Hi Everyone~
I am so frustrated right now. My (almost) 5 yr old daughter has head lice. I run a family home afterschool program and I pretty much know where it came from. When another child had it, she was treated and came back when she was "lice/nit free". I even sprayed my entire home with the room sprays and cleaned linens, throw pillows and etc.

WELL, now my daughter has it. I found nits and a live lice (what is the singular form, anyway?! A lie? http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif ) It has been about 3 weeks since we were exposed and I had about gotten over the fear of any of us getting them. I treated my daughter's very long hair with the lice killing shampoo three days ago, resprayed the house, vacuumed, cleaned linens, pillow and etc. I combed all the nits out and was looking forward to just shampooing in 7-10 days to complete it and get it over with. I constantly combed out the nits that I had missed and I presumed that they were dead! I was horrified last night to see 3 teeny, tiny live ones in her hair. I reapplied the shampoo and blow-dried her hair....more linens in laundry, stuffed animals sealed in plastic bags, more vacuuming......AND, Lo and behold, tonight I found ANOTHER live one in her hair! How in the world is this possible? What can I do to kill these things!? By the way, no one else in the house has them. I feel like a mother monkey constantly picking her child's hair. HELP!! I have never heard of the shampoos or sprays not working.

Here's a link to a site that tells you how to get rid of them. Good luck.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/lice/factsht_head_lice_treating.htm

The only thing I could see that you may need to consider is that the shampoo you've used isn't going to work. A doctor can give you a prescription medication that is stronger than you can buy over the counter.

A shampoo with tea tree oil will help get rid of them. You can also wash your linens in a tea tree oil laundry soap or add tea tree oil to the wash and use it to clean everything else.

Hi Soccermom - I feel for you. We've never gotten lice before, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time. You might look online, as at my old house I had a neighbor whose daughter got them. There is a preventative solution you can put in their hair too. I don't remember the name of it. She was so freaked out by the lice, that she used that preventative solution for a very, very, long time.

I'd also call your pediatrician if you want a fast answer. They'd probably be able to prescribe something that will just knock it out. I'm sure you are sick of dealing with this! Best wishes.

BTW - Don't cut your daughter's hair because of this. I bet it is beautiful. Sounds like they are almost gone anyway.

Hi Everyone~
Thanks for the suggestions. I had called our doctor but we have to wait it out for about 8 days since I had already used an OTC medication twice (and earlier than I was supposed too!). I was told that I could "poison" her because of the insecticide if I do it too often and add the precription strength on top of it! Her hair is very long and has always been so shiny and beautiful....but now it is dry and dull. It is heartbreaking! She is so tired of the lice and says, "Mommy, why do those bugs have to like me so much?" The doc recommended using Olive Oil to suffocate them and just wash out after several hours. It sounded safe and so I tried that all day yesterday (combed out a few teeny dead ones) and washed her hair at bedtime. She fell asleep so I don't know the results yet. Sure helped with the dry and dullness though http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif

Do you know where I can get the tea tree oil/soap? Do you know the name of the preventative solution?

My children haven't ever had it before. I have known of nieces & nephews having them, kids at school, and other kids at daycare but I HAVE NEVER been so infuriated by bugs in my life!

Thanks for the help, everyone! I appreciate it so much. Just "waiting it out" is killing me and the fear of the rest of us getting them is horrible! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

Many shampoos with tea tree oil are available just call around to the beauty shops in your area to find a salon that sells one. Also you can get straight tea tree oil at your local walmart or drug store. This is a much safer route than using the the pesticides found in the normal lice products. You can also use the tea tree oil/tea tree oil containing shampoo as often as you like without the threat of harming your child.

Hello *SoccerMom*:

These things are awful to get rid of!

First let me state you should take comfort in the fact that lice will only live in very clean hair. I mention this because too many people feel that others will think they are dirty if thier child gets them. My assistant's daughter got thme twice last year and I remember her saying " I wash her hair well. "

Try vinegar. My understanding is that if you spray it on the hair and comb it through let sit (A friend of mine would wash it out of her dd hair next morning).

Poor little girl and poor mommy (what a lot of work).

Keep us posted. Good Luck.



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Kimi

Hi Soccer mom, I really feel for you. My daughter got them once from school. It took me 2 months to get rid of them completely. I was so close to shaving my daughters hair. Of course, I really wouldn't have. I used olive oil in her hair at night with a plastic cap.
I combed her hair every day for weeks straight. I'd get rid of them to find them in her hair again weeks later. I had to do it all over agian. I started putting tea tree oil in her hair full strength right before getting on the bus. Hadn't had a problem with it since. From what I'm told lice hate the smell of tea tree oil. It must work. Good luck to you. Becky

I so feel for you! I got them when I was 16! Thats even worse I think. My hair was also very long, my mom combed thru it day after day with a tiny comb...i hated it...
It would help to keep your daughters hair up in a bun or something kind of tight to her head, lice like "free flowing" hair.
Vinegar is a good idea too, it also helps. Seems like it takes forever, but if you are constantly changing linens ect. and spray'n them, they wont want to be there for very long! I wish i could help more!
Good LUck!

Hi. I don't know the name of that preventative solution. Also, that neighbor I was referring to moved away. I'll see if I can come up with any info. Hope things are looking up.

I find leaving the conditioner in the hair while you nit search with the comb is the most successfull way of keeping them at bay, they tend to fall onto the comb easily. Tea tree shampoo and conditioner is also excellent.

Hi Everyone~
I appreciate all the responses and suggestions. I had thought we were out of the woods but I found a few nits in my youngest daughter's hair yesterday! I had treated all of us with the lice shampoo, cleaned all linens, vacuumed throughly, and constantly checked everyone's hair. I had also bought the tea tree oil and used that stuff everywhere. I constantly am dabbing it on my kid's heads---we all smell foul like turpentine or something! I almost feel fanatical about it though.....when we go to the park, I almost feel I can see the lice jumping onto other kids! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif LOL We are leaving this weekend for Disney and I am worried to death that we will "expose" everyone! I remembered that I had used a shampoo with the Tea Tree Oil before but I figured that I would just get the oil instead. I cost about $7 but I figured it would go pretty far.
I just don't know how to tell which nits are old ones and which ones are waiting to hatch! I am hoping that since I haven't seen ANY live ones in a while that they were some that I missed. I just cannot believe how difficult it is to get rid of them! I also bought the metal comb and it was worth the $3.00 because it is sturdier and goes through my daughters' hair so much easier. My oldest girl has thick hair and she cried constantly when I would comb hers.
I wasn't able to find that shampoo at Target or WalMart---I know they sell it at the salon but do you know if I can find it elsewhere? Mlgable, I will try checking the labels for the proper name because I didn't do that yet.

Thanks for all your help. Those lice are driving me CRAZY!

I had lice a few years ago and I know the frustration! I had it for a long time and couldn't get rid of it. Finally I used Nix (I think that's the right name!) and that worked. It is a bit more expensive than the other brands but it's worth it. They carry it at Walmart, well at least the Walmart I go to. I was so ashamed to tell anyone, especially when my aunt asked to borrow one of my hair ties. I got it after staying at a hotel ( a decent one), coinsidence..or what - I don't know. ~ Katie

ok one thing i have learned is that head lice have kinda become immune to the over the counter stuff my daughter who will be five in november got headlice and it was the first time i had ever seen it i never had it as a kid or anything i tried all of the otc things and i combed and vaccumbed and all that good stuff i used the prescition stuff from the dr she still had it so i called the beauty chop were i get my hair cut they said bring here in and well see what we can do so i took my daughter there and they applied a combination of warm oils put her under the dryer for a little bit washed her hair and all the lice and nits were gone and we havent had a problem since

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mother of 3
ages 4,3,and 1
my pride and joy

live life to its fullest you never know when it may be to late to do all the things you would have done tomorrow

Hi All~
Thanks for all the replies. We are praying that the lice are gone.......We check daily and almost all of my house is either vacuumed twice daily, smells of tea tree oil, or is in plastic bags! lol Haven't seen a nit or live one in over a week. Just thinking about them makes my head itch, though!

The doc called in a prescription for Ovide lotion. It was expensive just paying the co-pay for my whole family...it cost $25 per bottle. The pharmacist told me that without insurance it would cost about $150! It comes in a 6oz bottle that is supposed to be enough to treat your hair twice but it took 1 1/2 bottle for my oldest daughters hair (thick and very long!) Strange that it looks like water but doesn't act like it. The ingredients are isopropyl alcohol (78%), terpineol, dipentene, and pine needle oil. The scent is very similar to that of the tea tree oil! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif I treated everyone in my house with the Ovide........and the cats got combed and treated with the precription meds from the vet just to make sure that they are gone.

I cannot believe the nightmare that this has become- I am so sick of doing laundry, vacuuming and combing hair with that fine tooth comb! From now on, we will be known as the "Tea tree family" http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by *SoccerMom* (edited 06-28-2003).]

SoccerMom, a few years ago I went thru the exact same thing. Hopefully you are well rid of the lice, but here is what worked for us:

Tea Tree Oil. You can buy just the oil at Wal-Mart, which I'm sure you know already. Add a few drops to your regular shampoo and conditioner. I still do this to every bottle of shampoo/conditioner we use as a preventative. You can also go to the health food/vitamin stores and usually buy the tea tree oil shampoo.

I ended up buying a plastic bag thing, sorry can't remember what they are called, that you use for bedwetters. The mattress fits inside and it zips up. We had been spraying my little girls bed with the lice spray but it didn't work. This was a last resort type of thing, we couldn't figure out why she was the only one in the house getting them.

We threw away her pillows, all of them. I had washed them but just as a precaution when we put the plastic on the mattress we bought new pillows.

Sprayed and "trash bagged" all of her toys. I didn't care if they were plastic, they were going to be bagged up.

After doing all of the above, we never saw another live lice again.

I hope this helps you some. Good luck, I know how hard it can be.

Thanks for the suggestions, Christie. I have pillows still bagged but hadn't thought about the plastic covers---need those anyway! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif I also will start adding Tea Tree Oil to the shampoo. Just a few drops? We really smell with me putting a drop on our scalps!

I found last night that my youngest has some nits---I am hoping that hers are old, dead ones. The thing is that hers are totally clear and very small. The main ones that I saw were brownish color. Very hard to see regardless, but I think I overlooked the clear ones! Both of my girls have hair almost to their butts and my oldest has extrememly thick, coarse hair.

Do you have any recommendations on how to remove the nits? They are so hard to find and even after "picking" for 4 straight hours, I still find some stray ones around! Someone recommended vinegar--and I have seen the "nit remover" lotion in the stores---but the doc told me that it is a waste because you have to comb them anyway. Any suggestions with that?

Thanks for all your suggestions and help. I have really gotten some wonderful advice. You guys are GREAT! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

hi soccermom
i am glad you went to the doc i had to get the ovide before when my kids had it and the regular suff didn't work and i tried everything even blowdrying a mayo wrapped head lol, i also ran a daycare and the first time a kid brought lice into my home i freaked!! i even got rid of my couches and bought a new set!! plus i had the public nurse come out and she brought me these really neat combs i think they are about $15 bucks each but the prongs on them are about three inches long and they are a bit sharper than the standard nit combs , that would probly work better on your daughters hair, the handle is yellow and i have seen them since at regular pharmacys,, good luck,,,

I had this problem about 2 years ago. The only thing I found to work was putting hair conditioner on dry hair. Just goop it on thick. This will make it easier to comb through and help the nits slide off. If there are any live lice it will make it almost impossible for them to move far , so you can get them out with out chasing them every where. I didn't have a whole lot of luck with over the counter shampoos to kill the lice. I fear that the lice have become immune to it . Maybe if your problem keeps up you should go to the doc for some prescription shampoo. Also the expensive comb is a good investment. It is fine enough to get the smallest nits out . I bought one at Walgreens.
You also need to keep up the combing with the conditioner every day until you see NO nits or lice.
I know it seems like a long time to do it but it worked for me. I did it every night for about a month.
Good Luck

[This message has been edited by Emily123 (edited 06-29-2003).]

This is what I did to remove all the nits from my daughter's hair. She had hair to her mid back. Get ready for this, it is not recommended for everyone http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif I couldn't get the comb thru her hair and it was a huge hassle. So I pulled, yes pulled, the individual strands of hair out with tweezers. She's a silly child http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/clown.gif and would sit for hours and let me pull her hair out, but couldn't sit still for 5 minutes to let me run that comb thru her hair. Go figure. I also found it was much quicker this way.

That is what worked for me. Strange but true.

BTW, I've heard everything from mayonaise to vinegar to rubbing alcohol to dog flea shampoo. You name it, I've probably heard it.

Thanks!
I ended up buying a "nit comb kit" which had changeable combs (one has 3-4" teeth, and the other 1" teeth) Good for different hair lengths. It also has a magnifier built onto the handle and includes a small brush for cleaning the comb and plastic tweezers. It was about $10 at CVS. It did ok but I still have to do very small sections of hair---very small. And it concerned me that I still randomly find nits. I feel certain that it is ones that I have missed but it infuriates me. I still have almost everything that will fit in a garbage bag firmly sealed up! Many people think I went overboard but I freaked out too! Lice are Nasty! AND too hard to get rid of to not take this seriously.This is the first time that I have ever really regretted my girls having long hair and I am trying really hard to not let this influence the way I feel about it! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif AND let me tell ya', christie, I HAVE felt like pulling the girls hair out since! haha
Did you really pull each individual strand that had a nit on it?!

Emily, is there any special conditioner that you used?

I am really about at wits end---Someone told me that they carried their child to the salon where they used some kind of machine to kill the lice and remove nits. Has anyone heard of this? I would have thought that they wouldn't accept people with lice because of the danger of spreading it to others in the shop.

YES, I pulled each individual strand of hair out that had a nit on it. I figured she had really thick hair, what was a few strands. HA HA After 3 weeks of fighting the lice I figured her hair would grow back. LOL

I have heard that when the nits are RIGHT by the scalp then they are fresh. but if they are like an inch down the hair then they are old or dead. Not totally positive about it but thats what Ive heard. Hope you are done with them. They make me itch just thinking of them. With my boys I threatened to shave thier heads if they get them (I have 4 boys). But I dont cut my hair so its harder to get rid of them and my hair goes just about to my knees.
Gina Marie


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GinaMarie (have BCCNS, GERD and more) have 4 boys (2 have BCCNS also)

No, just any ole conditioner you have. It is just to ease the removal and detangle your child's hair. Also to immobilize the live lice. Just be consistant and do it daily until there is no evidence of nits or lice. It will work ,just take time and work.
I have heard that it takes a week for nits to hatch out, so if you miss any nits then a week later you can expect live lice. That is why it is so important to remove EVERY nit.

[This message has been edited by Emily123 (edited 06-30-2003).]