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My Lice Rant
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erikacpht posted:
I have been a parent for a bit over 10 years. At this end of this past school year my children got Lice from another child in their class (two of my daughters are twins and were in the same classroom) Since then we have been on again off again fighting these little critters. This week not only do the kids have it but I have it as well.

I feel itchy, dirty and so very tired from all the washing of everything I can humanly possibly fit into my washer. Anyone else have a really hard time getting rid of lice?

We are moving to the prescription medication tomorrow. I hope it works.
7 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:My Lice RantI have been a parent for a bit over 10 years. At this end of this past school year my children got Lice from another child in their class (two of my daughters are twins and were in the same classroom) Since then we have been on again off again fighting these little critters. This week not only do the kids have it but I have it as well. <br /><br />I feel itchy, dirty and so very tired from all the washing of everything I can humanly possibly fit into my washer. Anyone else have a really hard time getting rid of lice?<br /><br />We are moving to the prescription medication tomorrow. I hope it works.
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Olivia_WebMD_Staff responded:
Hi erika!

My kids are now in college, high school, and middle school, but when they were in elementary school all of them had lice several times, and it frustrated me no end.

I can tell you what I did that worked better than anything else: I used the products that many African American ladies use on their hair. There are several different brands, and they all work wonderfully. I picked the nits, and then I coated the girls' hair down with the product, braided it into french braids and sent them to school. After a few days of being smothered the lice were toast.

We also put all their stuffed animals into plastic garbage bags and placed them in the attic for two weeks. All the other rugs and bedclothes were washed in hot water and dried in the dryer. And vacuumed, vacuumed, vacuumed all the upholstery, floors, etc.

I am sorry to say that I just finally shaved my son's head to a crew cut. :-(

Even with all this the kids continued to pass the lice around in the classroom, so I completely know your pain.

We just ran a story last week about lice becoming resistant to treatment . There may be some info in there that will help you.

What have you tried so far?

Olivia
Report This| Share this:My Lice RantHi erika!<br /> <br />My kids are now in college, high school, and middle school, but when they were in elementary school all of them had lice several times, and it frustrated me no end. <br /> <br />I can tell you what I did that worked better than anything else: I used the products that many African American ladies use on their hair. There are several different brands, and they all work wonderfully. I picked the nits, and then I coated the girls' hair down with the product, braided it into french braids and sent them to school. After a few days of being smothered the lice were toast. <br /> <br />We also put all their stuffed animals into plastic garbage bags and placed them in the attic for two weeks. All the other rugs and bedclothes were washed in hot water and dried in the dryer. And vacuumed, vacuumed, vacuumed all the upholstery, floors, etc. <br /> <br />I am sorry to say that I just finally shaved my son's head to a crew cut. :-(<br /> <br />Even with all this the kids continued to pass the lice around in the classroom, so I completely know your pain. <br /> <br />We just ran a story last week about <a href="http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20100726/head-lice-grow-resistant-treatments">lice becoming resistant to treatment</a> . There may be some info in there that will help you. <br /> <br />What have you tried so far?<br /> <br />Olivia
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Louise_WebMD_Staff responded:
I wore myself out the first couple times my children got lice. I ended up with what my kids call the mayonnaise treatment. I stopped the washing. (It does not good from what I have read) I douse them in mayo-mostly to make the comb-outs easier. Then use the lice comb on the children. (and myself)

This worked better than anything other than leaving home for 5 days and treating everyone for lice the minute we got to the hotel.
Report This| Share this:My Lice RantI wore myself out the first couple times my children got lice. I ended up with what my kids call the mayonnaise treatment. I stopped the washing. (It does not good from what I have read) I douse them in mayo-mostly to make the comb-outs easier. Then use the lice comb on the children. (and myself)<br /><br />This worked better than anything other than leaving home for 5 days and treating everyone for lice the minute we got to the hotel.
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beachgirl64 responded:
When any one of my kids gets lice I make sure to treat everyone in the house, even the dog. I treat day one then again on day 10, making sure to comb out with nit comb every day.

I don't go crazy washing everything any more, but I do wash all bedding, again for everyone in the house and I do vacuum very carefully. I do wash car seat covers and vacuum the car as well. If it is during the winter I also wash all hats, scarves, gloves, coats and back packs.

There is no easy way out, except as PP said, to shave your head!?!

Good luck.
Report This| Share this:My Lice RantWhen any one of my kids gets lice I make sure to treat everyone in the house, even the dog. I treat day one then again on day 10, making sure to comb out with nit comb every day. <br /> <br />I don't go crazy washing everything any more, but I do wash all bedding, again for everyone in the house and I do vacuum very carefully. I do wash car seat covers and vacuum the car as well. If it is during the winter I also wash all hats, scarves, gloves, coats and back packs. <br /> <br />There is no easy way out, except as PP said, to shave your head!?!<br /> <br />Good luck.
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121sweetie replied to beachgirl64's response:
I have posted this tip here before but it's worth repeating. A few years a go an adult friend of mine, who lives alone, got lice and went through all of the usual treatments, cleaning etc. but it kept coming back. She finally went to the doctor and they found lice embedded in the bases of her eyelashes, they were hiding in there and kept coming back! Once they picked those out she was cured!
Report This| Share this:My Lice RantI have posted this tip here before but it's worth repeating. A few years a go an adult friend of mine, who lives alone, got lice and went through all of the usual treatments, cleaning etc. but it kept coming back. She finally went to the doctor and they found lice embedded in the bases of her eyelashes, they were hiding in there and kept coming back! Once they picked those out she was cured!
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stephiev replied to 121sweetie's response:
The most important thing is to follow the directions on the bottle very closely. You must do the wash and then very spefically do it again the specified days later . The reason for this is that the shampoo does not kill nits. They will hatch, so you keep combing nits out every day until you rewash. By then, they have all hatched, but you have caught them before they can reproduce. Read about it online. And then, of course, bag up/wash or vacuum everything. Good luck!
Report This| Share this:My Lice RantThe most important thing is to follow the directions on the bottle very closely. You must do the wash and then very spefically do it again the specified days later . The reason for this is that the shampoo does not kill nits. They will hatch, so you keep combing nits out every day until you rewash. By then, they have all hatched, but you have caught them before they can reproduce. Read about it online. And then, of course, bag up/wash or vacuum everything. Good luck!
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An_221975 responded:
I totally understsand your trouble. The only thing is tha the medicine doesnt work if you don't get out all the eggs. And just FYI for those who don't know lice can and will live on pets. Especially birds. Lice are a part of the flea family. When I was younger we lived in an area that was infested with lice. They seemed to live in the dirt. (Which they can just so you know.) We actually used flea and tick shampoo instead of the lice medicine. We used it at least once a week and never got it again. It is worth a try. And the "mayonase treatrment" works really well. So does baby oil. Good luck and keep us posted.
Report This| Share this:My Lice RantI totally understsand your trouble. The only thing is tha the medicine doesnt work if you don't get out all the eggs. And just FYI for those who don't know lice can and will live on pets. Especially birds. Lice are a part of the flea family. When I was younger we lived in an area that was infested with lice. They seemed to live in the dirt. (Which they can just so you know.) We actually used flea and tick shampoo instead of the lice medicine. We used it at least once a week and never got it again. It is worth a try. And the "mayonase treatrment" works really well. So does baby oil. Good luck and keep us posted.
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lioness_10 responded:
I have three older sisters and when we were in school, if one of us got it we all got it because we shared a room and clothes and such....

the best way i found to kill lice is suffocating them.

I know it sounds disgusting but here are some suggestions that i know work:

mayonnaise: drench hair in mayonnaise, leave on for 2 hours then wash out.

or

vinegar: coat hair in vinegar and leave in for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Report This| Share this:My Lice RantI have three older sisters and when we were in school, if one of us got it we all got it because we shared a room and clothes and such....<br /> <br />the best way i found to kill lice is suffocating them.<br /> <br />I know it sounds disgusting but here are some suggestions that i know work:<br /> <br />mayonnaise: drench hair in mayonnaise, leave on for 2 hours then wash out.<br /> <br />or<br /> <br />vinegar: coat hair in vinegar and leave in for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
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