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Original poster

Just cried over my daughters headlice, I don't know what to do anymore.

94 replies

Nitsaremakingmylifehell · 31/12/2011 14:48

My DD is 8 and seems to have headlice constantly for the last year she also has exczma. I've just treated both of us last night with Derbac M overnight treatment but her head is still absolutly crawling with lice you can see them on top of her head. On top of this she has a huge scabby patch of exczma on the back of her scalp which hurts when she brushes her hair or I run the nit comb through her hair is full of loose scabs.

I was just pulling out a comb full of live lice and scabs despite treating last night and I just don't know what to do anymore nothing seems to work.

OP posts:
D0oinMeCleanin · 31/12/2011 14:51

Cheap conditioner and a nitty gritty comb. Just comb, comb, comb.

We do it nightly when they're infested until we stop seeing lice and then once a week just to keep a check on it.

I tried about three different kinds of treatment, none of them worked. I think the lice are becoming resistant to them.

JustHecate · 31/12/2011 14:52

oh poor little girl Sad

What about slathering her hair with conditioner and combing it with a nit comb every single night? Got to be more gentle than the chemical stuff. I know it will take a longer time, because all it does is comb out the adults and you have to carry on until all the eggs have hatched and you've got them too, but it would be worth a try?

And has the gp given her anything for the exzema?

And finally - I know it's extreme but it might help make it easier to comb daily - short hair?

JustHecate · 31/12/2011 14:52

xpost doin'

Thumbinnapuddingwitch · 31/12/2011 14:52

How long is her hair? How short can you cut it without making her feel really uncomfortable? Just thinking it might be easier to treat without too much hair length to deal with.

Have you tried leaving conditioner on the hair? Helps to slow the lice down and makes it easier to comb through and remove them.

I expect you have been treating according to their lifecycle - have you used different products each time? What have you used so far?

solidgoldbrass · 31/12/2011 14:53

Cut her hair very, very short. It will be easier to treat and also cooler and more comfortable for her itchy scalp.

JustHecate · 31/12/2011 14:53

oh, just thought - could the constant chemical treatment for the nits have caused the scalp problem do you think?

BranIsLonelyThisChristmas · 31/12/2011 14:58

Hedrin is basically just silicone so it shouldn't be too reactive, it coats the nits and smothers them. It didn't trigger DS's eczema at all (his is quite mild though). Go for the overnight one, not the one-hour because that's a bastard to wash out again.

I agree with those who have said a short haircut, I will be doing that for DD if she gets nits as she has slightly afro hair and it's a pain for her to have it combed.

reallytired · 31/12/2011 14:58

The lice you pulled out are probably newly hatched. Insectide shampoos do not kill eggs.

You need to get a nitty gritty comb. Wash her hair and then slap loads of conditioner on or alternatively coat your dd hair in lots of doublebase. You need to painstakeningly comb through EVERY strand of hair from the root. you need to make sure that all the eggs are physically removed. Its a long job and you need to repeat it every day until there are no signs of nits. Then you need to fine tooth comb every three days while your dd is in primary.

There is little point in using insecide as the nits are probably immune and they will make the excema worse. I am sure the nits are making the excema worse and will improve when you get rid of the nits.

Your dd will be nit free, but its a long slog. If your dd has long hair its worth tying it back for school.

Is the excema infected. Prehaps its worth going to the doctor to see what they suggest. I believe you can get the nitty gritty comb on prescription.

south345 · 31/12/2011 14:59

Nitty gritty combs are great as they remove the eggs too

lubeybooby · 31/12/2011 15:00

HEDRIN HEDRIN HEDRIN

Don't bother with those shite insecticides, they don't ever work.

Use hedrin and a nitty gritty comb, once a week for 2 weeks then regularly check and repeat if she gets infested again.

This isn't worth crying or breaking your back over when there is such a simple solution now.

Hedrin works by suffocating the little bastards.

OneLieIn · 31/12/2011 15:02

Agree with Hedrin and nitty gritty comb. I also use vosene shampoo for them.

I hate them with a passion.

D0oinMeCleanin · 31/12/2011 15:02

Hedrin didn't work for us. Poor dd2 was so itchy she would climb the cuboards and re Hedrin herself at least once daily, it still didn't get the little bastards.

Thorough combing every night worked in the end. We got two nitty gritty combs and did a child each to save on time.

LynetteScavo · 31/12/2011 15:03

What really tired said.

And I 2nd Hedrin.

After you have all the live nits out sit her in sunlight, or a very bright light every day and take any eggs you find out by hand.

festi · 31/12/2011 15:05

olive oil should help soften the scalp and let you comb out the lice. my dd has terible psoriosis on her scalp and so know how bad it can be. when she has nits its a nightmare last time she had a terrible bout of of P at the same time they were infested under the scalp build up. olive oil is the only thing that really helped. also full marks seems to help the flakyness of p so may help clear your dds patches of excema. The only thing is comb out day and night. that should clear the nits and go gentle on the scalp.

MmeLindor. · 31/12/2011 15:07

Agree with the nittygritty comb and conditioner.

Find a programme that she likes on TV and sit her down every evening while you comb her hair.

Is she sharing hats with anyone? I found once we bought the DC their own riding helmets, we had nits very rarely after than.

The insecticides are useless, as the lice are immune to them now.

BandOMothers · 31/12/2011 15:07

And put her hair in a bun for school....reduces the chances of getting reinfested.

Bohica · 31/12/2011 15:09

We use loads of cheap conditioner and a nitty gritty comb.

You can get the comb on prescription if you need to.

Tea tree oil in a spray helps keep them away, just spray onto the hair once you have put it up, never send them to school with their hair down.

Foxinsocks · 31/12/2011 15:09

That rash she has on the back of her neck is v common with headlice. Ds's eczema flares up with nits - I always know when he has them as he gets that rash on the back of his neck which he then scratches till it bleeds.

This is a timely thread as I was going to post about how there must be chemicals to help as I am fed up of combing and it is so much worse when they have skin conditions :(. We use Hedrin but it is a constant battle.

If she has long hair, tie it up within an inch of its life. It's the only way! And treat yourself for headlice too. This time I had managed to pick them up too grrr so lucky I combed myself otherwise I would have given them back to the dcs!

BranIsLonelyThisChristmas · 31/12/2011 15:16

It's likely that she's being reinfested by other children at school, so try a little tea tree oil mixed into water in a spray bottle and spritz her hair every morning before she leaves the house.

SingleSoloShattersSparklyStars · 31/12/2011 15:20

Nitmix

My Dd has very long, extremely curly (mixed race) hair and I use this. It prevents them with daily use and although it seems expensive, it lasts and lasts. Please try it before cutting off your Dd's long hair; there really is no need to do that.

skrumle · 31/12/2011 15:25

conditioner "drowns" them - so you're best to stick on an absolute tonne. we used up to a bottle at a time on DD's very long, extremely curly hair and left it on for a while before brushing out then combing out with the nitty gritty comb. you need to do it every other day for at least a week and more like a fortnight to be sure they're gone, and then keep hair tied up while at school.

lubeybooby · 31/12/2011 15:26

I should add that I don't give hedrin just the one our or whatever it says on the bottle - always overnight.

Nits were the absolute bane of my life til it was brought out. I thank my lucky stars for it!

SingleSoloShattersSparklyStars · 31/12/2011 15:27

And just to add...I know a couple that practically shaved their Dd's hair (very short) due to bad lice and the school reported them to the SS (I think they have to do so), so it's worth remembering that before you cut it 'very very short.'

lljkk · 31/12/2011 15:31

Headlice are resistant to insecticides, (they don't work, as you can see for yourself, OP) do not waste your time & money on them.

I can't comment about Hedrin, haven't tried it, but the only sure methods are combing the blighters out, & removing their eggs (I will buck the trend & say I don't like the Nitty Gritty comb, Boots combs better for us). But just comb & comb. At least every other night when you know you have an active infestation & weekly otherwise just to check for the blighters.

Also, tie her hair back; they reinfect by crawling from head to head. Anything to keep her hair from touching other people's.

CervixWithASmile · 31/12/2011 15:31

You can be reported to SS for short hair??