Lice/nit experts: quick queries for you!

[MamOfTwo]

DC1 had headlice (crawlers) - treated with Hedrin Once and nitty gritty comb and conditioner. Going to carry on with conditioner and comb most nights before second dose of Hedrin Once in one week.

Rest of us seem to have dead nits (white eggs) but no lice. Shall I still use Hedrin on us even though it says to only use if live louse spotted? Not sure why we seem to have eggs but didn't get lice? Surely I would have noticed them?!

What can I use for sores on back of neck/back of scalp in hair on DC1 (from scratching)?

Prepared to do anything not to have go through all this again (reading lots of horror stories on here about people battling them for months on end!). I will add nitty gritty comb and conditioner once a week. Do lice repellent shampoos work or not? What else can we do?

And one last question - if they are dead eggs, why is my head still sooo itchy?

You have a scientist on your hands Miaow!

OP for scratches, could you mix some teatree oil into vaseline? It will repel the little buggers as well as being soothing and antiseptic.

Comb and condition really thoroughly every two to three days for four weeks. As long as you are really thorough, you will remove any hatchlings before they are mature enough to lay and they will clear.

Argh, DC2 has a rash on her legs a day after using Hedrin Once - could this be an allergic reaction to it?

How did nit cases get on your head without live adults to leave them there? Cases mean something hatched out. Sorry, I'd be assuming that everyone with nit cases is infested.

Can't see how legs get rash from potion put on head.

Miaow, thank you for making me laugh in these dark and scratchy times. Yes, I think we all have them. My mistake was not treating us all at same time as only live louse found on one family member and all advice on products stressed only to treat if live louse found?

Spoke to a couple of pharmacists re rash and one said it probably wasn't the Hedrin, and the other said it probably was as it gets into system (how?) and not to use any medicated products . Side effects in Hedrin leaflet do mention skin rash.

I had a absolute nightmare with them too my dd is 11 and has super thick hair. She has been plagued with them and I spent a fortune on lotions and potions. The hedrin mouse being the most effective. We tried the nitty gritty but didn't find it effective removal of the nits was difficult and I never knew if the comb was clean but then I found something called the bug buster kit. A wide tooth comb to untangle first. Then It's a yellow come to get out the lice. Then a purple one Which is the one that makes this so effective, it removes all the eggs and the tiny babies and the left over eggs that look really unsightly. I do this every other shower. But where I was going wrong was doing the treatment then leaving in overnight or whatever the instructions state and comb out in front of the Tele when hair was damp . But if you do it in the bath and make sure the hair is soaking wet and coated in conditioner. They will be frozen still and won't move when disturbed. Now I still do every other shower for her and it's done. One side of the comb is flat which means it's easier to remove the nits and carry on alot quicker. She still gets them thanks to lazy parenting of others but she's alot happier and not scratching all the time as we don't give them time to get settle and we aren't spending money on horrible chemicals only conditioner. If you type in bug busting kit it will bring the website up. I also mix up a bottle of water with a few drops of tea tree oil in it to deter them a bit and use as a detangler when she does her hair in the morning Hope this helps :-)

Advice from my hairdresser. Make the hairs 'unclean' for them with conditioner and hairspray. I've only ever used conditioner and a nitty gritty comb on my kids and that has worked. The conditioner and hairspray will stop them laying eggs apparently. Hair straighteners kill them off too. Good luck OP.

Thanks for advice, everyone. Hedrin Once (repeated after seven days) and A LOT of conditioner and combing with Nitty Gritty seems to have sorted it. I think one DC was allergic to Hedrin so just did combing for her. Switched to using tea tree shampoo and conditioner now and Vosene nit repellent shampoo - I am sure they don't work but making me feel better. Will try tight plaits and maybe light hairspray when school starts again as will do anything to avoid this again. How often should I comb as preventative measure now? Weekly? Also might look into lavender oil too as read that can help prevent?

Hairspray works as prevention if you are generous with it. Check twice a week with the lice comb. If you don’t find anything, there’s no need to do the whole thing again.

You all definitely have them, they don't just walk off and leave a nice warm head! The crawlers are very hard to see and they scurry away out of sight. The juvenile ones are hair-coloured and they cling very tightly to the hairs. Always do the 'search and destroy' missions in good day light at a window.
I would use the Hedrin again after 4 days. 7 days is too long if a couple have been left alive. Make sure and slosh the lotion over the edges where the hair meets the scalp. The leave in over night Hedrin I found best. It washes out easily with shampoo next day and hair looks normal not greasy afterwards.
You can see if new eggs have been laid because they will be very close to the scalp, older eggs are further down where the hair has grown out. After the Hedrin treatment, go over each part of the head and pull the dead eggs off the hair shafts. Tedious, but you will get rid of them with two Hedrin goes if you do this.