Can I ask for a bit of head lice advice please?

[Itsnotahoover]

I know it's not an AIBU but just want a quick bit of advice.

We've had a text from school today saying there's a case of head lice in ds's class so first thing I did when we got home was check through his hair. Now he's very blonde and fair so it's pretty easy to see anything. He's got some little black dots close to the roots on the crown of his head but been through all his hair with a nit comb and I cannot find anything else, plus he's not itching at all. Not sure if these black specks are related to head lice or if he's just got grubby at school! Somehow, we've managed 7 years and not got them yet!

I'm itching like mad, but only since we had the text! I've got some Hedrin in the cupboard - would you just treat us both anyway as a precaution?

Thanks in advance :)

The black dots could be louse poo.
Have you done the combing on wet or dry hair?
Not everyone itches.

Are the black bits stuck to the hair?

Get yourself a nitty gritty comb just in case (best thing ever invented) and for future use.

I wouldnt treat unless you find live lice. Did you use conditioner on wet hair when checking with the nit comb? Have you checked yourself too? DD has had it twice but no-one else got them including ds.

I wouldn't treat him.

I'd cover his hair in cheap conditioner and give it a thorough combing

As you say, it could be just a bit of dirt from school.

I combed it through dry first then used conditioner but found nothing. I think I might just treat him anyway. And me, as I've got long hair so will probably have caught the little blighters if ds has got them!

Ahh X posted

Didn't realise you'd already done the conditioner thing

I combed my hair out over the bath and found nothing but I feel like I could scratch my scalp off at the mere thought of them! Hmmm not sure what to do...

1. dont treat unless you HAVE headlice - they can become immune due to overuse of lotions etc
2. make combing with conditioner part of your weekly routine - 2 times a week, and you'll make it hard for an infestation to take hold because of silky hair - also this removes any adult lice that have come home that day!
3. use tea tree oil in a spray or conditioner or a few neat drops - it really does keep them away
4. as for the black specks - may just be muck - my DS gets this a lot and always makes me panic! LOL -Try putting one of the specks on damp tissue - if it "bleeds" it's lice poo. If it doesn't its just grit or something

Personally I'd treat him anyway since the black dots do sound like louse poo.

Do yourself too. I did myself as a precautionary measure at the weekend having received a similar email. I swear Hedrin is the best secret hair beauty treatment ever. It strips out product build up etc and leaves you with the ultimate swishy hair. Seriously.

5. the couple of times my DC have had them I used one of the brands of lotion that just dries the lice out - so its not nasty pesticides. Not all brands work in the same way - do your research before you buy!

Right I'll attack him again with a comb and conditioner before he has his bath! I regularly use that Vosene head lice repellant spray which is tea tree I think so maybe that's why we've not had them yet. I just hate the thought of the bloody things!!

Thanks all :)

you arent supposed to treat unless you find live lice - this is to prevent them becoming immune to the chemicals. If you combed thoroughly and found nothing then it doesnt sound like he has them.

But how can they become immune to the chemicals if they're not there?

not lice, it sounds more like...mice!!!!

seriously - comb with a nit comb when it's wet. I never find much in dry hair.

Black dots aren't something I've ever come across with nits.

they can not become immune to Hedrin and other brands that 'suffocate' the lice with Silica - just so you know

whats the point in wasting expensive head lice treatments when there may be no lice? Do another check with conditioner on wet hair and if you find nothing then just check on a weekly basis.

I wouldn't use Hedrin either if you haven't found any lice. I'd comb again in 4 days (hatching time) and see if you get any live ones - if you do, then use the Hedrin.
Lice don't always transfer to adults either - we don't taste as nice as children. I've never picked them up from my DD or the DSC's neither has DP, but his exW always got them!

virgil - sorry to confuse - some do have chemical pesticides, some just suffocate or dehydrate the lice - you need to read the label to see how each lotion works.

I never use any treatments, just comb and remove (bright lamp helps). Black specs sound like nothing to me, I've never noticed them in DC hair with or without headlice infestation present.

Finding & removing the eggs is ultra satisfying, though.

Just to let you know hedrin is only £2 in homebargains

black specks is one of the signs though lljkk - they tell you to look for "pepper like specks" on pillows etc

Weird, I have never noticed. Black specs for fleas, yes, not headlice. And DC rarely wash their hair, too, while I'm at it.

DC are pale skinned with lots of fine blonde-light brown hair. So I really should notice any black specs.

I don't think they can develop immunity to hedrin, though?

Combing and combing the feckers out is only way to be sure they're gone.

he would be scratching if he had them op, unless you wash his hair daily he will just likely have grit and dust etc on his scalp mixed in with natural body oil that looks a bit 'spotty' close up. If you look at anyone's scalp close up it would probably look like this, don't worry, they are normal, urghhhh the first time but hey most kids get em at some point. I wouldn't use chemicals unless you find some so keep on with the conditioner comb through and teal tree spray.

I don't wash his hair daily so might just be dirt! I can't find anything live in either his or my hair so I think I may be panicking about nothing.

I bought a stash of Hedrin from Home Bargains recently so I was prepared for when (if) we do get infested!