Nit treatments and pregnancy

[maybetwo]

Ive found out today after severe itching for 4-5 weeks that I have a rather nasty nit/lice problem.
I saw a pharmasict today (who confirmed it), that I should try derbac-m , but it says to advise doctor 1st before using it if pregnant.Its very possible Im about 3 weeks preggers and Im not sure wot to do. Im very uncomfortable (mentally to YUCK YUCK YUCK )and want to get on with dealing with this asap. Has anyone used derbac m if pregnant?

Its also given me a rash on my back and Ive scratched it and now have broken skin, the pharmasict said that it was my histamine going a bit crazy , but now I know that they bite, as I have long hair is it possible they would be able to bite my back? (although not sure I want to know in my present hormonal and quesy state!!!!)

[Lonelymum]

My kids got nits when I was pg. No, you are not allowed touse some of the preparations for getting rid of nits - dh had to do all the treatment singlehanded - ha ha!

I had to use tea tree oil to ensure I was clear. It is a natural remedy that is safe to use in pregnancy.

[stitch]

i had just found out i was pregnant when ds2 and i both got nits.it was disgusting. i was about five weeks along, and found a massive fat louse in my nail. icht.
this was saturday about sixish, or so. made my husband take me to three different pharmacies until we found one that was open. didnt care what it said on the packaging. lady at the counter said it would probly be ok, as it was only a scalp treatmetn. (i also had a coil in at the time, and didnt want to be pregnant) but now have a lovely dd.

[Lonelymum]

You mean I used that wretched tea tree oil for nothing?

[maybetwo]

knowing its in my hair just makes me feel EEEEUUURRGGHHHH big time.

[Kittypickle]

I haven't tried it myself but another MNetter has recommended Delacet to me when I was moaning about DD's nits. According to the information on that site it is safe to use whilst pregnant.

[notasheep]

Use masses of your normal condition and comb and comb and comb,hopefully youll get rid of the buggers and have great looking hair too

[fennel]

I'd suggest just getting a good nit comb. lots of mumsnetters seem to recommend the nitty gritty one. you don't need to use any lotions with that so it's totally safe for pregnancy. you have to use it every few days for a few weeks.

[Teifi]

The best way to get rid of them is the good old wet combing method. (wash hair, put on loads conditioner and then comb it out with a nit comb, cleaning after each comb with tissue). Do that every 2-3 days for ages!!! Pain in the neck they are, little buggers! You can get stuff called Delacet which is absolutely excellent. A herbal treatment. But am not sure if it can be used during pregnancy. DS1 got nits and gave them to me when I was preg with DD2 I was 37 weeks pregnant! A friend came round to double check me after I had been doing wet combing for a week or two and got the last one - the next morning I went into labour! Phew!

[maybetwo]

thanx for all comment, dh was combing my hair through for over an hour and half last night, I coudnt sleep a wink last night, as hed found a live lice on the nit comb and it really freaked me out knowing the other one could be walking around my head. Im so upset, my hairs my crowning glory and its a long frizz bomb now . My poor little dd had her nit comb session ealry this morning , not sure if the derbac - m has worked on hers or not, loads was coming off on the comb though.

Do I need to do something with linen , hats brushes , nightwear?

[peachandpear]

Head lice can only survive off a human head for 24 hours then it will die. I do tend to wash the towels after a headlice wash and wash the bedding just to make sure though. Call me paranoid!!!

[Frostythesurfmum]

Dsd gets nits really badly, we're talking hundreds. My GP prescribed Lyclear for me when I caught them off her when I was pg. To be honest though I would just stick to wet combing unless you have hundreds. The nitty gritty comb is fantastic and you can get them on prescription. Comb the hair through from underneath, ie the opposite way to normal, with loads of cheap conditioner and repeat every other day until they've all gone, and then check every few days until you've been clear for a couple of weeks.

I don't share brushes with dsd but other than that don't worry about bedding, nighties, etc.

[frannyandzooey]

You will have to comb whether or not you use the chemical treatment, so why take the risk of using anything that could harm you and (possible) pregnancy? Current chemical treatments are only about 40% effective, compared with 60% for combing. Get loads of conditioner and put it onto your wet hair. Get a nitty gritty comb and comb every section of your hair, every 3 days, for 2 weeks.

If you have long hair this is going to be a pain, I'm sorry, but even if you use the chemicals you will not kill all the lice and it will just continue until you can manually comb out every louse and egg. You may want to consider cutting your hair to a more manageable length Sorry to suggest this but I have also had headlice while pregnant and it would just make your life so much easier!

The treatments are all pesticides and can have nasty side effects. They are not recommended for anyone who has abrasions or cuts on their skin - eg, anyone who has been scratching due to nits! Yes, I'm afraid they could have bitten you on your back. They cause an allergic reaction in some people which is what gives you the itching and redness. You can get rid of them by combing, but is there any chance someone else could help you? It is very hard to do it yourself on long hair. I know it makes you feel revolting, but if you go and get a good comb now and use it thoroughly, you will get almost all of the lice out immediately. Good luck and I do sympathise

[frannyandzooey]

Just meant to add - Malathion is the dodgiest of the chemical treatments - I think that may be the active ingredient in Derbac-M? It really is not advisable to use in pregnancy.

[notasheep]

I cant believe the head lice products which are sold when we all know conditioner works and its cheaper and safer Its more or less the same as putting weed killer on your head(and what cute names they have !)

[fennel]

notasheep, after 2 months of conditioner-and-combing every few days, up to an hour a time with dd1, we tried the medication approach and busted the nits at last. dd1 has thick hair and the little buggers just hid during the combing.

combing worked for the rest of us though.

[maybetwo]

you see this is what worries me , dh isnt that thorough and ive got LOADS of hair. Im just worried to even use any so called natural products. I left a mesage with my gp last night and the surgery called back to say Im not allowed to use any products on my hair, even natural.

so will combing religiously every night with conditioner really take this away????????????????.Im just panicking and worrying. I think I have alot, although there has been alot coming off on the comb last 2 nighst (its seems to go on for nearly 2 hrs). I look like a hedge now .

I also need to wash my linen as im worried that I reinfect myself as they live for 48hrs ,whihc means I lay my head on them at night BLUERGH.

[frannyandzooey]

You only need to do it every 3 days. I read the ones that voluntarily leave your head or fall off are reaching the end of their lives anyway and too feeble to start another colony, so not to worry too much about cleaning linen. Another book I read said hoovering is enough anyway.

[maybetwo]

they keep bloody biting me, found another live one today BLUERGH BLUERGH BLUERGH BLUERGH BLUERGH BLUERGH !!!! ^ days of combing now , when will it ever end.

Anyone used the nitty gritty liquid stuff when preggers ????Cant find whats in it.

[maybetwo]

well Ive been combing and combing and combing and ............ IVE STILL GOT EGGS. HOw on earth do i get rid of them???? I cant do anything else , its sooo frustrating. Thankfully no more live things or anything hanging on my hair, but every time I comb I get them on the comb , they are clearish and not dark nits, so must be some on my scalp?? Or am I mistaking dry scalp for eggs??? I havent a clue , but im itching , dh thinks I may just have a sore head from combing for 3 wks.

[ISawFrannyandZooeyKissingSanta]

Yes, combing can make your head really itchy and also make it flaky so it's hard to tell what is an egg and what is dandruff. Get dh to have a good look through your head and look for eggs attached to the hair near the root. They are very small sesame seed shaped things and can't be flicked or brushed off. If he tries to pick one off and has to pull it to the end of your hair with his nails to get it off then it is probably an egg. Anything else is flakes of skin or other hair stuff. Eggs are only found on the hair shaft, firmly attached to the hair, and most nit combs do not even remove the eggs, so I don't think what you are seeing is eggs.

IMO if you are not finding any more lice, even tiny little ones, over a period of a week or so, you are probably clear. Leave it for a few weeks to be sure and then comb again looking for larger lice - if you find nothing again, bingo! You've done it. Well done for avoiding the chemical route btw, once you have done it once it's not so daunting the next time.

[maybetwo]

so they dont actually lay any on the scalp then? As dh had a good look and couldnt find anything else on the hair, between my sis and dh I think they all managed to pick out all the nasties for me the last few weeks. I think you just get paranoid that you havent got it all and have left one or two friends who can lay some more.But I have been meticulous in my combing every night at 1st and then every other.

It will be sooo great to have my head back !!! Now I just need something really really good for itchy flaky scalp.

[ISawFrannyandZooeyKissingSanta]

No, they only lay eggs attached to the hair shaft. I think you're clear - the itching should subside when you stop combing and scratching your head. It's partly psychological, probably.

[maybetwo]

ahhh so maybe Im just combing out old debris NIIICE !!!

[Blandmum]

They always lay them on the shaft of the hair, near to, but not on the scalp. Anything on the scalp would he bits of skin etc (sounds yucky but quite normal)

They eggs themselves are hard to shift, but you don't have to get rid of them, except for cosmetic reasons. Once they are pearly white the lice have hatched and you don't 'need' to remove them. I find the best way is to slide them off the hair shaft (wet hair is best) using fingernails (sorry if that is gross)

[maybetwo]

not gross now after 4 weeks of pulling martian !!! 4 weeks ago I was freaked but now its, I got you you Bu**ers !!