HEAD LICE -- we have been exposed - ADVICE?

[Florida_Mom]

what does the vinegar do? And how? Wash with shampoo first? Then wash with vinegar? then rinse it out or not? Won't you smell like vinegar?

I hadn't heard of vinegar, but after having no success with Rid/ect, I poured olive oil all through DS's hair. I wrapped it in a towel and washed it out several hours later. My thinking was that if the stuff in Rid wasn't going to kill the lice, maybe I could drown them in olive oil. (Maybe this qualifies for the neurotic parenting thread? ) Meanwhile, I continued washing everything. That did the trick. No more lice. It had been going on for over 2 weeks.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

I hadn't heard of vinegar, but after having no success with Rid/ect, I poured olive oil all through DS's hair. I wrapped it in a towel and washed it out several hours later. My thinking was that if the stuff in Rid wasn't going to kill the lice, maybe I could drown them in olive oil. (Maybe this qualifies for the neurotic parenting thread? ) Meanwhile, I continued washing everything. That did the trick. No more lice. It had been going on for over 2 weeks.

I just read an article on the web about using olive oil. I guess lice breathe thru holes in their sides and the oil drowns them. However, it said you have to use it over 21 days (not every day). They said the lice (some ofthem) are resistant to the pesticides. So in the end, some people use olive oil. Interesting!

 

[fanofdisney]

Finding The Nits

Nits are oval-shaped and grey, white, brown or tan in color. They are as small as the eye of a needle and glued at an angle to the side of the hair shaft.

Nits can be cemented anywhere on the hair shaft, but are usually close to the scalp.

Expect to see larger numbers of nits the nape of the neck, and around the ears and crown.


Using Nit Loosening Products

Suffocating treatments loosen nits naturally.

Chemical treatment methods do not loosen nits, and using a nit loosening agent may speed nit removal.

A mixture of white vinegar and water or a commercial nit removal product can be used for this purpose.


Vinegar/water treatment instructions

1. Mix three (3) cups of white vinegar and three (3) cups of water (1:1 mixture).
2. Soak the hair with mixture, and then wrap the hair in a damp towel soaked in the same mixture for 30 to 60 minutes.
3. Remove all nits.
4. Rinse hair.

Basically, this will help you remove the nits if there are any, before you get a case of full blown lice. If you don't find any nits, no harm done with the vinegar.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I just read an article on the web about using olive oil. I guess lice breathe thru holes in their sides and the oil drowns them. However, it said you have to use it over 21 days (not every day). They said the lice (some ofthem) are resistant to the pesticides. So in the end, some people use olive oil. Interesting!

This is the same theory behind the mayo. Another homeopathic treatment, is supposed to be Tea Tree Oil, but I don't know the specifics of it.

Someone mentioned movie theater seats as being a source of contact and I actually think this could be where my stepdaughter picked up her lice. We went to see Narnia (which was packed with kids) and about 14 days later, she got lice. Since they take ten days to hatch, that makes sense.

I NEVER lean back at a theater. Airplane seats are another source.

Now, my head itches.

 

[The Dark Dancer]

This is the same theory behind the mayo. Another homeopathic treatment, is supposed to be Tea Tree Oil, but I don't know the specifics of it.

Someone mentioned movie theater seats as being a source of contact and I actually think this could be where my stepdaughter picked up her lice. We went to see Narnia (which was packed with kids) and about 14 days later, she got lice. Since they take ten days to hatch, that makes sense.

I NEVER lean back at a theater. Airplane seats are another source.

Now, my head itches.

Reading this is making my head itch.....

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Using a blacklight will also highlight the nits so that's is easier to find them and comb them out.

 

[Bearvet]

Lavender! Another natural preventive is lavender/lavender oil - and it smells good too! I buy the Suave lavender shampoo and conditioner and we all use it when lice is going through the school. Then mix a small amount of lavender oil with water and leave in wet hair. I've also heard about tea tree oil, but don't know much about it.

DS had it in 3rd grade and it was a nightmare to get rid of - lots of vacuuming, washing, etc. The nurse would check him after treatment and he'd still be sent home days later with it! If you even miss one nit, it starts all over again. My sitter (an older woman) finally brought over an old-fashioned metal comb - soaped DS's hair and used this comb - it's the only thing that worked. And yes, we used the comb that comes with the kits, but the tines on this one were so tight that it pulled off all the eggs! It was also painless and chemical-free. I can't figure out why they don't make these anymore.

Good luck!

 

[noseybuddy]

.
Someone mentioned movie theater seats as being a source of contact and I actually think this could be where my stepdaughter picked up her lice. We went to see Narnia (which was packed with kids) and about 14 days later, she got lice. Since they take ten days to hatch, that makes sense.

I NEVER lean back at a theater. Airplane seats are another source.

Now, my head itches.

My daughter got it twice within 6 months from the mats at gymnastics. I had to use the mayo on her head the first time because I just couldn't get rid of the nits. The second time wasn't as bad. I knew what to look for and caught it early as I searched her head just about everyday. After getting lice twice, when going to the movies or seating in an airplane seat I had her wear a jacket with a hood. She put the hood up on her head at that solved that problem. My DH thought I was going nuts.