What do lice eggs look like on a human head? - briefly
Lice nits are tiny, oval‑shaped eggs roughly 0.8 mm in length, appearing white or yellowish and firmly glued to the hair shaft near the scalp. They remain attached and do not detach like dandruff until they hatch.
What do lice eggs look like on a human head? - in detail
Lice eggs, commonly called nits, are oval or teardrop‑shaped structures measuring approximately 0.8 mm in length and 0.3 mm in width. Their shells are translucent to white, often appearing yellowish or brownish after a few days as they develop. The surface of each egg is smooth, with a slightly glossy finish that can reflect light.
Each nit is firmly cemented to a single hair shaft near the scalp. The attachment point is typically ¼ to ½ inch from the scalp surface, where the hair is warm and moist, providing optimal conditions for hatching. The cement is a proteinaceous substance that resists removal by routine combing and can withstand mild washing.
Key visual characteristics:
- Color progression: newly laid eggs are almost clear; after 24–48 hours they turn pale yellow; mature eggs become darker, often brownish.
- Shape: elongated oval with a pointed end that faces the hair tip; the broader end rests against the scalp.
- Position: aligned close to the scalp, usually on the posterior hairline, behind the ears, or at the nape of the neck.
- Attachment: a thin, white, sticky residue secures the egg to the hair shaft; the residue may appear as a tiny halo around the egg.
Differentiation from dandruff or debris:
- Dandruff flakes are irregular, easily removable, and do not adhere tightly to hair.
- Nits remain attached even after vigorous shaking or gentle brushing.
- The size of a nit is comparable to a pinhead, whereas dandruff particles are typically larger and less uniform.
Detection methods:
- Use a fine‑toothed comb (nit comb) on wet, conditioned hair.
- Examine the hair under a bright light or magnifying lens.
- Look for the characteristic oval, firmly attached eggs close to the scalp.
Removal requires careful mechanical extraction with a nit comb, often repeated over several days to capture newly hatched nymphs before they lay additional eggs. Chemical treatments target the cement and the developing embryo but do not alter the visual appearance of the eggs.