What do head lice look like?

Head lice can look like a tiny white speck in a person's hair, or upon closer inspection, they look like a very small light brown six-legged creature roughly the size of a sesame seed. Lice eggs, which are normally close to the scalp, are even smaller and hard to see.

Adult head lice are only 2 to 3 millimeters long and crawl, rather than flying or hopping. Head lice have tiny claws, which are used to grip the hair shaft. There are many over-the-counter products that treat head lice effectively. Animals do not spread head lice. It is spread by person-to-person contact.