Dreaded Head lice.....

[vetty1]

Hi - i don't know if there is anyone out there that can help.

I am struggling constantly with headlice in one of my DD's. To be honest we have been battling continually since April this year with just 1/2 weeks let up over the summer holiday.

I am using a nitty gritty comb and cheap white conditioner and do a comb through every 2-3 days - so at lease twice a week, which on average takes me 40-60 mins at a time to do. My daughter with the problems is 8 years old and her hair has this September been cropped short in the hope that we can eliminate the problem. i also have a 4 year old that gets the odd one or 2 but that is all. I am not opposed to using chemicals on her but to be honest i have used Hedrin in the past (not alot though) and haven't found it has helped as she is obviously being reinfected.

Despite all of this i am still pulling off 10-15 adult head lice at each combing - obviously these are laying eggs and despite my best efforts we are getting a few babies & eggs slipping through the combing. She has sensitive skin and now has quite a few sores on her head i am ssuming from the constant infestations she has.

I have spoken to her school repeatedly and they say there is little or nothing they can do about it apart from sending out letters on a broad scale as they are not allowed to individually pick out children that do obviously have them. Infact they as good as told me that if i knew who was the problem in class to have a word - which i really am not comfortable with.

Does anyone think that some children are just headlice magnets? And does anyone have any tips i can employ - i have tried a tea tree spray and they are still coming through!

Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post
Zoe

[Flubba]

I was going to suggest hedrin as it's worked for DD1 on the couple of occasions she's had it, but see you've already tried it.

The only other thing I would say (unhelpful right now as you've said it's been cropped short) is we have had most success at keeping the blighters at bay when her hair has been tied back when at school. Every single day since she last got them (back in Feb or so I think), and hasn't had them since, despite notices up in (then) nursery saying there was another outbreak.

[SquishyCinnamonSwirls]

Unhelpful advice of putting hair up and using hairspray as then they can't seem to hang on as well?
I comb every so often as dd's not had any in ages, but I use the leave in tea-tree and lavender spray you can get in Boots.