Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Please help me figure out what this is on DD's hair (pics attached)

127 replies

AutumnNymph · 16/09/2020 20:55

Calling on the collective wisdom of Mumsnet for help, please. Can you help me figure out what this in on my DDs hair? She is 9 and for the past two weeks has had this fIaky thing on her hair. She has thick curly and lovely hair.
I initially thought dandruff but even with dandruff shampoo and tea tree oil etc It hasn't had any effect - in some places it's so many of them its tough to comb through.

I wondered if it was just dry skin but again its stuck to the hair and wont budge - it also seems to be increasing by the day.

The fact that I am visually disabled and close to blind doesn't help and DH is being useless.

Please please help!

OP posts:
Northernsoullover · 16/09/2020 21:45

My son had a dreadful infestation. He was scratching away but I couldn't find anything at all. Until I used hedrin and starting combing. Oh my word!

CaptainNelson · 16/09/2020 21:46

It can take just one leftover louse to get the whole thing started again. My DS once had a horrific infestation - he didn't scratch once. He had absolutely no idea. His hair is also thick, dark and curly ... Good luck OP!

Runforyourlifeitsagherkin · 16/09/2020 21:48

Oh my god!! Treat the whole family and bedding etc.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Beauty
Original poster
AutumnNymph · 16/09/2020 21:49

Thanks everyone! DH is going to go to war with the bloody nits again. He is a pro by now- we thought we had them defeated last month but looks like we left a stray one around

OP posts:
innitbloodysuper · 16/09/2020 21:49

Buy a large bottle of the cheapest conditioner you can find, soak the hair and get combing. Keep repeating. My eldest got them recurrently for around two years and we tried all the products going. Nothing worked as well as conditioner and the nitty gritty. Good luck OP.

Original poster
AutumnNymph · 16/09/2020 21:49

@Runforyourlifeitsagherkin

Oh my god!! Treat the whole family and bedding etc.
Thats the plan.
OP posts:
Original poster
AutumnNymph · 16/09/2020 21:50

@canonlydoblue

Don't feel you need to use a harsh chemical product. A nitty gritty comb and conditioner will work fine. My trusted preventative is then to spritz their hair with diluted tea tree oil every morning. We've not had nits since we started using that.
Oh thanks! I will try that
OP posts:
innitbloodysuper · 16/09/2020 21:50

Oh and I'd also keep her off and inform the school. They won't tell the parents who has caught them, but they should send a message out to be vigilant.

blueskys72 · 16/09/2020 21:54

Ooo send her to me!! I'd love a good nit-clearing sesh!!

RaspberrySkies · 16/09/2020 21:54

You need to treat more than once op. I'd comb through every few days then week with that many.

Original poster
AutumnNymph · 16/09/2020 21:54

@RaspberrySkies

You need to treat more than once op. I'd comb through every few days then week with that many.
Agree
OP posts:
Original poster
AutumnNymph · 16/09/2020 21:55

@blueskys72

Ooo send her to me!! I'd love a good nit-clearing sesh!!
Be careful what you wish for Grin
OP posts:
BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 16/09/2020 21:56

My DD has incredibly thick hair that can’t be combed (at least not without shrieking). I put Hedrin on her overnight and wrap an old towel around her pillow, as she moves around in her sleep the Hedrin gets spread more thoroughly through her hair.

Original poster
AutumnNymph · 16/09/2020 21:58

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar

My DD has incredibly thick hair that can’t be combed (at least not without shrieking). I put Hedrin on her overnight and wrap an old towel around her pillow, as she moves around in her sleep the Hedrin gets spread more thoroughly through her hair.
I will steal this idea thanks! DD has very thick. tough to comb hair as well
OP posts:
Cookerhood · 16/09/2020 22:00

It may well not be a terrible infestation, but partly empty nit cases from previously, you can see they are growing out. The nitty gritty comb will get rid of the cases as well as any live nits.
DS had such a bad infestation (once he was taller than me & too old for me to be checking) that it was like combing out a crust from his hair. Took 4 weeks of combing every couple of days to get rid of them.

Original poster
AutumnNymph · 16/09/2020 22:05

I shall update on our progress - thanks everyone . I have emailed the school along with pictures

OP posts:
forrestgreen · 16/09/2020 22:08

I didn't like the idea of chemicals o; the scalp but loved the nitty trinity with loads of conditioner. We used to come down and I'd put a film on whilst I combed it for a hr all different ways. Do it for a few weeks every few days and you'll break the cycle.

FancyAnOlive · 16/09/2020 22:11

I never use hedrin etc, just masses of cheap conditioner and a nitty gritty comb. DH needs to do it every third day and to keep going over and over the head, it's easy to miss one or two. I do all family members like this but never bother with bedding etc and it's really successful.

AlbusSeverusMalfoy · 16/09/2020 22:12

We all have think hair and use these plus a spray. Never had nits. Smells like lemons so nothing over powering.

Please help me figure out what this is on DD's hair (pics attached)
AlbusSeverusMalfoy · 16/09/2020 22:13

Thick not think

CatSmith · 16/09/2020 22:17

That’s headlice. I’m a pharmacy technician.

Original poster
AutumnNymph · 16/09/2020 22:17

@AlbusSeverusMalfoy

We all have think hair and use these plus a spray. Never had nits. Smells like lemons so nothing over powering.
Do you have a link to them please?
OP posts:
missnevermind · 16/09/2020 22:21

I have Hyper Keratosis and it can look like this.
If you are not sure if it's nits or not put her head over a white sheet and comb it through firmly with a fine tooth / nit comb making sure to drag it across the scalp. This will give you a chance to examine what comes off her hair properly.

Nonamesavail · 16/09/2020 22:24

Don't feel bad. It happens x

DancyNancy · 16/09/2020 22:38

Treat with lice shampoo
Then slather in conditioner and comb out section by section

Then...hair straightening. You'll hear any missed eggs popping.

We had severe case with my SD with seriously thick hair and it was a 3 week job she had them so bad. Twice a week for 3 weeks when she was with us I did this and it worked.

They get immune to the treatments so the main thing is conditioning, combing and the hair straight