is on the hair . Good luck
I also had these in my scalp. Neem oil is the only thing that seems to work
Neem oil helped me I dealt with same thing
Take Apple cider vinegar with the mother. Vitality Health carry the best brand in a brown jug. It seems to get rid of the ones under the skin. It takes a long time, maybe 3 months to get rid of them.
Thank you sometimes I think I’m crazy this really affected my life I have been using neem oil in my shampoo that seems to help
Try apple cider vinegar with the mother from a health food store. a tsp 3 times a day well diluted in water or a juice or smoothies. On hot water with honey and caysnne pepper and lemon is a great way. Millcreek botanicals rea tree oil shampoois good. soak your hair daily in creme rinse, put on dry. sauna. you are not crazy.
Thank you so much. I’m wondering do you guys think they spread from person to person
Yes, Lice are spread from person to person. Thrips are not.
Has anybody got any other symptoms with these things other than their scalp? Such as white little egg looking granules coming out of the skin?
Yes, when saunaing. They may be in the pores. ACV may get them out of the pores.
Sad to report about 5 months after thinking i got rid of them I am finding them again. Any other suggestions would be great
I reallllly need help. I started getting bitten by bugs. Then I realized that I had eggs in my hair and then checked my kids. They had eggs too. I spent HOURS online looking up what it could be. My son had a bright green bug jump out of his hair and I didn’t think it coo related. I have been collected like 5 different stages of this bug. Some are just small black specks, then there are long skinny white ones that come out of your skin, eggs that come out of your skin, then larger bugs. I FINALLY realized they are this thrip bug.
This is embarrassing but they have even got my private parts. My husband doesn’t believe me and thinks I’m nuts but the kids were in the pool/hot tub for hours and then clusters of eggs and the long white body things started coming out of their skin the next day- which was yesterday. I want to put me and my young kids in a plastic bubble and run away. I’m afraid to sit on my couch, sleep, etc.
PLEASE HELP- M.E.D.
We would strongly suggest you seek medical assistance. We are not qualified to provide medical advice.
I reallllly need help. I started getting bitten by bugs. Then I realized that I had eggs in my hair and then checked my kids. They had eggs too. I spent HOURS online looking up what it could be. My son had a bright green bug jump out of his hair and I didn’t think it coo related. I have been collected like 5 different stages of this bug. Some are just small black specks, then there are long skinny white ones that come out of your skin, eggs that come out of your skin, then larger bugs. I FINALLY realized they are this thrip bug.
This is embarrassing but they have even got my private parts. My husband doesn’t believe me and thinks I’m nuts but the kids were in the pool/hot tub for hours and then clusters of eggs and the long white body things started coming out of their skin the next day- which was yesterday. I want to put me and my young kids in a plastic bubble and run away. I’m afraid to sit on my couch, sleep, etc.
PLEASE HELP- M.E.D.
Hi Molly,
I hope your nightmare has ended. Can you please share how did you treat it? I am having same issue and going through the same nightmare you have been through. Thanks
I have experienced all of this and I have almost goyyen rid of them. First to get rid of most coat ypur hair and scalp with oil. I used crisco. Have a bath in epsom salts. Get Apple cider vinegar capsules, Organika are best and take a few times daily, even up to 6 per day. Very helpful. Also get as much garlic into your system as possible. You can roast it in foil in the oven for 45 mins. youtube will show you to drizzle oil on it but I found the oil upset my stomach. thee is a secret detox drink online, avc, honey or maplexsyrup, ginger etc. Add garlic to it and GET GARLIC Shampoo In Canada there is a Vatika brand for under &6.00. Very helpful. every day should get better but it takes weeks. good luck.
Hi Judy,
Have completely get rid of it? can you share your experience please of what things work the best to get rid of it?
And chlorophyll. Bernard Jensen if you can get ahold of it. esp effective on thrips.
Contact me if you like. [email protected]
NEEM OIL!
Shampoos with Biotin. Preferably Millcreek Botanicals. Good luck, let me know how it goes.
I came across this page, because I have same issue. I found this bug in my hair with long antenna for few months now and tried lice treatments, olive oil and Cedar oil..but they don’t go away. I didn’t see them on my body, but i feel like a sting and something crawling but can’t see anything. You are saying it can be under the skin? does it really go away in winter and comes back again in spring?
what otehr oil to use to get rid of them in my hair and how to know if they are under my skin?
thank you
This is crazy. My dog is almost bald from these. They’re all over me. There’s not one place on my body that it doesn’t effect. They’re orange, glittery, black, white egg looking thing. I’m miserable and no one can help. They’re finally sending me to a infectious disease doctor. Also I find rubbing alcohol helps. Also Selsun blue.
Brittany, please keep us updated! Many of us are in the same boat, with nowhere to turn. If your infectious diesease doctor is good and you are in the United States, please share the info. Or share it anyway. I’ll travel. I would like to know more about what you’re experiencing. I’ve read so many different things from people here. . . eggs in the skin, long white body-looking things coming out in the sauna, eggs in the hair. I would like to know what the eggs look like, whether you’ve had things in your skin, what all the phases of the life cycle are. Perhaps those of us affected should start a yahoo group or some such and share photos to inform ourselves.
Just found this site. Thank you everyone! Over twelve years ago my pre-k kids brought home lice. I’ve been battling it (I thought) all this time. Last month I went to a freeze lice clinic and they told me I didn’t have lice and was delusional. (The freezing $209 stopped the itching for one week) I purchased a microscope to prove I wasn’t crazy and found a bug I couldn’t identify. Yes, it fits with thrips.
Thanks for the advice above.
Today 1 tsp pure neem, 1 tsp dawn in 24 oz spray bottle left on with a plastic bag on my head. They say topical neem can affect the kidneys if used for more than 2 weeks? So I’m doing all you say at the same time. ACV drink throughout the day, just had my first ACV with honey. Garlic pills have been ordered.
FYI I discovered peppermint essential oil put in the hair stops them biting so I’m putting a splash of that on before the neem mix.
So everyone who has this problem, I also have this problem and it’s going on my second year. Doctors will say your delusional because they can’t see them, but we know our bodies and we know there is something wrong. The problem is these doctors now days are not smart there all nurse practitioners and anyone can be a doctor, they all look towards the internet to cure people now day watch them when you go to your next visit. Anyway I think I have a cure and I now what it is look closer with a scope and see if they have wings if they do I know the cure just email me and I’ll tell you because I just ordered mine
I have had these thrips for years now. I thought they were bedbugs but I was told I didn’t have those.I am told I have prurigo nodularis. Bugs make prurigo nodularis worse. All I know is that I am in pain and I have tried mint oil, Neem oil,tea tree oil, lavender oil, olive oil, African oil, (it’s a blend of oils)and also many other oils. Neem oil and tea tree oil and olive oil are helpful. Petroleum jelly smothers them some. Alochol 91 kills them on contact. I bathe in ebsom salt,and tea tree oil it helps to Sulfur shampos and soaps help kill them off too. My dermatologist told me to use the sulfur.I hope this helps someone.Pest control is needed too, I’m told. So I will do it too