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

[Nitsaremakingmylifehell]

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.

Hope it goes well, honestly nitty gritty is fantastic as it removes nearly all of the eggs (well all if you can be meticulous enough) which is half of the battle.

I think it is just a case of finding what works- I found the nitty gritty comb to be useless- used it for three weeks each day, then used a cheapy and there were loads- threw nitty gritty in the bin. Can you still get them on prescription from health visitor to save you spending a fortune on it.

The problem with us was solved when the school insisted that any child with long hair kept it tied back, we finally got rid of them after about 6 months and then they never came back. I found that the 15 minute derbac worked for me, not sure if that is the one that you used

Nitty Gritty comb works brilliantly on dry hair too (even though labelling says otherwise)

I was advised to grow out my dds fringe to help reduce headlice, there was a girl in class who dd was very friendly with that had them constantly, I tied her hair back everyday she still got them, hasn't had them since growing out her fringe.

Also recommend nitty gritty, conditioner and tea tree oil. Also found a herbal leave in conditioner treatment at Boots that helped.
Not sure where in the country you are but the Hair Force in London does nit removal in Primrose Hill. A friend used it for her DD and they guarantee to get rid of lice (but think they charge a small fortune). Google the Hair Force for their website.

When you've sorted it: for prevention, I have a big plant spray with a good squirt of coconut conditioner (the cheaper the better) and half a little bottle of neat tea tree oil (99p in Home Bargains), top it up with warm water and shake it to death, and use that on DD's hair every morning when brushing.
DD hasn't had nits in years - apparently nits hate tea tree oil and they cannot cling to coconut conditioned hair.

Good luck - sounds like you have a plan. I agree Hedrin is brilliant. I would cut her hair a bit - even just taking off the bottom couple of centimetres will make it easier to comb.

DD had her first nits just before Xmas. I found 1 beast and a load of eggs. I conditioned her hair, picked out every egg by hand and squashed the louse. I couldn't have born the uncertainty of a treatment working or not so worked through every strand. When she how's back hair will be in plaits and tea tree sprayed on every day.

Ds 3 has had lice on and off for 3 years . I comb every night and when ever I think they've gone and leave it a few days he's totally infested again . It's so frustrating. Watching thread with interest to see if any new ideas come up that we haven't tried yet

You can get the nitty gritty combs on prescription too or you can here rather than paying the £10 for one

Lots of mention in recent posts about plaits -
Having dds hair in a plait seems to have kept her clear of nits in the main - only had them once in 12 years - so I reckon that's quite a good tip once you do get rid of them.

Lice are horribly widespread in schools now, my DSC's were always getting them. It more or less stops as they hit puberty though - I think adults taste less nice for some reason!

I remember one term we did nowt but nit duty every night for 10 weeks. Finally conquered them. Then a week later I was sat and saw a huge nit the size of a shoe wandering across. I could have cried then.

Hi I know this sounds strange but I remember my mum using cider vinager on our hair when we had them, it wont hurt them ( as long as there no cuts etc ) and worth a try sometimes the more natural stuff is a lot better ( and cheaper lol ) than them chemical stuff just be carful of eyes she only used it once and they never came back, just a thought i not at the stage with a littlen with headlice yet but sure have got that all to come!

I haven't read this through, so don't know if someone's mentioned it but lavender oil is very good. Apparently the little buggers don't like the smell!

Neem oil rots lice and nits . It soaks into them and dissolves them from the inside.

Get neem ( it stinks) ,and another nice smelling oil , ( tea tree, lavender , citronella , and mix a few drops into the shampoo. When you wash the hair let it sit for a few minutes ,before rincing out .Then comb and conditioner ,as usual. .

Or addi it to spray bottle full of water .

Our local herbalist sell something called Quassia bark chips, apparently it is an anti parasitic and kills lice and eggs, you mix them with water and boil. We use the water to soak all hair bobbles/clips etc I also use it as a spray on hair before we leave the house in the mornings. When we go through a nitty period it is the final rinse on hair after combing and washing.

Hedrin- or any other silicone based nit killer can't not work- but you still have to comb. Hedrin overnight, then comb. Then comb every 3 days.

"Add message | Report | Message poster SingleSoloShattersSparklyStars Sat 31-Dec-11 15:27:16
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.'
There is more to this story than meets the eye.

I doubt it Seeker. There was nothing untoward about the family and the children were happy and clean. I have a nose for 'wrongs' and 'wrong un's' and did not get that at all (my profession you see).

There is no way that a school would refer children to social services because of very very short hair alone.

It seems quite a sensible thing to do if you're having prolonged troubles with nits, especially with a boy. ds would love really short hair but I don't like it shorter than "number 2" - and anyway it soon grows. Hardly abusive though obviously could be upsetting for a dd who loved her long hair especially if done without her agreement. So, it all depends on the situation - combine it with some shaved into the hair patterns and most DSs would be very happy I'm sure

• though I don't know how happy the school would be ... but it's only hair and it does grow FFS !

NEEM OIL see here for info. This is what I use and I have worked with kids for the last 6 years and have not caught headlice despite being within transferrable distance everyday.

Just discovered that ds1 has nits for the second time. The critter things that I am finding in his hair are brown lines stuck on the hair, not actual crawling lice (we had the joy of them last time) what are they?