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General health

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Original poster

Took dds to hairdressers today ..

36 replies

Carla · 30/12/2004 17:52

.. and they both came out with what looked like dandruff. As they hadn't let me brush their hair for two days, I thought it was an accumulation of dried skin. However, my sister took one look at them and said 'get them to a chemist for a second opinion'. Well, I took them to two, both of which said yes, it's head lice. So, my question to all you wise MNers, is how can you have white things but absolutely no moving things? TIAXX Carla

OP posts:

Original poster

Carla · 30/12/2004 20:27

Merrytismass, why no point in the insecticide? That's what we've done, what the pharmacist advised me to do ????

OP posts:

FrostyTheSurfMum · 30/12/2004 20:29

Hi Carla

You have my sympathy. I feel like the world expert on nits as my dsd (who doesn't live with us) has long, thick hair and gets nits really badly. I must have combed over 100 out a couple of days ago.

I agree with blossomhill - loads of conditioner and a lot of combing. You can get really cheap conditioner in Boots or Asda that is good enough for the job.

When dsd is with us I comb myself and dd out whenever we have baths/showers, and for a week or so after she has gone to make sure we haven't picked any up (which we often have). If you are using lotions you should only use them if you find a live, moving louse.

Ask away if you have any other questions.

Original poster

Carla · 30/12/2004 20:29

Thanks gothicmama - will do that tomorrow. Hope I haven't left it to late, but they're ready now for their head wash

OP posts:

Blossomhill · 30/12/2004 20:32

I know carla it's a nightmare . I felt exactly the same when dd got them. I spray her hair with lavender and tea tree repellant too. Not sure if it works but touch wood haven't had any for ages!

MerryTissMas · 30/12/2004 20:34

Many of the blighters are resistant to it! I can't remember which insecticide we used when dd first had them, but the instructions say something like use once, then again a week later. Well, if the lice have laid eggs, then they can take up to 10 days to hatch. The eggs are very difficult to remove by combing, so the second dose of insecticide (which does not penetrate the egg cases)will not kill those eggs that hatch late.

Look here for the bug busting principles, and here for the best comb available.

suedonim · 30/12/2004 20:59

My dd's both had nits when the girls both had waist-length hair. They were pretty badly infested by the time we found them and I felt I had to use a shampoo to at least get rid of the first tranche of nits. I also had the blighters, so zapped myself, too. After that it was a case of conditioning and combing for some days/weeks. It takes ages and my hands got sore from constantly being damp but eventually the dd's were clear and have remained so since. They did have nice shiny hair, mind!!

Blossomhill, some schools I know of have a policy of not telling parents about outbreaks of nits because to do so is discriminatory (against whom?? The nits???) and that in any case nits aren't a heath hazard.

Ailsa · 30/12/2004 22:07

Carla, Johnson's baby oil! so much better than conditioner initially, it literally suffocates the little buggers and they just drop out. Beware though, it's a bugger to wash out, depending on how much you use. I put so much on dd1 that it took 3 or 4 washes to get it out. It won't kill the eggs, but at least it will get the live lice out so that you can then concentrate on maintaining a lice free head.

Original poster

Carla · 31/12/2004 09:02

Thanks for all your advice. Alisa, excuse me for having my thick head on, but if baby oil doesn't remove the eggs aren't you left with a load of crawly things when they eventually do hatch? >

OP posts:

Blossomhill · 31/12/2004 10:07

suedonim - I know it's ludicrous isn't it Does anyone remember my thread of how one of dd's friends was running alive with nits at dd's party (5 in her fringe alone - alive). This little girl also had them when she came to my house and dd was forever coming home infected by this little girl. For one reason or another this litttle girl left the school and as from that week dd has been clear (fingers firmly crossed). Speaking to one of the assistants that I know and she said they all had to sit with her and would look down and see then running around The thing is I rang the mum when the girl came to play to tell her. That wasn't enough to sort the problem put. Baby oil worked really well for us too and dd's hair was gorgeous after we washed it!

MerryTissMas · 31/12/2004 16:15

Carla- the eggs are very difficult to remove- it's much easier to remove the lice once they're hatched, BUT you MUST do it within a few days of hatching, because they aren't able to lay their own eggs for a couple of weeks.

Ailsa · 31/12/2004 20:13

Carla,

You need to keep combing afterwards for at least 10 to 14 days.

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