Ot!! Help!!!head Lice!!!!

[MKCP5]

I am about to croak!!! Head lice on my 9 yo dd with very very thick hair half way down her back!!!!!!!!!! Any suggestions other than the usual chemicals?? She has the most beautiful hair. I can't bear the thought of having to cut it off to get rid of them. I did a nix this am and I have literally spent the last 6 hours picking nits out of her hair. She is so good. Has only cried a couple of times when I tugged too hard, but I am really besides myself. Any suggestions are all welcome!!

 

[scorpad99]

Just a suggestion to prevent the next episode of them, hairspray and gel her hair after washing, it seems to keep them out of gelled , sprayed hair.
Every first week of school we get a letter that lice is going around, I would just die!
goodluck!

 

[disneychrista]

Olive Oil -
see here for details

 

[RobinMarie]

Heat The hot dry air produced by standard hand-held hair dryers may suffice to kill lice and their eggs on a person's hair. Use great care if you try this method, as the heated air from these devices can also easily scald the hair and the scalp. No precise values (treatment time, temperature, and distance from hair dryer) are available with which to base an objective treatment protocol. Heated curling irons, hair straighteners or similar devices may kill some lice and eggs, but may not safely be applied to hair nearest the skin where viable eggs are most abundant. A clothes dryer set a high heat or a hot pressing iron may effectively kill any lice or their eggs on pillowcases, sheets, nightclothes, towels and similar items that will not be damaged by this process. Combs, brushes, hats and other hair accessories in contact with an infested person should be washed in hot water each day to dislodge any lice or nits.

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/headlice.html

I guess they aren't recommending lice shampoos any longer, which is news to me. The page also discusses olive oil as a possible use, though there is nothing scientific to suggest it works. After reading the article I would try putting olive oil on her head and wrapping in a plastic shower-like cap for a few hours.

Suffocating agents An increasingly popular "alternative" treatment involves the use of food-grade oils or hair gels in attempts to smother lice on the scalp. Many people have provided anecdotal reports of their successes with this old method, but we have also heard of nearly an equal number of failures. Virtually no data, however, is available to assess the efficacy of this technique. As with any hair conditioner, oils may lubricate and ease efforts to pass louse or nit combs through the hair. Olive oil (or any similar food-grade product) would seem intrinsically safe, but may have associated hazards, nonetheless. Oil may cause accidents (slips), and would be difficult to remove from the hair and scalp (detergents can cause irritation). Do not use motor or machine oils, as these materials can be harmful.

As a preliminary test to measure the effect of such agents on lice, we submerged six active lice in olive oil, and maintained an equal number of non-treated lice in a separate container. Lice removed from oil after one hour recovered, but those submerged for two hours succumbed. Non-treated lice survived for at least 18 hours. We have not repeated this test on active lice nor have we tested this treatment on nits. The results are simply of a very preliminary nature and should not be construed as solid evidence on which one would base treatment recommendations. It would be an error to extrapolate from data of such an informal test; therefore, we do not recommend the use of olive oil (or other such substances) as a treatment for head lice.

Heck, if the olive oil doesn't work, at least the hair will be conditioned after you shampoo it and can easily run the comb through her hair.

Good luck!

 

[momof1princess]

my aunt always used mayonnaise on my cousin's hair as a precaution whenever a kid in his class would get lice-smear a jar of it on her hair (might take more w/ the long hair) and put a shower cap over it. if memory serves, you wash it out after an hour. i haven't actually done it myself, but my aunt swears it works.

Donya

 

[Karalynn]

A friend of mine would do the rid shampoo, then follow up with mayonaise and a shower cap at night for like a week! She has two daughters and they had it a couple times until they figured out where it was coming from!! (a neighbor!!)

I wouldn't cut her hair!! It will probably take you forever and a day to comb everything out, but with a mountain of patience it will happen! to you both!!!

 

[robinb]

I have not had to deal with lice yet (knocks on wood). I have heard that nothing works except for combing out the nits. Sorry . The good news is that you don't have to cut your child's hair.

I think that every kid goes through at least one bought of lice. My DD is in first grade (after 3 years of pre-school) and I am surprised that we have not had to deal with it yet (knock, KNOCK).

 

[Kae]

I have used Nix on my my Niece twice in 3 years. she has very thick hair I part it off in quarters, like you are colooring your hair & take thin sections with a old fashion what they called "tail Comb". And use the comb that comes with the kit. Wash everthing you can, put pillows, stuffed things can't in trash bags seal them for a couple weeks. Vaccume the matress, couches, chairs & carpets.

Good Luck to you.

Kae

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's a good website with factual and up to date information:
www.headlice.org

 

[ChristyJ]

Don't forget about your car too! I used to work with preschoolers and one of the most often overlooked things were carseats...

 

[Inside Ball]

My DD has had several cases of nits this term (starting to think that her friends parents aren't treating them) but ecalyptus oil is meant to be good just add some to your shampoo, or tea tree oil is good and the hairspray seems to be working for my DD at the mo. Good Luck

 

[graygables]

My now 17yo DD had a bout the summer after 2nd grade (got them at school...ugh) Anyway, she has enough hair on her head for 3 or 4 people (Locks of Love sent her a personal thank you note a few years ago after a donation!) and her hair was long, too. Condition, condition, condition, use olive oil, mayo, whatever and comb, comb, comb. The trick is to get all the nits out.

In our case, however, the lice were a 'resistant' breed and we wound up having to get a prescription lice shampoo. That worked wonders for the live ones, but we still had to do the whole combing thing. Also, you have to take care of all the bedding, stuffed animals, towels, etc. Our doc told us to put them in a bag and leave them for at least a month and only use new sheets, towels, etc. I had just had DD3 and we had to get all new crib bedding for her, too.

Good luck and no-ouch pixies to your DD!

 

[sanibelover]

I remeber sitting on a stool for hours having my mother pick the nits out of my hair.... (even 35 years later I remember.....) I also had very thick long hair.

It did work though. After a few attempts to clear them up with the shampoo, picking them out actually did the trick. Good luck!!!

 

[Merriwind]

Once you do get them out, try tight braids and lots of hairspray to keep them away. DD7 wears her hair this way whenever there's lice at school.

 

[melomouse]

.. gosh - I feel terrible for you and your DD. My DD - now 9, had severe "resistant" lice in both 1st and second grades. The school district policy is "no nits". If the school nurse finds just ONE nit(these are the eggs, not the lice) - the child is not allowed back in school..
Long hair is really hard. What I did after the nix shampoo - and you can use it in another 10 days - and should - Is comb out the nits every nite as she was watching TV or was at the computer. I got the comb that came with the kit, plus an extra nit comb I got from the school nurse, I'd cover her shoulders with a big white bath towel, and old white T-shirt for me and a glass of water and some paper towels on the side to wipe off the comb as I combed thru, strand by strand, section by section. Special attention needs to be paid to the temples, around the ears and the nape of the neck - the little devils LOVE warmth...
Being she was occipied, she let me comb. At least an hour each night. I would go into school eventually and tell other moms I was starting a support group for head lice! After I got over shame and frustration, I got down to work, and they were finally gone, but it took awhile.
Stuffed animals, all the couches and chairs and pillows, sheets, towels - GEEZ!!
My prayers and support are with you!!! Any further suggestions, please feel free...
melomouse

 

[Otto's Doll]

Another preventative is a product called Fairy Tales. I bought it at my beautician's salon. It comes in shampoo/conditioner and spray in conditioner. I use the spray in stuff, and it also helps detangle my DD's hair.

 

[tatooed goofy]

The teachers at school swear by the Paul Mitchell shampoo and the Aveda shampoo that have tea....??? I can find out the exact stuff. The name is tea something and they say the nits hate it. They shampoo every day to avoid getting it from students who come home with it. Just thought for when you get rid of them. Thought you'd like to know. GOOD LUCK!

 

[pyrxtc]

There was a break out of lice right before I left for vacation at my DD's school. A friend got a prescription.from her Dr. that was non-toxic and it worked great! Call the Dr for prescription, notify the school, and call all of her friends parents. They will thank you.

 

[allaboutmm]

Been there, done that, hope I never have to go through that again! Make sure you bag all stuffed animals and put in a cool dry place for 2 weeks, wash all bedding, area rugs, clothes, funiture, throw out any combs, brushes, clean seat in car. We were lucky, CVS sells a lice kit that came with the shampoo( really stronge-only use once a week) a gel to put on the hair and a comb to get the nits, and a cleaning spray for the funiture, rugs, and car seat. Also vaccum, change bag after. Cause if you miss one, it starts all over again. Good luck!!!!!!!

 

[DisneyFan09]

I also dealt with this about 6 years ago when dd9 was in preschool ! I washed everything that I could fit in the washer in hot water, and yes I ruined lots of darks!! Threw away the things that wouldn't fit in the washer, vacuumed and sprayed furniture for weeks!! I tried the Nix shampoo to no avail and ended up with a prescription from the doctor that did the trick. I also bought a Robi Comb at Walmart for about $25 to keep on hand just in case. It apparently zaps the adults but you still have to pick out nits and it is a little hard to use on long hair but I've heard it's a good product. Knock on wood I haven't had to use it yet but believe me I still check dd's hair on a daily basis and have threatened her within an inch of her life if she ever puts anything that doesn't belong to her on her head. We even make sure we take our own pillows to sleepover's and make people bring their own when they come here. I'm still a little obsessed about it. Good luck and just make sure to do all of the cleaning and washing, that's where most reinfestation happens.