Bizarre head lice infestation..

[worriedabout]

The reason why I say bizarre is because last year DS had headlice infestation that lasted almost all winter. Despite spending hours combing we never got rid of them until I spent a fortune at lice busters.

Now this year he is scratching his head again. I am combing his hair every other day really thoroughly and then every time I find new lice.

Making matters worse - I have them too. They itch like hell and I have noticed sores of DS' head where he has been scratching (and I know my own scalp can't be pretty either).

I don't notice other children seem to have our problem with lice. Has anyone else had a problem like this? I really don't want to keep on throwing money at the problem. Is there a remedy for this?

I would also like to add that even after we got rid of the lice last year he did not stop itching immediately. He still kept on scratching his head for at least a month after.

Does hedrin once not work for you?

He could have dermatitis or folliculitis - one needs creams the other antibiotics, both are visit to gp

But get rid of lice firsg

Go through with your hands and a good light and pick out every single thing that could be a lice or egg with your nails.
Then go through again
And the again
It will take a couple of hours

Next day go through again

I am a pro at getting rid of them, just struggled I. Stopped repeat infestations (though that has been sorted with a change of class)

What kind of comb are you using?

Nitty gritty comb & cheap conditioner are what u need.

He must be picking them up from someone else on a daily basis. I can sympathise, we had this problem at DD's former school and once every 3 days we would sit for half an hour and play "hunt the new headlice" - big fat monsters they were.

Treating your own headlice with combing is really difficult.

What are you combing his hair with?

We use the nitty gritty comb and a thick conditioner (we found value conditioner wasn't greasy? enough to loosen the eggs).

I wipe the comb on an old white tea towel after each stroke but I know others rinse the comb in very hot water. It helps me see when I'm getting 'clean' combs.

You need to be doing yourself too, I can do a reasonable job on my own but it's better if dh or my friend does it.

I've never done the whole washing bedding thing and it doesn't seem to have prolonged infestations. Our worst infestation was when dc1 was in a class with someone who can't have treated - despite combing every 2-3 days she had nits for the best part of a year. Only reprieve was school holidays

Last year dd had them non stop. I was so sick and tired of going into school and telling her teacher that she had got nits AGAIN!!!
She has just got them again but this year she has managed to get through half a term without them.

I really wish parents would deal with them.

I use hedrin. You apply it once, leave it in over night and then wash it out. Repeat a week later. It definatly works and they do an alcohol free one if your dc has sensitive skin.

straightening hair with ghds is really good for zapping the live nits and the eggs too :D

DIE NITS DIE!!!!

We find Full Marks lotion and a Nitty Gritty nit comb excellent. That comb gets rid of eggs as well as the lice.

Get the teacher to send out a class letter. Maybe it's endemic in the class which is why your son can't get rid of it. One of my children's classes is way worse than the other. You might think other people aren't having such a problem but maybe they are just keeping quiet. He's got to be getting them from somewhere!

I don't know why he the scratching continues except that a sore scalp might take some time to heal or the scratching might just be a bit of a habit. Would it be worth a consultation with GP or nurse? Could your son be allergic to a nit product you are using? Could his score scalp be having a reaction to a particular shampoo? Could he have a slight infection in some of the sores?

I hope you can find a solution.

The more allergic you are to the lice saliva the more you itch and react, some people are not allergic to the critters and therefore don't itch and therefore don't treat the feckers because they don't realise they have them!

Sorry not replied. Have been so busy for the past two days (extensive combing).

I don't know the type of comb I use - we have two: one pink one which I am mostly using and one with really long metal spikes. I have been using the pink one and have done nit mix twice now (as per the instructions). Not sure if it has worked as yesterday I pulled out another two nits and a few more eggs.

We are both really sensitive to nits. I got a skin infection last year from the buggers. I sometimes think I can feel them crawling on my head - they are starting to gross me out. I have been combing him and myself everyday for nearly a week now.

Should I speak to the form teacher about this? She did send out an email asking all the parents to check their children?

Clearly it's not working.
U need to buy this comb.
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B001PML6Y6

If your not using a comb like FannyFifer has linked to, combing on its own isn't going to shift them.
You need chemicals, or the comb above and conditioner (or both!)
What is nit mix? Maybe need to try something different?

How long is DS's hair? Can you get it cut really short to help prevent transfer for a while?

If you really are sensitive to nits, is the GP worth a visit? They may well have access to treatments not available from the chemist.

I found the fine toothed side of a plastic nit comb was most effective.

You need to keep combing every other day, both you and your son (and anyone else living in the house).

You also need to eith was bedding, including pillows at a high temperature or freeze them overnight. Some head lice can live away from body heat. You only need 2 or one carrying babies for a new cycle to start and the infestation to return.

Find out what other parents in yiur arwa find effective. Head lice become resistant to treatments, so what works for some areas might nit for others. Ive used tea tree oil, Hedrin oil (my favourite because non-smelly) and various other treatments and found that none worked everywhere, but there was usually one that worked (and often something that no one else locally was using).

DD3's friend wasn't treating so they came back and back!
I'd agree with earlier recommendations for nitty gritty comb and gallons of conditioner. It takes hours but works!
Also tea tree shampoo and spray on conditioner for prevention.
Found an excellent (and extortionate) shampoo in France that really works if you want to short cut the process.
Add to hair, comb out, add water and it turns to mousse type shampoo,dry, repeat one week later.
Smells nice, doesn't need copious rinsing. Downside is price!
Will see if I can find link to it.
And anti histamine helps scratching as one of DDs has ezcema and it really flared up with nits!

Found it. Paranix shampoo.

That is one of the combs I have. Maybe I will use it more. Nitmix is a new one I found on the internet after last years nightmare. I will try the the tea tree conditioner. This evening found only one egg in his hair. I will take your advice. Thanks everyone.

I feel for you - some people just seem to attract bugs and are sensitive to the bites - my youngest is one of them!! He's had nits a million times and nobody else in the house has ever had them...... He got FLEAS so badly everyone thought he had chickenpox and he then got ravaged by Mosquitos so badly that once again people thought he had the pox. He has also been hospitalised after a cat scratch and bitten by a bloody squirrel in the park.... I kid you not. Oh and stung by a wasp and jellyfish. All before the age of 5. Nobody else has even had a bite..... But the nits drive me mad. It's like they must swarm towards him. Hours of picking out every tiny thing and then a week later.... The buggers are back!!!

Good luck!! I