Is It Lice? Free Photo Check & Diagnosis

 

Not sure if it’s lice, dandruff, or just a dry, itchy scalp? You don’t have to guess. Upload a few clear photos below and a trained lice specialist from the Lice Removal Network will review them, tell you what you’re actually looking at, and walk you through your treatment options. It’s free, fast, and there’s no obligation.

Start your free lice check

Add a few clear photos and your contact info — it takes about a minute. The moment we receive them, a specialist reviews your photos and one of our local clinics reaches out with your diagnosis and treatment options.

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    For the clearest results, use good light, part the hair, and take close-ups behind the ears and at the nape of the neck.
    Tell us about any itching or spots, when you first noticed it, and how many people in the home may be affected.

    Lice diagnosis is done with the best possible accuracy based on the quality of photos provided. An online diagnosis is never as accurate as an in-person appointment with a professional. To get in touch with a Lice Network accredited professional, please find a lice clinic near you. 

     

    Lice, nits, or something else?

    Head lice and their eggs (called nits) are easy to confuse with dandruff, hair casts, or product buildup. Here are a few quick ways to tell them apart:

    • Nits are glued to the hair shaft. Real lice eggs stick tight and won’t slide or flick off. Dandruff and dry flakes brush away easily.
    • Check behind the ears and the nape of the neck. That’s where lice and nits usually show up first, within about a quarter-inch of the scalp.
    • Look for tan, sesame-seed-sized bugs. Live lice are tan to gray-brown; nits are tiny white-to-yellow ovals.
    • Watch for itching and a crawling feeling, especially at night — a common early sign of head lice.

    The only way to know for sure is a trained set of eyes. That’s exactly what this free photo check is for.

    How to take a photo we can actually use

    Clear photos make your diagnosis fast and accurate. A few tips before you upload:

    1. Use good light. Natural daylight near a window works best.
    2. Part the hair and get close. Focus on the scalp behind the ears and at the back of the neck.
    3. Hold steady and let the camera focus. Blurry shots are the number one reason we can’t tell.
    4. Take 2–3 angles. Include any specks or bugs you can see on the hair shaft.
    5. Get a helper. A second person and a phone flashlight make checking a child much easier.

    What happens next

    1. You upload. Add a few clear photos and your contact info — it takes about a minute.
    2. We review. A trained lice specialist looks at your photos, usually within a few hours during business hours.
    3. A clinic reaches out. Someone from your nearest Lice Removal Network clinic contacts you as soon as possible with a clear diagnosis and your treatment options.

    Your photos and details are only used to help diagnose your situation and connect you with a local clinic. This free photo check is a screening tool to point you in the right direction — it isn’t a substitute for a professional in-person exam or medical advice.