How can you distinguish lice eggs on hair from dandruff? - briefly
Lice nits are tiny, oval, tan‑brown eggs glued tightly to the hair shaft close to the scalp and do not shift when combed. Dandruff appears as loose, white or yellowish flakes that easily detach and fall off the hair.
How can you distinguish lice eggs on hair from dandruff? - in detail
Nits are firmly attached to the hair shaft, usually within a few millimetres of the scalp. They appear as oval, cream‑to‑light‑brown structures that are about 0.8 mm long and 0.3 mm wide. The cement‑like substance that secures them makes them difficult to slide along the strand; a gentle pull will not dislodge them. In contrast, scalp flakes are loose particles that fall away easily when the hair is brushed or when the scalp is tapped. They are typically white or gray, irregularly shaped, and range from fine dust‑like particles to larger, crumbly pieces.
Key visual differences:
- Attachment: Nits are glued to the hair; flakes are not attached.
- Shape and edges: Nits have smooth, defined oval contours; flakes have jagged or ragged edges.
- Color: Nits range from ivory to tan; flakes are usually pure white, sometimes tinged with yellow.
- Size: Nits are consistently under 1 mm; flakes vary widely, often larger than a nit.
- Mobility: A flake will move freely when the hair is brushed; a nit remains stationary unless the hair itself is moved.
Practical inspection steps:
- Part the hair in small sections, exposing the scalp.
- Use a fine‑toothed nit comb, pulling it from the root toward the tip.
- Observe any material that stays attached to the comb after each pass.
- Examine attached items under a magnifying lens (10×–20×) to confirm the oval shape and cemented base.
If the suspected items detach easily, crumble, or appear as powdery residue, they are most likely dandruff. If they remain affixed to the comb and exhibit the described oval morphology, they are louse eggs.