Ok for the past two mnths we have been fighting lice. im tired of it as i am sure anyone who has gone through it is. I have cleaned my house top to bottom. i have done so much wash. i used rid, i also used pronto or something like that i got it at walgreens for like twenty bucks. ya well she came home from her dads yesterday & i found more. her & her sisters (she has 2 other sisters from her real dad) keep getting it. But nobody else in the family (in ours or the other two sisters) r getting it. Im so lost, i dont know what to do. Can anybody help me. I know cutting her hair wont help unless i shave it & im not doing that to her. i am already a clean freak so i know that i have cleaned things. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lice are resourceful little buggers. We battled it for at least six months. My daughter kept getting it in Junior High. Then my niece and nephew kept getting it. With them we battled it for two years. I dont know how much you cleaned. But we bleached, scrubbed, bought all new brushes, bought brand new everything. My niece and nephew kept getting them. They even switched schools in two different cities and kept getting them. Now finally they havent had them in about three months. Knock on wood. Sounds like the school needs to step up there cleaning a little. Throw away hair clips, brushes, pillows, stuffed animals. They can live on those to. We finally had to do all of that. Good luck!!
Make sure that you use a nit comb every day for WEEKS after treating the hair, to make sure that every last nit is out of the hair. Even one nit left in there can hatch and start the whole thing over again.
Not to sound out of the ordinary, but try putting some VO5 or some type of oil in their hair before, during and after visits to dads. Ethnic persons usually don't get lice because they use oils and grease in their hair. And, you'll probably have to tell their dad to go to Lowe's and get this flea and pest spray/powder and sprinkle/spray down the house, leave it for two or more hours and then clean it down. Also, playing in leaves and grass can cause this to happen.
It will not matter how much you clean your house or your daughter's hair if they are not doing the same at her father's home. Did you do two treatments on them? It takes 8 to 10 days for the eggs to hatch and then they are reinfested if you don't give another treatment at that time. You also need to continue going through their hair as those lice combs do not get all the nits. I had to use my fingernails to pull them off my children's hair. Just when I thought I got them all I went through their hair the next day and found nits that I had missed. It seemed like I was washing and rewashing things for more than a month. My niece used this stuff you can spray on their hair after the treatments that keeps the lice away. I am sorry I do not know the name of it, but it is sold where the lice products are. I can feel for you as I went through this problem about a year ago and never ever want to go through it again. You will need to spray all their coats or sweaters that they wear too. For things that can't be sprayed or washed - put in a bag and put in the freezer.
I found some interesting info on Lice:
Control of human lice is a medical problem that must be left to a physician, pharmacist or health department personnel. Treating the premises is seldom necessary since lice cannot live off the host for indefinite periods of time. However, when a premise treatment is required or demanded, permethrin 0.50 percent spray is labelled for bedding and furniture (not for use on humans or animals) for body lice (not necessary for head or crab lice). Some apply spray to body louse-infested clothing in lockers and closets. However, many feel that premise sprays are unnecessary.
Unfortunately, head lice are often very difficult to control. There are many, many reports of treatment failures for all current, commercially available Pediculicides both nonprescription and prescription. (There are no known answers, at this time, to the present serious problem of lice resistance to pesticides.)
It is reported that Cas-Tile soap will effectively kill lice. Also, snipping or cutting out individual hair strands containing nits is often very helpful.
Here is a nontoxic head lice control plan described in "Common-Sense Pest Control," an entomology textbook.
• Shampoo with coconut-oil or olive-oil shampoo, such as Condition 3 in 1, Rave, St. Ives Swiss, or V05. Coconut and olive oils will kill lice. Rinse with water only as hot as the child can tolerate.
• Shampoo again, leaving the lather on for 15 minutes with a towel around the head. Read or provide interesting activity.
• Comb to get out snarls and suds. Then, with a nit comb under good lighting, comb one inch-wide sections of hair, starting at the scalp where eggs are laid. Keep hair wet, clipping finished sections aside. Clean the comb often with tissue, placing soiled tissues in a bowl of soapy water to dispose of in the toilet. Nit combs are available at most pharmacies.
• When all the hair has been combed, rinse well with tolerably hot water. Heat with kill lice.
• Dry hair. Check for stray nits or the gray to yellow eggs. Remove with tweezers or comb.
• Soak comb 15 minutes in 2 cups of hot soapy water with one teaspoon of ammonia or boil metal comb for 15 minutes. Clean with floss or old toothbrush.
• Repeat weekly, more often if necessary, for three to four weeks. Check often.
• Wash clothes and bedding in hot water or place in a hot dryer for 30 minutes. BY SHAMPOOING AND CHECKING HEADS OFTEN AND BY TEACHING CHILDREN NOT TO SHARE HATS AND COMBS, YOU CAN HELP PREVENT HEAD LICE.
Persons with concerns or questions about head lice management can be referred to the National Pediculosis Association (NPA), a nonprofit health organization, dealing specifically with this problem. To contact NPA or to become a member and receive educational material (books, screening tools, handouts, mailers, and audio visuals) for a small fee, write to the following: P.O. Box 610189, Newton, MA 02161-0189 or telephone 614-449-NITS.
Some suggestions for head lice treatment failure recently reported in an Iowa newsletter from NPA are as follows:
Discontinue use at the earliest sign of treatment failure. Switch to a different product. Do not continue using the same product in hope of killing the lice. Remember lice treatment products are pesticides. Repeated use or increasing the dose could pose health risks.
• Never resort to dangerous remedies such as lindane, kerosene or pet shampoos.
• Never use lice spray or flea and tick sprays. The household sprays marketed for treating bedding, cars, rugs, garments and furniture are unnecessary. Vacuuming is a safe and effective alternative to spraying. Parents need not exhaust their physical and emotional selves by obsessive housecleaning and treatment.
• Manual removal (physical control) is crucial when lice treatment products have failed. Use safety scissors to snip out individual hairs with attached nits. Nit combing doesn't always remove nits, but it can work to comb out lice. Head lice move quickly throughout the head and it is helpful to have at least two people checking an infested person at the same time. Methods to help remove lice include tweezers, fingernails and double-sided tape. Manual removal is tedious and is not considered to be the total solution. It is, however, the only alternative available at this time and serves as a stopgap measure.
• Continue to check your children for lice often. Early detection and screening for lice and nits are the best ways to manage an infestation.
Hope this helps!
Good luck!
my daughter kept getting lice 2 years ago and I would freak out.you have to make sure all pillows are cleaned in washing machine in bleach. spray all bedding and couch and chairs. wash her hair in the lice shampoo let it stay in for about 15 min. take the comb and go threw every strand of hair. this is going to take forever. then in a couple of days do it again. if you have already done this I was told that the lice will get imuned to the shampoo. this maybe what is happening. call her doctor and they will give you some suggestions. that is your best bet. oh and when she goes to school keep her hair up and make sure she isn't using anyone i mean anyones hair clips or brushes....
Use the nit combs everyday. Dip the comb in vinigar. (I don't remember why) Sleep on pillows in plastic bags and put everything in a plastic bag after it is worn or slept on. My sister is a teacher and just went through this. We spent hours everyday looking through her hair and cleaning everything. You must stay vigilat. Oh I almost forgot freeze anything that can be frozen for 24 hours. That will kill them. Hair dye will slow them down. And the peditration said mayo in the hair over night because they cannot breath.
Hi Melisa
I know what you are going through. My daughters live with their father and for 8 months we fought the lice problem. We did not have it here at home but they did at their dad's but after a while he ignored it.He knew I would do something about it so just quit trying.Their step mother refused to believe they had it. ( though she had it herself as well sheesh!) So we tried everything you tried. Finally I remembered something I tried 10 yrs ago. Plain old cheap Mayonaise. Coat their hair from scalp to ends before they go to bed. ( it may take 1/2 to all the jar)
Wrap TP around their head so the melting mayo will not drip down their face at night.Cover it with a shower cap, TIGHT!! Next morning, comb through the hair with the mayo still in it. It will be gross and greasy etc...but youll have alot of dead and or dying bugs. The Mayo suffecates them. We did it in a weekend....they have been lice free ever since. Clean the house again though......put all their stuffed animals in a plastic bag for a week and buy them new pillows. Spray the beds with lice spray if you can find it.
Ck their hair every time until you dont see a reinfest.
The second you see the lice on their heads again....grab that mayo. it works better then NIX and that other stuff. Repeated use of the store bought stuff only causes the lice and the child to become immune to the stuff. Been there done that.
You can report the real father to CPS for neglect on the lice thing. It will force him to take care of the problem. Thankfully Id did not have to go that route but was very close.
Let me know how it works out for you. My girls have been lice free for a year now. :)
Huggers and good luck
Patresha
Hi I know what you are dealing with my step daughter was coming home from her mothers with lice for months and it got so bad that my daughter got them also. a nit comb is a must and cutting her hair can help even eggs at the ends of her hair can hatch and cause a reinfestation. but the shorter her hair is the fewer eggs you are lickly to have to pull out. second you have to be very diligent, i spent all my time doing just what you are cleaning the house and trying to get them out of here, when i reality lice only life for about a day off of a human host, if noone else in your home has them and your daughter is gone for two days your house is lice free, so stop streesing out over that, i know that that was really hard for me i felt dirty just knowing my stepdaughter had them. what you really need to focus on is taking a nit come to her hair every day as often as possible and getting every single egg out. something else to consider because things like rid are pesticides they can be harmful and are not for everyday use but there are some at home remidies that helped keep my daughter from getting them again and it's less harsh than rid and other things. i know these may sound odd but if you ask around i'm sure other ppl have heard the same things. first vinegar, plain white vinegar mixed in with her shampoo, it smells bad but it kills the eggs, just leave it sit in her hair as long as she will let you, and mayo is suppossed to help losen the eggs from the hair though i've never tried that one myslef. good luck and remember that by this point your little girl is going through a very hard time just like you, it's not fun to have to have someone pull sharp combs through your hair for hours. take care Kari
This is what a nurse told me. By a jar of "Queen Helenes Cholestrum Serum" smear into the hair and cover with a shower cap let it sit for 8 hours or overnite. Then wash it and comb it out well the serum suffocates the bugs and helps loosen and crystalize their eggs making them easier to remove from the hair. Also remember to put ALL stuffed animals and dolls with hair into a trash bag and put them in your attic, basement garage or someplace. The serum will also help moisturize the hair and scalp. My kids scapls got so dry after using those shampoos. Good luck!!
Lice are one of the hardest, most aggravating bugs to get rid of. We've had it twice in my house. Lice cannot live long off the body, so wash what you can in very hot water, and all the rest-pillows, blankets, comforters, stuffed animals, hats-just put them in plastic bags for two weeks. Mayonaise is the gentlest on your head, you can use it over and over, is effective, and it is also, thankfully, the cheapest option. You must use real mayonaise, not the miracle whip or other "light" type. Generic is fine. Thickly coat all of their hair, slathering it especially around the ears and close to the nape of the neck, and any other place you saw a lot of nits. Cover with a shower cap. Keep it on for at least an hour, or overnight if that is easier on your girls. Use one of the good, metal nit combs, not those cheap plastic crappy ones that come in the box with the Rid. Those don't work very well. If you try to comb through with the mayonaise still in the hair, you won't be able to see the nits, so shampoo her hair before you start combing with the nit comb. Start at one side of the head, and work towards the other, using clean hair clips to keep the "clean" (already gone through) hair away from the "dirty" (not gone through yet) hair. After every pass through the hair, wipe the comb off on a towel to remove all the nits. This prevents a stray nit from being transferred back to the hair. You will have to go through the hair in very small sections(about a 1/3 of an inch by about 1- 1/2 inches), and probably go over each section several times to make sure all the nits are removed from that section before you move on. This will take hours to do both girls, so you may want to rent a couple fun movies for your girls to distract them. You can either buy the spray to treat your upholstered furniture, or just put a clean sheet over them, and just change the sheet often until you know the lice are gone. Clean all the combs and any other hair accessories-I boiled mine nit comb so I knew it was clean. Check through their hair with the nit comb every day until you are sure that all the lice and nits are gone. It is hard to get every last one even with the most diligent effort, so keep checking. As long as you get the nits before they hatch, you are okay. Keep looking for bugs as well, and retreat with the mayo each time you see them. Make sure you have someone keep checking your hair, your husband, your ex, and everyone else in the family. Your ex will have to be as diligent as you are, or it won't go away. Is there any way you can get him to agree to you keeping the girls for a couple weeks while you all work on this? That would limit possible "re-contamination". That way you would know the girls are getting checked everyday, and that their bedding isn't reinfesting them. Good luck to you. Don't give up. This will work, and you'll get your life back.
Melissa........I also went through the same problem for a whole summer & then some. It was from neighbor kids who also were getting it from there other parents house when they visited on weekends. I was told by my doctor to even vacuum the mattresses. After using vaseline on the kids when they were going to be home all day(and continually combing there hair and pulling the eggs out) and cleaning ALL THE TIME....it eventually went away. I also did the shampoo often. I got to the point where I even told the kids to take their own pillows when spending the night anywhere. And not to lean there heads on peoples couches or anything. I also am a neat freak but it took me forever to get rid of them and keep it under control. Good luck to you .......oh and ive heard mayonaise smothers them too but I stuck to the vaseline. IT WAS GROSS BUT WORKED.
My sister and I went through that when we were younger. Thank goodness my sister had it much worse than me because she LOVED short hair and I always had long hair. We think we actually got it from going to a lake beach when we went camping. Mayo was the best thing we used. (Slept through the night with it on our heads). It was gross but it worked. We had done the rid multiple times and picked and picked through our hair, got all new brushes and put all our bed linen in the washer daily on hot and my mom even baought extra pillows and we rotated them daily. I don't remember how many but I know she would put them in plastic bags for awhile...we had a couple different days. It was horrible. I was actually like 16 at the time and got it from her who was 12. So we were older, very clean kids. We were told by the doctor that they like clean heads over dirty ones. Shampoo...There are some with a certain kind of acid in it that the lice don't like...I don't remember what the acid is at this time and I'm sorry but they said if you use shampoo with that acid in it, that it keeps the lice out of your hair.
BEST WISHSES
Melissa M.
First of all it sounds like she is picking it up from her dads home. They may not have gone to the same extent to get rid of it as you did.
I am a Cosmetologist and you NEED to disinfect the whole house!
Use the RID and do it all over again. Report to your Case Worker from Child Support what is going on and let them know so they can get involved.
Keep sparying the house and bedding ect. with the spray for a couple of times. I know it is costly. But it is something that needs to be done. ALL BEDDING, mattresses, couches, carpet EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE DE-BUGGED!
As for your daughter. You did not say how old she is but after you use the RID then when she is in the tub allow her to PEE in the water. YES, I DID JUST SAY PEE IN THE WATER.
The American Indians used to use URINE to remove Head Lice.
When my youngest son was in daycare as a 2 year old it kept going around but he NEVER got it. I truly believe that is the reason why. He would get into the tub and I would wash him and he would pee in the water well I would just swoosh it around and it was still in there. But you could not smell or see it. But I did use the water to rinse his hair after shampooing.I also always used Tea Tree Oil in the tub a drop or two. (Get a bottle at Wal-Mart or the health food store about 5 bucks!)
Then try having her eat BREWERS YEAST. Put some into foods, like cereal, pancakes, etc. This also works to keep mosquitos away without the bug spray or chemicals and can be given to your dog and I believe cats---check with your doctor or talk to a good nutrionalist or herbalist.
I go to GNC and to Willoughby Nature's Way--the second is much better about being knowledgable. But at the one GNC by Willoughby Target they are very good there.
Or look it up on line or get a book--
EARL MINDELL's Vitamin Bible
EARL MINDELL's Herb Bible
both are great books to give you ideas for what to FEED your family and the illness to make it go away or if you want to take the vitamin or Herb they tell you.
MYSELF---NOTHING GOES INTO MY BODY OR MY CHILDRENS BODY UNTIL I LOOK UP EVERY INGREDIENT!!!
That is me and my Doctor is well aware of my practices as he is my last resort unless we are extremely ill then we see him and then go to the Healh food store on the way home.
I hope this has helped you and good luck.
Do not send your child to school with lice and make sure you contact the school and the health department about this issue they can help you farther. Explain what you have told us.
Good Luck,
Corinne
If you go on line you can look under Lice or under Pediculosis Capitis this is the medical term for lice. Also, if the girls are older and have pubic hair make sure they comb that out as well.
The lice like to lay eggs in warm moist places behind the ears at the temp and crown are all good hiding spots. There is a liquid soap to get to do the body with to remove the eggs also, you can go to Sally Beauty Supply-- get barbacide and use a Capful in the Laundry to rid the clothes AFTER the RID TREATMENT for the wash. THIS IS NOT REALLY FOR CLOTHES BUT WE USE IT IN THE SALON FOR THE TOWELS WITH HOT WATER WHEN A LICE CASE COMES IN. ALSO, YOU CAN USE THE BARBACIDE TO WIPE DOWN ALL SMOOTH SURFACES AND DISENFECT. I myself have used it in the shower after getting a client with lice as you then feel like you are crawling with bugs even if your not!
Lice JUMP so it really does not matter and Yes they do like clean hair best!
Larkspur tinture at bedtime is good for the entire head before bed. And use a Germicidal shampoo to remove such as the Tea Tree oil shampoo. Or put a few drops into your hand with the shampoo and mix then put on head, becareful of the eyes as it does get cool and can burn the eyes, use regular soap and water to remove from eye keep flushing until it is gone.
teatree oil wash hair in it and let it stay in for 5 -7 min then rince
Dear Melissa, I went through this a long time ago but I can tell you what works. The CDC will not tell you this they, will tell you to either see your doctor for a prescription or buy over the counter stuff that is toxic. Poison and I have heard stories about little ones having permenant nerve damage from this stuff. People use it more often than they should, too much at one time and do not no the effect etc.
I Used over the counter, it came back, Called my doctor got a prescription, it came back.
I finally thought I would lose my mind. I started looking for natural remedies. Surfing the net. Came across a web site called by the planet.
Neem oil, Neem Shampoo, Neem Soap. Might find it in a health/naturalist store.
This will run you about $40.00. Use the soap/shampoo as directed. Continue use for 6 weeks. I use this stuff all the time gets rid of most skin irritations too. The Neem oil stinks but you must put it on your daughters hair 1 time a week on the weekend so she doesn't smell funny at school.
If you run out of the purchased product they may return.
Some people say vinager works after you have gotten rid of the louse. Rinse your hair in vinager and the lice will not return.
Once their hair has been washed, make sure all bed clothes pillows etc are clean. If you cannot afford to buy new pillows put them in air tight plastic bags for 30 days.
Couch, chair, curtains, rugs anything that might be contaminated must be cleaned or sealed for 30 days. Yes I covered every mattress, bagged every pillow and blanket.
They will tell you a shorter time. Do it for 30 days!!!!
If you have 2 sets of linens put the one they are using in the bags. Wash everything in hot water if you can bleach it. Bleach kills everything. 1/4 cup of bleach to a quart of water. Better check that ratio. Do not put bleach on your child. buy new Hair supplies bands, barretts, brushes and combs. They will tell you to wash them boil them. Get new ones. If you cannot find the product contact me and I will send you the address I will look it up for you. Good Luck Brenda
Hi Melisa,
I dealt with lice with my oldest daughter 2 years ago. She was the only one in the family who got it (she got it 3 times throughout the school year). What I did, and it worked, is coated her hair w/ Murphy's Oil Soap (it is a natural pesticide, and is not toxic- unlike RID or Nix), and put it up in a shower cap for 10-15 min. Then rinse it out (be careful not to get it in the eyes, it will sting) with warm water. Follow up w/ a rinse of white vinegar (warm it slightly so that it does not feel so cold to the scalp). Follow this with a normal shampoo & conditioner. The Murphy's will kill the lice and leaves a coating on the hair that acts as a repellant to new lice. The vinegar loosens the eggs, making it easier to comb them from the hair. You can use real Mayo, but it must be left on for several hours to work, and it can be pretty messy. You should repeat the treatment in 10-14 days, just to be safe (in case any eggs were missed and hatch). As a precaution, every one in the family got the treatment. Also, any plush toys or pillows were placed in black garbage bags and stored in the shed for a month(to prevent infestation). Any brushes, combs, or hair accessories should be sterilized or replaced. All hats, bedding, coats, and recently worn clothing were washed, and dried in the dryer. All carpet and upholstery should be thoroughly vacuumed and the bag immediately thrown into the garbage outside. We have plastic mattress covers on all of our mattresses, they zip on, and this would keep the mattress bug free (it's also nice to have them when flu season hits)! If your girls spend time with their Dad, make sure that all of this is being done at his house too, or all of your efforts will be in vain. Make sure that her school has done a head check of all of her classmates, and that they have a strict policy of re-checking for nits (eggs) before allowing a child to return to school, or you could end up with the same problem in a couple of months.
I know that lice can be frustrating and exhausting to battle, but you are not alone! Anyone can get lice, it doesn't matter how clean you are, they actually prefer a clean healthy scalp! Just be vigilant and you will get rid of them, but be careful about using toxic pesticides in your battle, as these can be harmful to your family. Good Luck, I hope this helps!
I have two step children and they also kept coming home from their moms house with it. Their mother is not very involved so we would get rid of it for months and one visit and they would have it again. You do have to wash all bedding, toys etc BUT the ONLY way you will get rid of this for good is with the lice comb. It is a severe pain, but you HAVE to use it for at least two weeks every day. Also high heat kills the lice, so instead of always having to wash the bedding and etc daily, just toss it in the dryer every morning after they get up. Good luck with this... its one of the hardest things I have ever had to get rid of.
Hello there ,
WEll i have a friend that has gone threw that too and the pharmacist told her that the lice have become immune to the shampoos and told her to try the electric comb they sell them at walgreens and are reusable so its worth a try it did get ride of my friends trouble and she has 5 girls.Best of luck!
Brandy