To be completely freaked out..

[itchyhead101]

I have just started working with young children and for the last day or so have been getting a really itchy head. Mainly behind my ears...I do not know if I have managed to catch head lice or not...what is the best way for me to check? I don't have anyone to check for me?

Also, if I do have them I am completely grossed out...my scalp is super sensitive so am worried any treatment will make it worse or possibly strip my hair of it's (v expensive) colour treatment??

AIBU to quit if I do have them? I know all jobs have their down sides but this is completely freaking me out...

Comb your hair over a white sheet of paper you will soon know.
Hedrin is probably the gentlest one it suffocates themrather than chemicals I believe.

Are you serious? It’s possibly nits not the plague! Not nice but hardly the end of the world.

Use hedrin once then comb through hair with conditioner every other day with a nutty gritty comb.

You probably should quit if you can’t handle this - nits, whilst horrible, isn’t the most unpleasant thing you can catch off small children.

Thank you! That is really helpful! I will try the white paper thing. I live in a non-English speaking country so I might have to get creative with treatment if I have them...not sure they will have the gentle selection you would find in the UK..

When my daughter had them I didn’t use any chemicals I just slathered her hair in conditioner every night and combed through. Did that for a week then did it every day and cut down to once a week.
She’s never had bits since and they often go around her class as we get messages Home.

It's a parasite though? Feeding off the blood on my head, sorry if that freaks me out, but it really does...a job hazard too far for me?

You don't need chemical treatments. Get yourself a nit comb and some cheap conditioner. I do my own hair in the shower, I take some kitchen roll in with me to wipe the nit comb on so I can see any nits.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/head-lice-and-nits/

If you consistently comb, you will get rid of them. The first combing gets rid of the nits you have at the moment, subsequent combings (I did the kids every third day until they were gone, mine when I washed my hair every other day) get rid of any hatchlings. They'll all be gone in a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, tie your hair up at work!

I've only been working there for three weeks...cannot believe this has happened so soon...making me want to keep running to the shower to scrub my hair!!

When you've had them a few times it'll freak you out less.

If you can’t cope with nits then perhaps this isn’t the career for you?

I freaked out when DC had worms. Hair Lice not so bad.

They look like tiny flies, or little bits of lint at first, when you comb them out. Showering won't help. Combing is the best thing.

Boys you can shave their heads & then easily see any critters left (plus find the eggs using a bright light). Bliss!

In future, tie your hair back. They crawl from head to head so no hair sticking out means they can't get onto your head. Plus keep your head at a distance. Even the other night DD gave me a big hug & I muttered about her giving me critters (she's a teen, she can laugh at that).

DC teacher said "Oh I'm so lucky, I never get them" but she has great big frizzy hair. I'm convinced she just doesn't react to their bites.

The more you think-the more you itch

Witchend that is definitely it!! I can't stop thinking about them...

And this has made me doubt my choice of job...I was working with older students in the past and I am shocked at the amount of close contact there is when working with smaller students...it is a learning curve and I am happy to admit if I have chosen a job beyond what I am comfortable with...nits might be it for me...

It's really not that drastic!

Get a nit comb and use lots of conditioner, taking care to comb from root to tip. It will take more than one go so repeat daily every night for a week or so.

If you're working with kids it's a good idea to use a nit comb regularly, and yes keep hair tied up, plaited if possible, and try not to make head contact with anyone.

Oh OP I’m afraid you need a grip! Kids are disgusting. Nits, worms, snot, poo, vomit, contageous skin conditions, weird catchable illnesses and it all spreads like wildfire because their hands go everywhere!!

Get some lice treatment, follow the instructions to the letter and then use conditioner on wet hair with some tea tree oil and comb through with a nit comb every other day. Tie your hair up and if you’re going to hug the kids try not to put your head against theirs!

Finally, If you’re going to keep your job, expect some pretty grim stuff to happen to you....

There's a comb called Nitty Gritty which is better than the others. It gets rid of eggs as well as lice.
Their hatching cycle is 7 days so transitional not combs is every day for 7-10 days. This one could be quicker but comb daily until you haven't had any for a while.

I'd second what some PPs have said re conditioner and comb rather than any treatment. A new generation weekly = quickly develop immune to treatments.
We just had them once around nursery / reception age (including me). All my DSs have had short hair since then but friend's DD with long hair had them pretty much constantly for years.

Ps YANBU to be a bit freaked out but U if you remain freaked for long. It's not nice but not uncommon. Worms are much worse!