What does the scalp look like when infested with lice? - briefly
The scalp looks reddened and irritated, with tiny white or yellowish eggs (nits) firmly attached to hair shafts near the roots. Small, moving lice may be seen, and scratching can produce minor sores or flaky crusts.
What does the scalp look like when infested with lice? - in detail
The scalp affected by a lice infestation displays several distinct visual signs. Live insects are small, grayish‑brown, about the size of a sesame seed, and can be seen moving quickly across the hair surface or clinging to the hair shafts near the scalp. Their bodies are translucent, making them difficult to spot without close inspection, but their legs and antennae are often visible when the hair is spread apart.
Nits—lice eggs—appear as tiny, oval, ivory‑colored specks firmly attached to the side of each hair strand. They are positioned about a quarter of an inch from the scalp, as the nits are glued to the hair cuticle and do not slide. A cluster of nits may look like a string of beads along a single hair.
The skin underneath may show:
- Localized redness or pinkness caused by repeated scratching.
- Small, raised papules where lice have bitten, sometimes with a slight crust around the bite site.
- Areas of flaking or dry skin, especially where irritation is greatest.
- In severe cases, secondary bacterial infection can produce yellowish discharge or pus.
The overall appearance is a combination of visible insects, egg shells attached to hair, and irritated, inflamed skin. Careful visual inspection with a fine‑tooth comb under good lighting is the most reliable method for confirming these characteristics.