Used Hedrin last night for recurring head lice problem.

[Zippetydoodahzippetyday]

Have tried everything from wet combing to tea tree oil but couldn't get rid of them so I succumbed to buying a bottle of Hedrin (£11.49)

Used it on DD and myself last night and it seems to have worked they all came out of DD's hair dead. I am still scratching though, which is bothering me. Maybe its because my head is a bit irritated by it am not sure.

Well worth the money though. If she catches them again will make a complaint to the school.

It aint nice is it Zippi?
When dd1 had them we used Derbac m ,just as pricey but i did get some on prescription cos im cheeky ,it suits sensitive skin better so worth bearing in mind maybe.

Zippety, your head will still most likely be irritated from the headlice having been there. Some people have an allergic type reaction to them which is why you itch a lot, it isn't actually them walking around that makes you itch. Plus your head is going to be itchy because while scratching you have broken the skin and it is now healing and probably scabbing over a bit (sorry).

I think it will take a few days to calm down. I find my own scalp is so sensitive that just nit combing when I have no head lice is enough to set me off itching madly for a few weeks until my scalp heals and recovers. The Hedrin may also have irritated it, of course.

Thanks girls.

Have tried the Derbac and didn't like the smell. DP is very sensitive to the smell and couldn't sleep in the same room as me or the children when we had the lotion on so thats why I chose Hedrin too because its odourless.

Didn't find anything on my head anyway so I bet you are right Franny.

Have to go through the whole rigmaroll again next week. DD was less than impressed that I dragged her up 20 minutes early to put her in the bath and wash her hair this morning.

Have you tried a nitty gritty comb? My DD has had head lice a number of times, and I've used hedrin successfully, but if I use a nitty gritty comb it gets the lice and nits out without the use of any lotion (sorry if I sound like an advert but I have found it really good).

Oh yes we have one of those, have had it a few weeks now and you are right it does get rid of the eggs too, have found it very good but I wanted something to kill the damn things more than anything as if you don't get every single egg out they rehatch anyway. Thats why I have to redo it in 7 days.

You should tell the school anyway, Zippi, so they can send out one of those notes to all parents telling them to check their children's hair. (Well, perhaps some people take notice. One can but hope...)

Yes we got one on Friday which prompted me to and buy the Hedrin, I have been wet combing for weeks but to no avail. I am just hoping and praying she doesn't get them again. Her best friend has also been treated so fingers crossed.

I know headlice are a real problem but can I just ask why you think complaining to the school will do anything? I teach in an infant school and tbh I get sick and tired of parents complaining to me about headlice - there is nothing I can do!! We are not allowed to approach specific parents even if we know where the problem lies. You should be glad you get letters, we are only allowed to put notes up round the classroom saying there has been a reported case. Our hands are tied, we cannot do anything about it at all. If we could we would, I don't like sitting for 7 1/4 hours a day surrounded by children with nits!!!

I know its not the school's fault but surely the schools as a whole could complain to the authorities to do something. Surely this is needed in schools?

AbbyLou, what is the status of the rule that stops teachers telling parents that their child has headlice? Surely a little embarrassment is better than children being unnecessarily exposed to lice? Schools can send home children with chickenpox, so why not those with headlice?

I'm not blaming you - I recognise that your hands are tied. I just wondered whether we could do anything about the situation by, say, writing to our councillors or MPs.

you can get it on prescription

A silly headlice question that occurred to me last night -

My friends with cats all say that flea collars are great and really work. Why is there no human equivalent? Obviously I can see that nobody would want to be seen out with an obvious headlice-killing Alice/sweat band, but couldn't you wear something similar overnight, say? Would it really be worse for people than leaving insecticide lotion in their hair overnight?

hallgerda - I want to know that too! A while ago posted a (only-slightly) tongue in cheek topic about using Frontline on my kids . Works a treat on cats, why not on kids?

Hedrin is good stuff though. Lovely to see all those little dead bodies on the pillow next day >>

I'm new to the headlice problem - the family had been entirely free of them until last week (and DS1 is 12). I used to be smug about the effectiveness of tea tree oil in shampoo and conditioner, but it seems finally to have failed us. Everyone on here says Hedrin nukes the blighters, but does it prevent re-infestation at all? I've been wet combing for nearly a week but am getting one or two big fat ones (sorry if TMI) each day on DS2 and DS3, which I suspect they've got from classmates. I'm inclined to hold off on the Hedrin until half term (a week on Friday) if it doesn't prevent new infestations - can anyone advise?

Flea collars used to make the hair fall out around my cats neck - maybe not so good on people?!

It won't stop reinfestation. Nothing will, short of quarantining your DCs or shaving their heads . Don't care how much tea tree oil you use it won't stop the little blighters (beleive me I've tried - if a white witch told me that dancing widdershins round a bloody maypole at midnight would do it, I'd try that willingly!!)But you have to use the Hedrin again to kill any that have hatched out since the first treatment as it doesn't kill the eggs.

Thanks, joellalie. The wet combing now seems to be working so I'll definitely hold off on the Hedrin.