just found headlice on daughters hair, help.!!!!?

Question

She never had them a week ago, hairdresser checks for me and she said no, but she was itching like mad last night and this morning, and i looked, and it looks like she has them.

I have just boiled washed all her bedding and cushions, and my husband is away buying treatment for them today, will they be easy to get rid of as she hasnt had them long?

What is best to stop them coming back once they have gone, i tie her hair back for school, should i spray a leave in condtioner in every morning?

Thankyou to anyone who has some real answers, please no rubbish, thanks.

Sorry fogott to say she is at school, and she told me one of her freinds said last week she had them, only problem school will not send out letters anymore telling parents, why i dont know!!

She is 6 years old and this is the first time shes had them

Answer 1

Head lice are a widespread and sometimes unpleasant infection, especially among school-age children. A common misconception is that they are a symptom of poor hair hygiene - rest assured this is not true. Lice are equally likely to be found on clean or dirty hair!

Contrary to popular belief, head lice cannot jump, hop or fly, but are spread by sustained, direct, head to head contact. Children often get head lice from close contact when playing together, whispering, hugging or when they are in close contact with an infected adult. The truth is that anyone can get head lice - not just children.
Read on if you're looking for more information on effective ways to detect and
treat head lice.

Would you recognise a head louse if it was staring you in the face?
The head louse is a tiny greyish-brown wingless insect - roughly the same size
as a sesame seed on a burger bun when fully grown.
Nits on the other hand are the empty egg cases left behind after head lice have hatched and are found cemented tightly onto the hair shaft where they remain for weeks or months even when the head lice themselves have been cleared.
Nits do not mean you have head lice and you should not treat unless you find moving lice, no matter how many nits may be present.

Your own early detective work can make head lice manageable. Parents who regularly comb and check their children's hair are ideally placed to spot head lice and help keep the rest of the family free from infection.

Tips on detecting the lice:
Detection combing is the best, most effective and only recomended method of identifying head lice. You should not use any kind of treatment unless you have detected a living, moving louse following these simple steps…


Step 1: Buy a detection comb from your local pharmacy

Step 2: Make sure you have plenty of light - ideally natural daylight

Step 3: Wash hair well with an ordinary shampoo and towel dry until damp, not dripping


Step 4: Remove tangles with an ordinary comb

Step 5: With the teeth of the detection comb touching the scalp at the top of the head, start combing towards the end of the hair, keeping the teeth of the comb in contact with the scalp as long as possible. Keep a close eye on the comb for any signs of head lice


Step 6: Repeat the process moving round the whole of the head. It will take 10 - 15 minutes to do properly

Step 7: Keep checking the comb. Wiping it on a tissue can help identify the head lice. If a living moving louse is found, you have head lice. However you should not treat unless you find a living, moving louse

Step 8: It is best to perform detection combing on anyone who is likely to have had sustained head to head contact with the affected person

TREATMENTS available:
Insecticidal Treatment:
Head louse treatments containing an insecticide are the only method scientifically proven to treat head louse infection. Many experts recommend that insecticidal preparations be reapplied seven days after the initial application if live lice are found. This is to kill any head lice emerging from eggs that may have survived the first treatment.

However, before using any insecticidal treatment you must be sure that there are moving, living lice which need treating. If you only find nits - the empty egg cases - these may be a sign of lice that have already been eradicated.

A clinically proven, 10-minute application,
Lyclear Creme Rinse* has a good safety record and is effective against head lice. The active ingredient, permethrin, is based on pyrethrins - insecticides originally derived from chrysanthemum flowers. When a louse comes into contact with the permethrin, it over-stimulates its nervous system, which causes it to twitch rapidly. A louse will twitch continuously until it dies from exhaustion. This can take up to twenty-four hours to occur. It will be unable to reproduce or feed during this time.

Lyclear Creme Rinse is applied like a conditioner and is suitable for asthmatics and children from 6 months. So not only is it tough on head lice, but also kind on kids.


'Natural' Remedies - the facts:
Bug busting, wet combing, aromatherapy oils, herbal shampoos are all treatment options. However many of their claims are not supported by published evidence.

Wet Combing:
While wet combing is a successful means of detecting head lice, many experts do not advocate this method as an effective treatment. There is no conclusive evidence to prove that it successfully controls infections in the community. Wet combing as a claimed method of treatment can also be extremely time consuming, as it relies on someone applying conditioner and spending half an hour on every head in the family, every third or fourth day, for at least two weeks, in an attempt to remove the lice with a comb.

Electric Combs:
Battery-operated combs are intended for use on clean, dry hair and claim to 'stun' the lice. Again, there is no conclusive evidence to support this method.

Essential Oils:
While a very popular treatment option, according to The Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin Review, essential oils have no conclusive evidence to support their effectiveness in treating head lice1. There are also no regulatory standards for their use.

Dr Robert Aston, a communicable disease expert and co-author of the Public Health Medicine Environmental Group's National Guidance on managing head lice, comments:

"In recent years there has been an increasing public view that 'natural' treatments are safer and more effective than orthodox medicines. The insecticides in modern head louse preparations have an excellent safety record over decades and are effective when used correctly. Many so called 'natural' remedies, such as essential oils, are not only toxic, but have no reliable scientific evidence to support their claimed efficacy."

Ten Tips on Detecting and Treating Head Lice:

Check the heads of all the people in your home by detection combing


Only treat those who have living, moving lice - never treat 'just in case'


Treat them all at the same time with a head louse lotion like Lyclear Creme Rinse


It is very important to follow the product instructions carefully and to apply sufficient lotion


Ask your GP, health visitor, school nurse or local pharmacist for advice on treatment options


Check 7 days after the initial treatment, if you find lice still present, these have probably hatched out of the eggs since you put the lotion on. Treat again, in the same way with the same treatment to make sure newly hatched lice are killed


Check heads again a day or two after the second treatment and if lice are still present, seek advice from a health professional


If you see empty egg cases stuck on the hair it does not mean that you still have lice and you should not treat again unless you find a living, moving louse


Itching may go on after you have eliminated the lice but it should settle after a week or two


Don't be tempted to put more lotion on
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What happens if the treatment does not appear to work?
Some children have repeated infections leading their parents to believe that the treatment hasn't worked. There has been considerable debate surrounding the issue of resistance to insecticidal treatments. In reality, the most common cause of apparent treatment failure is not that the lice are resistant, but -

Misdiagnosis of head louse infection
There are many other causes of itchy heads e.g. eczema. Nits remain on the hair for weeks or even months after the lice have cleared.
Treating imaginary head lice
Even a rumour of head lice can lead to imaginary itching!
Not following the manufacturers instructions
Finding young lice from eggs not killed by first application of treatment
Reinfection by another person, usually close family members (including adults) or a 'best friend' who has not been treated.

Good Luck

Answer 2

I have had this problem numerous times also , i have 4 kids so you can imagine the hassle ! I like you ,check my kids heads all the time and i get so fed up as obviously some kids at schools parents aren`t doing their kids heads and we don`t get the letters home now either alerting us of an outbreak of lice in whatever class .. I use tea tree oil with a carrier oil and massage it into their head and cover all the hair , leave on over night but apparently the little suckers can only hold their breath for half an hour (nits i mean) so even leave it on for 2 hours to make sure then wash off with normal shampoo or a tea tree shampoo then go through the hair in small sections with a nitty gritty comb .This comb can be bought online , its £10 but the best tenner i have spent , each tooth is serrated so while your combing the hair , the serrates are catching the eggs too .. It really is a must in combating head lice . After use wash in hot soapy water or steep it in boiling water (thats what i do ) and it can be used over and over again (hopefully you won`t have too )
Good Luck

P.S . the zappers are a waste of time and money , totally useless

Answer 3

My children's school has a real problem with this too. Hedrin is the best product to use but do in conjunction with thorough wet combing too. Need to use Hedrin 7 days later to catch any that hatched. You can get a really good comb from chemists that has spiral prongs which get the nits and the lice out.
If you do this you should be comletely rid of them in a couple of weeks. Keep your daughters hair tied up at school and check on a weekly basis with the comb to make sure she hasn't caught again.

When my daughter first got nits I was freeked out and did all the washing & stuff, but I don't bother now. Just do the above and you should be fine. If the school has a problem thoughthey need to choose a couple of weekends and tell everyone to check/treat their childrens' hair over those 2 weekends.

Unfortunatley there seem to be loads of lice around at the moment and they are immune to many of the treatments. The hedrin one is good though coz it doesn't stink & isn't a heavy insecticide. Good luck with it.

Answer 4

There are horrible little things, the best thing I have used is Liceclear (not sure of spelling) and then comb with special comb. To prevent them coming back yes tie hair up and I have bought a spay from wilkinsons its teatree and lavender spray that on every day when she goes to school. I can also recommend Boots to an electronic comb which beebs when gets to an egg/lice and kills the lice by zapping them, doesnt hurt the child and can use everyday its about £15.00 - £20.00 but work every penny.

Good luck they will go after one treatment, but you have to keep checking hair on a regular basis.

Answer 5

First of all calm down. There are many ways to get rid of them, the most effective way is to use a shampoo that will kill the bugs then ( depending on how long her hair is) it may take hours of just picking the nits out an easy way to remove the nits is by completely saturating her hair with mayo and then wrapping the top of her head in plastic wrap for a few hours rinse comb with lice comb then pick whats left good luck....

Answer 6

Well I never had head lice, but my aunt had 3 girls, and I remember she was always washing their hair with headlice solution cause they always had them. It takes a while to get rid of, you have to wash their hair with the solution, comb it out with the nit comb and after every washing, keep combing out, gets rid of the eggs. Now I know lots of people that use sunlight dish soap and it works to get rid of them, and if after washing her hair with the headlice solution, then rinse it with vinegar, my aunt used that, it was cold but it made the eggs easier to come out.
My mother always believed that headlice goes to the cleanest head, many believe only dirty head kids get it, but thats wrong. So put some hairspray or mousse in her hair as headlice will not stick to sticky hair. You don't need a lot, just enough to say you have put some in hair. She did that to my hair, and I never got headlice at all.
Also yes you do have to wash the bedding, and thats great that you boiled it in hot water, as they can't live in heat. Also they have a spray to spray on your furniture as well. They wouldn't make that, if headlice didn't live off the head. My friends daugther got it, from trying a hat on in a department store.
Also make sure you wash your husband and your hair, just in case, you never know when she got it them, and she could of spread it to you or your husband, and any other siblings.
You should contact the school boards and request that parents be told when a child has been sent home with headlice, they do not have to give the kids name but at least other parents can look for it.
Oh and teach her not to share her hat, coat, tell her not to touch other peoples hair, and not to wear hats that are in the classroom if they have any. And teach her that once inside, always put her hat and scarf inside her school bag, thats if the weather is cold where you are. Good Luck

Answer 7

unfortunatly headlice thrive in school environments. They are becoming resistant to 'pesticidal shampoos'.

The best recommendation is wash her hair and when it is still wet brush it to remove tats etc. Pin her hair into sections and get a bottle of conditioner (doesn't matter what brand) using a small toothed comb (head lice comb) apply the conditioner to her hair, one section at a time (you may prefer to do it near a TV so she'll sit still). Comb every section methodically ensuring you reach round the ears and neck area. The conditioner stops the little beggars from sticking to the hair.

Its no ones fault she has then. They liv in long, short, clean or dirty hair. Anyone can get them, doesn't mean they are dirty etc.

I wish you all the best

Answer 8

My mum used to use a special shampoo for head lice, then leave conditioner in comb my hair with a nit comb killing all the ones she could see, after they had gone i used a tea tree shampoo. Also my school sent out a letter warning people and letting them know about what they were etc.

Answer 9

this is a common problem once they start school, i use tea tree oil shampoo on my kids as the headlice do not seem to like it, also what i do every time i wash my daughters hair i put plenty of hair conditioner in and comb it through with a nit comb, this removes them very easily and works out a lot cheaper than the lotions you can buy, i do this even when she has no headlice as i find its the easiest way to spot them early, good luck

Answer 10

treat her hair with the treatment tonight wash it out when ur meant to and wash her hair with tea tree shampoo and conditioner once or twice a week u can usually get this quite cheap i used to get the stuff out somerfield for 99 pence a bottle and lice and nite hate it so theres more protection from her getting it and re do the lice treatment in a week incase any eggs that u have missed have hatched and think of it this way lice only go to clean heads good luck xx

Answer 11

put plenty of conditioner in her hair every other day and use a nit comb to comb it through... there is also a load of repelant sprays that u can buy to put on her hair once u have got rid of the nits so they wont keep coming back... also make sure u tell her school or playgroup so it doesnt turn out that the whole school will get infected