Identifying Head Lice Eggs: A Comprehensive Guide

Head lice are a common problem in children age 3 to 12. While they pose no serious health risks, they can make a scalp itchy and inflamed and are extremely contagious. Head lice multiply rapidly, so it's important to act quickly when you spot signs of them.

Things You'll Need

• Flashlight
• Magnifying glass
• Hair dyer

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Instructions

• 1

  Look for tiny oval specs about the size of a small grain of sand. Lice eggs are usually either white or light brown. They hatch in one week so try to spot them quickly.

• 2

  Examine the scalp and hair shafts close to the skin. Lice lay eggs on hair shafts close to the scalp. Make small parts in the hair to get a look at the scalp and bottom of the hair shafts.

• 3

  Use a magnifying glass and a bright light to spot lice eggs. With the hair parted, shine a flashlight directly at the part and magnify the area with a magnifying glass.

• 4

  Spot lice eggs using a hair dryer. Life eggs can resemble dandruff, making it hard to differentiate between the two. Blow dry the hair and see if the tiny white or light-brown specs move. Dandruff will be blown away, but lice eggs remain attached to the hair.

• 5

  Search around the ears and neckline for lice eggs. Lice prefer to lay their eggs on warm areas of the scalp.