3 (dim) questions about possible headlice

[wheelsonthebus]

my dc complained of an itchy head and i couldn't find anything on dc's scalp/behind ears at all, but did the nitty gritty thing. still dc talks of itchiness (and displays it) and not sure what to do. can anyone explain to me the following:

1. how much nitty gritty solution are you supposed to use (I used half a bottle and it absolutely stank - is that too much and does it get into the scalp? dc has shoulder length hair but it's not that thick) 2. how do parents administer it to themselves and do all that combing? (i assume i haven't got any, but just to be sure....)
2. what am i doing wrong? should i do it all, all over again. seemed to comb dc's hair for 30 mins with the comb, and all that came out (or seemed to) was the thick liquid. couldn't see anything in the comb.

There's no evidence of excema or anything. help please!

I wouldn't have used a nit/lice solution unless I had seen lice or thier eggs. This is because they get used to products and they can become less effective.

The live lice do 'run away' and 'hide' in the hair so you have to be really thorough.

With my dd (she's only had them once), I use Australian tea tree shampoo and conditioner every so often to deter them and when she had nits, I washed her hair, slathered on a load of conditioner first and went through her hair ruthlessly with nit comb (she has long, thick and curly hair). Then I used the treatment. I wouldn't have used it as a preventative. If there are lots of kids all using the same products in the school, it's also less effective if I remember correctly so it's best to ask at the pharmacy what everyone buys, then buy somehting different.
When combing your child's hair, get her shoulders wrapped in a white towel and lay her head over a white towel and each time you comb the scalp (live lice will on the scalp), wipe nit comb onto towel - if she has lice, you'll see them on the towel easily. If there are just eggs, then you also need to treat and comb really well. The cycle of the lice is a nightmare so whatever the instructions say, do it religiously, otherwise you'll still get hatching eggs a few weeks later. Good luck. If she/he doesn't have nits, try using a milder shampoo on her/his hair.

Doesn't sound like she has head lice to me. You would see sure signs, lice or eggs easily especially if her hair is not thick as you've said.

Have you changed products, used any new hair products de-tangler etc...? Make sure that after using shampoo and or conditioner that her hair is throughly rinsed, left residue will often make the scalp itch.

IMO it doesn't hurt to condition and nit comb once a week as a preventative measure, if you start then you'll be sure to find anything before it gets out of control.

For you, I wouldn't use the product, just condition and nit comb well a few times over the next week or so.

thanks for advice - do you mums do your own hair too? just the same way?

plenty of conditioner and comb though sections. Yes just the same way, I normally do mine in the shower every so often.

I don't comb it as there's so much of it but yes, I treat with tea tree shampoo and conditioner. I also wear my hair up a lot and I make sure DD wears her's up for school every day and tell her not to touch hair with others. It has to be hair to hair contact so avoidance is the key.