What Do Nits Look Like?

Nits are eggs laid by lice. This often occurs when an individual is exposed to mature lice, which then attach themselves to hair follicles and begin to lay nits. Nits are very small and often difficult to detect. The presence of nits and mature lice is usually marked by symptoms of itching and skin irritation.

Significance

• If an individual suffers a lice infestation on his head, body or pubic region, the lice will begin to reproduce, attaching their eggs to the base of hair follicles. Lice literally glue eggs to hair follicles, so the chances of an egg being naturally removed are slight. If not removed, the eggs hatch nymphs (premature lice) that eventually mature into lice. Lice are tiny, brown or gray insects that live by feeding off of blood from the scalp or body. Their feeding typically causes itching, irritation and redness on the skin.

Size

• A nit is only a fraction of a millimeter long. This is still large enough to be detected with the naked eye, although lice usually attach nits toward the base of the skin where visual detection becomes obscured by hair.

Appearence

• Nits are oval-shaped and usually brown or gray in appearance. However, nits turn white once hatched. Nits often remain attached to hair follicles after they hatch. As hair grows, hatched nits become further separated from the base of the skin. A person who has had a lice infestation for several months may therefore notice lice or nits on the middle or tips of their hair follicles. Because of their small size, nits are often mistaken for debris or dandruff.

Types

• Nits are classified based on their location on the body. Most common are head lice nits, which are found glued to the shafts of hair located on the scalp. There are also pubic lice nits (found on pubic hair) and body lice nits (found on body hair). There is very little physical distinction between the different types of nits and each exhibit similar symptoms once hatched, such as itching and red bumps on the skin.

Prevention/Solution

• Avoid people or animals who you know are carrying lice. Lice are often transferred from direct physical contact. If your scalp or skin itches and you notice red bumps forming, you may have a lice infestation. Start with purchasing a fine-toothed nit comb (these can be purchased from a pharmacy). Wet your hair and run the comb through it. Inspect the comb's teeth afterward and look for small, oval-shaped white or brown debris. If you find any, use insecticide lice and nit shampoo to remove the infestation. Insecticide shampoos may need to be used for several weeks to kill nits.