What do lice droppings look like? - briefly
Lice excrement shows up as minute, dark specks—often compared to pepper or black dots—on hair strands, scalp, or clothing. The particles are roughly half a millimeter across and feel slightly gritty when disturbed.
What do lice droppings look like? - in detail
Lice excrement appears as minute, compact specks that cling to hair strands, the scalp, or nearby fabric. Each particle measures roughly 0.5–1 mm in diameter and is dense rather than flaky.
Color ranges from deep brown to almost black; a reddish tint may indicate recent blood ingestion. The spots are typically rounded or slightly oval, with a glossy surface that reflects light under magnification.
Common locations include:
- The base of hair shafts, especially near the scalp.
- The nape of the neck and behind the ears, where lice congregate.
- Bedding, pillowcases, and clothing that have been in close contact with an infested head.
When examined with a magnifying lens, the droplets reveal a solid consistency, lacking the layered, powdery texture of dandruff or seborrheic flakes. They often form clusters that look like a string of tiny beads along a hair strand.
Detecting these signs reliably involves:
- Using a fine‑toothed lice comb on damp hair.
- Scanning the scalp with a handheld magnifier at 10–20× magnification.
- Inspecting personal textiles under bright light for isolated dark specks.
The combination of size, color, texture, and typical placement distinguishes lice fecal matter from other scalp debris.