How do lice nits look on a person's hair? - briefly
Lice eggs are tiny, oval capsules about 0.8 mm long, cemented to the hair shaft and appearing as white‑to‑tan specks. They sit close to the scalp, often at the base of each strand, resembling a fine line of dandruff.
How do lice nits look on a person's hair? - in detail
Lice eggs, commonly called nits, are tiny, oval‑shaped structures firmly glued to the hair shaft. They measure approximately 0.8 mm in length and 0.3 mm in width, about the size of a pinhead. The shell is hard, translucent to whitish‑gray, and often appears slightly yellowed after a few days as it ages.
Key visual features:
- Attachment point: One end of the nit is anchored directly to the hair cuticle with a strong, glue‑like secretion, making it difficult to slide or flick off.
- Shape: The egg is dome‑shaped, with a broader base at the attachment site and a tapered tip opposite the hair.
- Color progression: Fresh nits are nearly clear; as the embryo develops, they turn opaque, shifting from pale yellow to a darker gray.
- Location: Most often found within ¼ inch of the scalp where temperature supports development, especially near the nape, behind the ears, and at the crown.
- Texture: The surface is smooth and glossy, contrasting with the matte, flaky appearance of dandruff or seborrheic scales.
Distinguishing nits from other debris:
- Dandruff flakes are loose, easily removable, and lack a fixed attachment.
- Seborrheic scales may be larger, more irregular, and are not uniformly oval.
- Nits remain stationary even after vigorous brushing; they require a fine‑toothed comb or specialized removal tools to detach.
Microscopic examination reveals a visible embryo within the shell, sometimes appearing as a tiny dark spot at the nit’s center. This internal structure confirms the presence of viable lice eggs, differentiating them from empty, discarded shells that become slightly more translucent after hatching.