Nits are egg cases attached to hair shafts. They can be difficult to distinguish from flakes, and finding nits alone does not always prove that live lice are present.
Check before treating
- Look for live, crawling lice in bright light and use a fine-tooth comb to help inspect the hair.
- Loose flakes may brush away, while nits remain attached to a hair shaft; appearance alone can still be misleading.
- Ask a pharmacist or healthcare professional if you are uncertain whether you have found lice, nits or flakes.
Combing and follow-up
- Read the medicine label to learn whether and when to comb.
- Work through small sections of hair with the recommended fine-tooth comb, following the label’s instructions about wet or dry hair.
- Clean the comb as directed and check the hair again at the intervals stated for that product.
- Repeat treatment only if the label says to, or after seeking professional advice.
There is no single repeat-treatment schedule for every head-lice product. The CDC recommends following the medicine’s directions. For a different scalp concern, ask a healthcare professional rather than treating it as lice.
This is general educational information, not a diagnosis. Follow the current product label and ask a healthcare professional if you are unsure.
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Questions about this topic
Do nits wash out with regular shampoo?
Nits are attached to hair shafts and may not wash out. Use a fine-tooth comb as directed by the treatment label.
Do nits always mean there are live lice?
Not necessarily. A live crawling louse is the best sign of an active infestation.
When should I repeat treatment?
Only when and how the medicine label instructs. Different products have different schedules.