Head lice lay eggs called nits. An adult louse can lay about 7–10 nits per day. These eggs are small, oval-shaped, and attach firmly to the hair shaft with a glue-like substance that makes them difficult to remove.
Nits are often mistaken for dandruff or a flaky scalp, so it’s important to know how to identify them—whether the hair is dry or wet.
Here’s how to tell the difference:
• Nits are oval in shape, firmly attached to one side of the hair shaft, and do not slide off easily. You usually have to use your fingers or a fine-tooth comb and apply pressure to remove them.
• Dandruff is irregular in shape, flakes off easily, and is not securely attached to the hair.
Understanding these differences can help you accurately identify lice eggs and avoid confusing them with common scalp flakes.