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Original poster

Head Lice!

29 replies

Winston · 29/12/2007 14:13

Help. just noticed DD1 has head lice. Have been lucky as she has never had them before so I have no idea what works? Have a nitty gritty comb so just about to do that. Is there anything else that REALLY works? HELP!!TIA.

OP posts:
KITTYmaspudding · 29/12/2007 14:14

hedrin
combing and combing

CarGirl · 29/12/2007 14:15

I find loads conditioner on dry hair then nitty gritty and then rinse it off. I have 4 dds with long hair and really found this best. TBH if she is infested with lice (not just eggs) I would use a chemical treatment once to get on top of it.

The important thing to remember is that you have to do it every 3rd day to get the newly hatched lice.

DanJARMouse · 29/12/2007 14:16

i feel your pain - both of mine have it - aged 2 and 3yrs.... its a ~NIGHTMARE!

Am using Full Marks today, also have nitty gritty comb so will be combing and combing and combing - so much fun with a 2yr old - NOT... she hates it, not helped by the fact she has really think curly hair!

littleboo · 29/12/2007 14:16

yes hedrin, nitty gritty comb works really well, but must use wet, ie with condition. use hendrinonce comb every day, then hedrin a second time a week later

Original poster
Winston · 29/12/2007 14:16

Thanks Kitty, how often do I comb through and can I get Hedrin over the counter?

OP posts:
DanJARMouse · 29/12/2007 14:17

Hedrin is over the counter, yes.

You need to comb, a lot. Ive been doing my girls daily.

Blandmum · 29/12/2007 14:17

get a big bottle of cheap conditioner. Wash her hair and get it soaking wet. then rub in masses of conditioner.

Place dd in front of her fave DVD and get ready with a bribe.

Comb through with an ordinary comg to de-tangle. Section off the hair and go through it bit by bit. Wipe the lice inot kitchen roll , or wash the comb out into a bowl of water.

Do this every 2-3 days for the next two weeks. You should see the size of the lice decrece. The biggest ones will be the size of a match head, the smallest like tiny splinters.

Don';t worry about removeing the eggs. Let them hatch, and you will get rid of the lice before the become big enough to leave the head, as long as you do it every 2-3 days.

At the end, wash out the conditioner.

This works.

A faff, but it works.

Do it for 2 weeks, and as long as yuou no longer find lice, your dd is clear

Original poster
Winston · 29/12/2007 14:18

Thanks guys, looks like we shall be busy! I knew this day would come but am sick now it is.

OP posts:
joyfulspike · 29/12/2007 14:19

There was some really useful advice on a thread I started

www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=138&threadid=443056#8968239

there are also links to other sites too.

Hope this helps

DanJARMouse · 29/12/2007 14:20

also, make sure you treat everyone else in the family too. That was my mistake, only treated DD1 when she got them and she has passed them to DD2 and DD2 has passed them back again! GRRRRRRRRRRRRR

chocolatespiders · 29/12/2007 14:26

dd 1 has them just found today...... must be something in the christmas dinner....

i hate them.....

cant find my nitty gritty comb so having to use a normal metal one

cheeset · 29/12/2007 14:28

my dd had them since july! Comb religiously now, wash hair with tea tree every day. Neally gone, until she starts back to school

Original poster
Winston · 29/12/2007 14:29

Joyfulspike, cant get link? Think it must be the Xmas dinner, we havent been anywhere to get them which is odd? Must be she has had them and we just havent noticed, aaaahhhh, blasted things!

OP posts:
Original poster
Winston · 29/12/2007 14:30

Cheeset, what a nightmare, July???? Think I would be tempted with the shaver at that point!

OP posts:
CarGirl · 29/12/2007 14:32

I found that using conditioner on dry hair worked just as well as on wet hair, it was cheapy conditioner too and it saved the hassle of having to before them before and after combing.

Original poster
Winston · 29/12/2007 14:33

So pleased you guys have posted me your advice, thanks guys.

OP posts:
Original poster
Winston · 29/12/2007 16:08

Ok, all of us have had a nitty comb through conditioned hair. DD1 had lots of little ones and a couple larger ones. DD2 had some but not much. DH and I seem to be clear (for now!). So, sorry for more questions and apologies if this is a really daft one but do we need to change bedding and towels etc? Changed recently but does it make any difference. Have been reading on website its unlikely they survive long away from the head but the mere fact they stated UNLIKELY makes me think its not definate. What do you guys do?

OP posts:
Blandmum · 29/12/2007 16:18

No you don't. Lice will only leave a head for another head, unless they are dead or dying. Similarly hats etc and clothing will be fine.

I'd wash brushes etc to be on the safe side

purpleduck · 29/12/2007 16:31

We just found some on our son yesterday. He has been itchng for a few days, and I didn't think he was at a huge risk as he has very short hair. I gave a quick look and didn't see anything. Then yesterday in -Primark- Debenhams, dh found tons of eggs.

Feeling guilty? YEP!!!

Poor thing - he feels all icky

Original poster
Winston · 29/12/2007 18:04

Know what you mean Purpleduck. DD1 itching yesterday but didnt react straight away. Now feeling guilty and VERY foolish at not checking more regularly just because she is on school hols.
Thanks Martianbishop, have been a bit extreme and thrown brushes out. Did think about their hats as they have been wearing them and washed those but good to know the buggers cant live in clothing/bedding. (Now keeping fingers crossed that no one comes on saying they had some in bedding!!!).

OP posts:
andfranksentthis · 29/12/2007 18:44

According to a researcher on this problem the ONLY thing that really works is combing....night after night until no more eggs. These b***rs get immune to the chemicals really quickly. He told me this after much nagging.

joyfulspike · 30/12/2007 13:30

Not sure why the link isn't working, the sites i found useful were:

this one and

and this one

the best advice seemed to be wet combing hair with conditioner on

other suggested products were hedrin, full marks mousse and I few others I can't find, so will read the postings again.

good luck!

Lazylou · 30/12/2007 13:35

I am pleased I came across this! I have had them myself now since I was 6 weeks pg (I am 18 weeks now) and I can't seem to get rid of them. I picked them up at work (nursery) aand obviously can't use all the chemical potions to get rid, so have tried the combing thing. It's getting on my nerves tbh and I too have considered shaving the whole lot off just to rid of them!

Countingthegreyhairs · 30/12/2007 16:25

Sorry but I disagree about the bedding!

See latest advice (this is from the "embarrassing problems" health website for example):

Head lice can live for 3 days away from the head, and eggs can survive for 5 days. Therefore they could be spread by shared hats or helmets, combs, brushes, earphones or bedding. Experts used to think this was unlikely, but have now changed their minds.

(Also, in the info received from my dd's school it said that as head lice can swim, do not put a child who is infested with another child in the same bath.)

So if you can, wash all sheets, pillow cases, towels and hats at 60°c or above. I also pour a kettle full of boiling water and a dose of lice shampoo on all brushes and combs in the house and soak for a bit. Seems to do the trick!

AMerryScot · 30/12/2007 17:01

Nitty gritty comb is excellent.

To actually treat, I would recommend a silicone based treatment (Hedrin or Full Marks).

And keep her hair tied back when she is around other children. I think this is probably the best contribution to tackling outbreaks.