What to Look for

Lice EggsLice eggs are fairly easy to spot if you know what you’re looking for.  Since there are three distinct types of lice (body lice, pubic lice and head lice) there are also distinct characteristics of the eggs of each type.  For instance, the various types of lice eggs are known to be found in specific areas of the body or clothing.  Other characteristics also differentiate the three types of lice eggs.

The location the lice eggs are found is usually the determining factor as to which type they are.  For example, body lice eggs are commonly found along the seams of clothing.  In particular, they like the waist and armpit area.  The eggs of head lice are attached to shafts of hair, very close to the scalp where the hair exits.  Pubic lice eggs are found on pubic hair shafts.  Occasionally pubic lice and their eggs can be found in other areas of coarse hair (such as a beard or the legs) of a badly infested individual.

Lice Eggs Also Known as Nits


Lice eggs are called nits.  They are extremely small and you may need to use a magnifying glass to find them.  By small, we are talking approximately the size of a pin head.  They are oval in shape and usually white to yellow in color.  Since the eggs are so small and can blend in with hair and dried skin colors, they can sometimes be mistaken as flakes of dead skin or dandruff.

The incubation period for each type of lice egg is different.  Pubic lice will hatch sometime between six to nineteen days whereas body lice take one to two weeks to hatch.   Head lice only take eight to nine days to hatch.

Getting Rid of Lice Eggs

Lice eggs are eliminated during the process of lice treatment.   Both pubic lice and head lice require the use of a medicine to eradicate live, adult lice.  The treatment is repeated on the ninth day to insure that any nits left behind that have hatched do not live long enough to lay more eggs.  Treating body lice doesn’t usually require the addition of any medication—improved hygiene, including bathing and changing clothes daily will get rid of body lice and their eggs.

Another component of getting rid of lice eggs and lice is to launder clothing and the bedding that the individual uses in hot water (at least 130 degrees F) and then to dry the items on high heat.  Items like pillows that can’t be laundered in regular washing machines or dry cleaned can be placed in plastic bags then sealed for two weeks to eliminate the lice.  Even if eggs hatch while in the plastic bags, they will not be able to survive because they have no human blood to feed on.

One thing to always bear in mind regarding children infested with lice is that although head lice is not that uncommon among young children in preschool or elementary school, if you find pubic lice or pubic lice eggs on a child, it could be a sign of sexual abuse and should be handled appropriately with professional help; going to your doctor is a good place to start.


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