head lice and tea tree oil, does it work?

[cardy]

DD1 (5) has had reoccuring head lice ever since starting in reception. We try and keep on top of it through nit-combing with conditioner every couple of days however I am not convinced that this is completely getting rid of them. We have tried various over-the-counter products which seem to work for a couple of weeks then they are back again. I am reluctant to keep using these and have heard that tea tree oil really keeps them at bay. Does anybody have any experience of this, does it work? How often do you need to do it and how do you use it?

There were reports a couple of months ago about hormonal effects - breast growth - in boys, which were only temporary. I've never heard of a cancer connection - are you sure, Tenalady? I have used tea tree a lot on my kids, but no longer use it for my ds.

I have found a combo of tea tree shampoo, conditioner and boring combing works well on my dd. But it could be that combing with any conditioner would also work.

Any tips on how to get a 5yo and a 3yo to sit still for 20mins every day while I do the combing, other than sweeties?

No - bribe them with chocolate!

Lol at 'looking at it under the microscope' fortyplus.

Now, see, some mummies are really cool (fortyplus)and treat the 'visitor' as a good educational oppotunity to find out more.

Other mummies(me) run about shouting NOOOOOOoooo!!!! Get that thing away from me, urrgh it's 'orrible Don't panic!'

Whilst panickng

I do it in the bath, Cardy. You can have a story tape running.

Tenalady, I went to the Greenpeople site but they're not linking tea tree oil to cancer. They're saying that in that tiny study about breast growth in boys (only 3 kids, I think), it could've been other chemicals in the lotions, eg parabens, that caused the hormonal effects. And the stuff in the story above about breast cancer doesn't relate to tea tree oil.

I certainly haven't heard of a connection to cancer, and I'm very alert to these things, esp given the amounts of tea tree my kids have been subjected to

Hedrin - has been the only thing that worked for us (and we were riddled!).

Problem is that even if you use it and it works, if other children still have them at school, you'll get them back again.

Make sure, once they've gone, that you tie her hair up within an inch of its life - that seems to help (so it minimises the hair touching someone else's hair).

Better still, could we start a campaign for the compulsory wearing of rubber swimming caps in school

TinyGang - hope no one reports me to the society for the prevention of cruelty to headlice, but...

...the little buggers move like greased lightning so if you want to look at it you have to 'drown' it a bit first so it stops moving (send it swinmming in the hand basin). Then keep it in a blob of water so it doesn't wake up again - it just stays there waving its graspers a bit.

After that you can pop it between your thumbnails - it makes a fantastic crack as their bodies are so hared!

There... you didn't know that such a soft old mummy like me could have such a ruthless streak, did you?

Brilliant idea!

It would also solve the daily struggle with tangles and which hair bobbles to use with my two dd's.

Sorting their hair out has nearly made us late on many occasions.

foxinsocks - tell her not to lean her head against other people during 'carpet time' - that helps.

They might be fast but they can't jump!

Arrgh that is so gross and yet I know my ds especially would be FASCINATEDLittle boys ofen are about these things!

BTW, you can get both Hedrin and Nitty Gritty combs on prescription. Have got Hedrin but not used it yet - it was a false alarm. But I did find that every time I zapped them with an electronic comb it got rid of the little blighters - but I do do it every day for about 2 weeks to break the cycle.

very true fortyplus! They are always hugging each other at school - it's no wonder we always get the little blighters!

I think that is what has been happening. I get rid of them, continue with the nit combing but they catch them again at school again. Both do have their hair tied up at school/nursery but who knows how long it stays like that, they inevitabilty come home with lose hair!

I've tried the logical explaination 'keep you hair tied up or else you will get head lice, which will lead to lots more combing etc,etc.' Unfortunatly that doesn't seem yo matter to a 5yo girl.

I have been combing every other day in the bath but obviously this is not enough. It'll have to be bribery then!

Any tips on how to get a 5yo and a 3yo to sit still for 20mins every day while I do the combing, other than sweeties?

With my five year old son he cooperated beautifully. Children don't like having headlice and a five year old should be old enough to understand. Admitally a three year old child is much harder.

You need to make it fun. My son likes to shout "Die! Ants Die!" or "Break their legs so they can't lay eggs!" as a chant. Distraction like watching the television can help. My son like to see all the dead "ants".

However last term his reception teacher told him that we should be kind to minibeasts. He asked me if headlice were minibeasts.

We've had many episodes during the years.....its an on-going thing, you only need one parent that isn't checking their child and everyone gets them again.

Every bath time is check hair time now...my 2 yr twins are used to it now too-ready for when they start school.

Have tried the nice'n'clear stuff..it's the leave- in conditioner..but didn't find it worked at getting rid..or keeping them at bay!

Bring back the nit-nurse thats what i say!!!

[email protected] have had the 'minibeasts' topic too....mine went all gooey for anything with legs for a while....its warn off now thank-goodness!

Sorry, I didnt take a lot of notice at the time but a charity event was given in Berkshire to raise awareness of the links regarding teatree and cancer.

The child at the helm of this campaign was dying of a a cancerous tumor which was linked to the teatree. I paid attention to the main purpose but didnt attend and from that day on I havent used teatree at all.

Cant actually remember all the nitty gritty but there is my reason, its just that the awareness hasnt been made widely.

Id rather not use than take the chance.

neem oil is much more effective and safe to also it is available form bioforce as riddnace and as neem actual shampoo to use as a long term deterrent

Also been some serious reporting regarding MRSA and how low dose of tt can encourage harmful bacteria.

Considering that we would only use it in a diluted solution for the kids it would put them at risk to contract such a thing if they were to come into contact with it.

I spray my Dc's pillows with lavender and they've never had nit's.... yet.

Thanks, Tenalady. I'm

I'v bought the nitty gritty comb and am conditioning/combing everyday. I hope this will get rid and keep them at bay. We'll see.