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Original poster

Headlice - no idea what to try next....

56 replies

IdaBattersea · 09/05/2017 09:37

I am at my wits end.

Have been battling with headlice since last summer. Finally my 2 DC were under control, we went to the hairdresser a month ago and for the first time weren’t asked, “Have they had headlice recently”, no evidence of casings or anything.

Anyway been so focussed with the DC took the eye off the ball with myself. 5 weeks ago discovered that I had a pretty severe case. Treated with Hedrin Once immediately, and again about a week later. Been using a nitty gritty comb daily in the shower.

Anyway DD checked my head last night and they are back…didn’t have any Hedrin so did a very long, careful wet comb last night with lots of conditioner and nitty gritty comb, could see the eggs coming out on the comb, cleaned it after each use on a muslin cloth etc. Dried hair with very hot hair dryer. Anyway DD looked this morning and said whilst they are reduced there are still eggs/ casings there and don’t have to look too hard to find them.

How do I get rid of these and why have they come back even with using nitty gritty in shower every day. I had my hair coloured about 3 weeks ago (just after the 2nd Hedrin treatment) and hairdresser didn’t mention it so can’t have been many but obviously enough left behind to reinfect. I don’t want to use the chemicals a third time as a) they obviously aren’t getting rid of them completely and b) despite claiming to be safe for coloured hair they definitely stripped the colour off last time.

Any bright ideas, just so fed up with this.

OP posts:
Topas0117 · 09/05/2017 09:47

Get rid and get hair cut short! That's what my mum did and I've not had headlice since! Grin although I hated it, was traumatised and hate getting my hair cut now

Original poster
IdaBattersea · 09/05/2017 09:53

Really Topas, I have only ever had short hair once in my life when I was 15 and I hated it and I just didn't feel like it suited me Sad

My DDs have both got much shorter bobs now which I am sure is what has helped in our quest to be lice free.

I feel like the ones we have now have evolved to not even be capable of being captured by the comb

OP posts:
Kwoggers · 09/05/2017 09:56

Are you doing the whole family's hair at the same time as opposed to only those who have lice or eggs?

Can they live in bedding or elsewhere?

Seen a GP? I've never known them be persistent and always thought that anyone being even slightly bothered by them was an over-reaction. For me it's always been a single shampoo for the whole family and then they're gone.

I've seen the effects (child neglect) when they aren't treated. I'm obviously not saying that's you, but are any of you getting real problems from them being untreated/untreatable?

GoldenBlue · 09/05/2017 10:06

Persistent cases can relate to an impaired immune system.

However in your case it sounds fairly recent and not in that category. How about trying an oil based treatment that suffocates the eggs and adults. This can be very effective but hair tends to need a huge amount of washing to not feel greasy.

One of my children had a really persistent case a few years ago (suspect frequent reinfectuon from school) but I found switching the treatment cleared it.

Topas0117 · 09/05/2017 10:06

My mum used to use Derbac on my head, I would sleep with it in overnight I think! Used to stink like hell but got rid, doesn't stop them coming back though... The haircut did Sad

Original poster
IdaBattersea · 09/05/2017 10:14

So as far as I am aware they can't live off the head for more than about 24 hours, so whilst I do change bedding etc, that doesn't tend to be a source of reinfection.

Part of the problem with the DC was someone at school wasn't being treated so we would get clear and bingo be reinfected. I think with me it was just a case of not being very vigilant whilst I was doing the girls. I wet comb the girls twice a week which I think has kept them at bay once we finally got rid.

Will look into an oil based treatment. I think part of the problem with trying to wet comb yourself is you can't see where you are combing at the back so can miss places. Will get DH to give it another go tonight. Am going to buy some tea tree as well as apparently they hate that. Just so blooming demoralised by the whole thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
IdaBattersea · 09/05/2017 10:15

Kwoggers - just a bit of an itchy head

OP posts:
haveacupoftea · 09/05/2017 10:15

It's sounds like you're all being reinfected from somewhere the hairdresser perhaps?

NancyDonahue · 09/05/2017 10:18

I have 3 dc's and have never used chemicals. I've always wet combed.

You need to be doing the wet combing at least every three days to catch the lice as they hatch. Use the cheapest conditioner and literally plaster the hair in it. Use a wide tooth comb first then the nitty gritty. Rinse the comb it in the bathwater after each stroke - gross but the easiest way. After I'm done I empty the bath and use the shower head to rinse dc's off.

When the hair is clear you need to do a 'maintenance' wet comb once a week or so, or whenever you are notified by school that lice are doing the rounds. A few drops of tea tree oil in a spray bottle acts as a repellent.

londonfever · 09/05/2017 10:18

Not sure if this works but a friend of mine used her straighteners on her DD's hair. Washed using the head lice shampoo and then dried and used straighteners to 'burn' the eggs...seemed to work

Whywonttheyletmeusemyusername · 09/05/2017 10:26

Also, Listerine - yeah, I know !! I read it on here months ago, and tried it with my DC who got them a few months ago - spray until the hair is soaked in it, and leave on for about 2 hours, then wash out, loads of conditioner, and the nitty gritty. Touch wood we've had nothing since !

Original poster
IdaBattersea · 09/05/2017 10:41

Really Listerine? Well that has to be worth a go.....

OP posts:
user1472377586 · 09/05/2017 10:44

You need Nyda.

(At least that is what it is marketed as here in Australia.)
Made in Germany. Works 100%. Smells like citronella but contains chemicals.

MariafromMalmo · 09/05/2017 10:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NuffSaidSam · 09/05/2017 10:48

Have you seen any live lice in your hair or just the eggs/casing?

If not, are you absolutely sure it's head lice?

I do think straightening works to kill the feckers. I've never had it as an adult despite working with kids and being constantly exposed to it. I'm convinced it's because I straighten my hair!

CoteDAzur · 09/05/2017 10:48

The one time we got it, I treated everyone every day and we all went to bed with our heads covered in the all-night stuff. Also changed & washed all towels, clothes, and bedding at 60 C every day. (Yes, it was a lot of fun). All of this for over 2 weeks, just in case.

Frazzlerock · 09/05/2017 10:53

DC2 has had nits/lice persistently for what seems like years now. We go through stages of doing the treatment then a week later (and doing the whole family/boil washing bed linen etc) but they always always came back, so I started combing through with the nitty gritty once a week and treating with the shampoo fortnightly. It is exhausting quite frankly. We get rid and they come back as soon as he goes back into school, despite letters going out to parents.
I've told him over and over again not to put his head anywhere near anyone else and he swears he doesn't, but he's only 8 so who knows.

I also took my eye off the ball recently for a few weeks and treated his on Friday and he was riddled again Sad.

We have tried everything. All the natural remedies such as lavendar and tea tree oil, nitty gritty, chemicals, super strong chemicals, cutting hair short, Listerine. Pretty sure we've tried literally everything and nothing keeps them away. When he's not being shampood with the treatment, he gets shampooed in 'lice defence' shampoo. Doesn't work.

They say they get immune to chemicals, but we tried the natural way for as long as possible so had to turn to chemicals eventually.

I actually filmed Friday night de-lousing session. Well, just the screams from DS Sad. I want to send it to the school to show them what we are dealing with on an almost fortnightly basis and sometimes weekly. It can only be the school he is getting them from.
Something has to be done. His poor scalp has had enough Sad

PenelopeFlintstone · 09/05/2017 10:54

Nyda's active ingredient is dimeticone, like Hedrin.

Original poster
IdaBattersea · 09/05/2017 10:59

Frazzlerock I really feel for you. We have only been dealing it with coming up for a year and as you say it is exhausting. I can't take my eye off the ball for a second. Also my eldest DD is 10 now and wants to do her own shower etc doesn't want to be sitting in the bath twice a week with me combing her hair, I feel bad for her.

I am with you, the source I am certain of it is the school.

Re a PP question, I am certain they are lice eggs as they are stuck to the hair shaft, tear drop shaped, but I never seem to find any live lice in my hair whereas with the DC I have.

OP posts:
Bananamanfan · 09/05/2017 11:04

My siblings gave me headlice when i was a teenager. We all got clear with daily conditioner + nit comb, no "treatments". All had long hair, kept up the treatment for a week after the last visible nit. Didn't come back.

TopDoggityDog · 09/05/2017 11:05

FrazzleRock My boys went through childhood with buzzcuts, usually number 4, it suited them and I'm sure it helped them not get nits. Some of their friends were getting nits constantly.

OP, I think you need to treat everyone each time if they keep coming back and increase the amount of time and frequency that you comb their hair. What about clipping their hair back for school? Might that help?

PenelopeFlintstone · 09/05/2017 11:06

I've read that the family that doesn't treat is a bit of myth, and that even if it does exist, the problem is that we never quite can get rid of every single one, so we think we've been reinfested but really the population has just grown again. I ended up thinking this was true in my family's case anyway.

Whywonttheyletmeusemyusername · 09/05/2017 11:07

Also second Nyda, but my chemist has to order it in, as doesn't keep it in stock - not sure if this would be the same everywhere else. I got so fed up with chemical upon chemical going on their scalps. I tried everything natural as well, but for now, the Listerine seems to be working. Also heard vodka does the trick, but what a waste!!

Nicemil1 · 09/05/2017 11:09

Nightmare.

My 4 and both dh and I have had them a few times . My advice treat all the family simultaneously to avoid re infecting.

If you have boys use hair gel. That stopped them coming immediately.

Dds use conditioner and keep hair in pony tail or bunches if possible.

It does get better as they get older and keep their distance from other kids more.

And now I am itching

BertrandRussell · 09/05/2017 11:09

Hedrin can't not worknif you're doing it properly. The problem is the price, really. It's daunting to buy enough for 3 lots of long hair.

Are you doing everyone in the house at the same time? Is it just the 3 of you?