... for 4 weeks now. I am the mother and have it as well. We shaved our son's hair which resolved it for him but my daughter and I are still suffering. We have tried Rid 3 times, prescription meds 2 times, olive oil , Listerine, dying our hair twice, licekillers products, and ceder oil and STILL we have it. I have washed and rewashed everything and I mean everything. I need help! I feel like I am ready to loose it. I can not concentrate on anything but these bugs. I do not have tons of money or I would hire someone to come to my house. Please can anyone help me!? Is there any "super lice" that is immune to any treatments whether natural or chemical. Please I am DESPERATE!!! Lisa
Head Lice - I am desperate and feel like I am going crazy. We have been battling lice in our family?
Question posted by fithappens on 12 April 2011
Last updated on 22 March 2024
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
9 Answers
Karaharvey
22 March 2024
I am having the same problem no one can see them in my hair and if they do the comb will not pull them out because my hair is so fine and very thin. Every one keeps telling me I am crazy but I am going crazy trying to get rid of them can’t believe this. None of the stuff works like it says. The lotion does not kill the eggs it keeps the bugs from crawling must kill them but then 3 or 4 days later as soon as another egg hatches I have them again
AmyGwenn22
5 Oct 2022
I am also suffering a similar problem. I had a transplant, spleen removed,So no immunity. A 'share' ride my partner took caused this.The lice must have been on a backpack,seat, etc. I truly feel your pain, there are days my head feels like a hornets nest; I throw up, can't eat or get anything done. I'm supposed to move by Nov but can't see it. I've done various things and still it remains and has spread.. I have a couple ideas that could help, Walgreens sells "Pesticide free" super lice treatment that could work, using mayonnaise and leaving it on 3 hours before shampooing, vinegar followed by olive oil too. My partner smokes so the nicotine repels them (not an option for me) but I heard of a company(someone said they are closed, I don't know but) they specialize in doing the treatment and combing the nits/lice out. It's called "MIRACLE SISTERS LICE REMOVAL" and I think they're in Overland Park,KS. If all else fails ask your GP about Ivermectin. My DR has ordered it for me as a hail Mary. Good luck.
Christinem909
4 June 2020
Try Dematriuos earth you can buy it at Walmart it's in powder form and apply it to hair dry just rub it in all over cover with a bag and leave it on over night in morning rinse out and comb out with conditioner
jennife
26 Aug 2011
Hi there, our family and quite a few families at our vacatioing spot recently got lice! We are staying in a trailer so its close quarters. Anyways, we have laundered all clothes and bedding, bought R&C shampoo/conditioner; used the spray on everything! A day later, eggs were still found in my younger son's hair. The treatments don't kill eggs!! Anyways, googled lice eggs and found out white vinegar takes the eggs off the hair shaft! Leave it on for 30 min then use warm water to rinse out. Shampoo and condition as usually. It's a good idea to put teetree oil in your conditioner as a preventative.
fithappens
13 April 2011
Thank you everyone for your amazing support and advice. I took both my daughter and myself to a professional nit picker who said we were not re-infested. I was shocked. I was so convinced we were. What she said was we both had severe dry scalp, me more than my daughter from all of the treatments we did. What I was seeing was dry flakes. I know she is the professional but i am still a bit nervous, especially because I am still itchy. She suggested I go to a dermatologist to treat the dry scalp. So that is what I am going to do. Maybe it will put my mind at ease. I believe that the nightmare is almost over. Thanks everyone again!!
caringsonbj
13 April 2011
my Aunt had the same problem with the little girl they adopted, when they got her she was in a situation until they weren't aware until they got her home (She was not living in a desirable situation) thats another reason my Aunt and Uncle took this child, it's been a couple of summers ago but I am not kidding you she used everything from one prescription to the other things that people suggested, Once discovered her things that were brought to the house were put in a plastic bag and discarded, she used one over the counter I called her and she cannot recall she said it was such a horrible nightmare that as long as it didn't harm her in any way that was her goal, of course there are some that tell you not to repeat because they can cause seizures, I hear the same desperation in your voice that my Aunt had in her's
My Aunt said she was consistent about killing the eggs and using one of those picks to keep any new ones she saw come into her hair she worked to make sure they didn't thrive, I wanted to tell you this I am sure from her frustration at times and what you've been through it seems like you are alone but you are not! I wish you the very best
DzooBaby
12 April 2011
Pattishan gave good advice as always! Also be sure you are vacuuming thoroughly! Vacuum all carpets, drapes and even mattresses thoroughly!! Any stuffed animals the kids have, either throw them away or place in a tightly closed plastic bag for 3-4 weeks to be sure any eggs that hatch are dead before coming in contact with the kids again. Make sure all bedding and clothes are washed in the hottest water you can put them in and then dry in the drier on the hottest setting you can. Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum! Like Patti said, make sure you are combing through and getting rid of all nits. Make sure your children know to not share brushes, combs, hats etc with ANYONE! You might discreetly enlist their school nurse to check all kids in the school. There may be children who are in your childs class who are reinfesting other kids. It is a good idea, as well, to be sure any alternative homes they go to are treated in the same manner.
If they live part time at dad's or grandmas their bedding and rooms need treatment there too. Good Luck! Lice can be very hard to rid of and takes a lot of work and vigilance on your part!
DzooBaby
12 April 2011
I dont see that you have tried Nix. Nix is first line treatment for lice. You should use it once then again 7-8 days later-no sooner-and should be done only twice. If this does not kill the infestation and you have laundered all bedding and clothes, vacuumed all carpets, drapes and mattresses and have gotten rid of or smothered stuffed animals then you should speak to your Dr or the kids pediatrician for advice. there are Rx strength lotions and shampoos and there is a pill for lice infestations.
DzooBaby
12 April 2011
Also when you vacuum be sure you remove the bags from the house immediately! Dont let the bag sit around in the vacuum cleaner in the house.
Inactive
12 April 2011
You are too sweet DzooBaby, I appreciate your kind words. You know, I truly did have a problem with my daughter for about a year and half, and I treated and cleaned, sterilized and vaccuumed and you know what 2 pediatricians told me, it is the eggs not being thoroughly removed from the hair and that the fact that my daughter's school day care was not admitting that other children had them, that she was getting re-exposed as soon as the second NIX treatment wore off that was the reason for the constant plague. The day care teacher got fired for not even washing or spraying the nap mats. The school had actually repainted the day care, fumigated it and changed the carpets and this day care directress did not do the one thing that would have made a huge difference.
Both doctors said there was NO WAY my daughter was the only child who had them and that lice seek body heat, they will not linger on a surface that is colder than body heat, and that they eggs are glued to the hair, so, they don't just fall out onto surfaces either. If this Mom can not find the brand name Comb Out Gel, call the NIX hotline and look at a health food store for a product that has enzymes or another type of solution that will dissolve the glue, I swear that is the Key. She never had them again after we did the 3 treatments in 6 weeks program and the school replaced the mats. It was a Christian Daycare, the directress was fired mid day. The poor lady who took over temporarily pulled me aside and said, "You were the only Mom who hasn't cursed me out, Thank you, this is a Christian daycare but these parents are so mad, they have lost their Religion. I will tell frustrated parents to make sure the change nap mats, and pillow cases, any surface that actually would come into contact with the infected persons head. Pattishan
DzooBaby
12 April 2011
Back when I lived in Missouri, my sons grade school had a huge problem with them. They hired several local nurses for a few days to go through the heads of all the kids and any kids found to have nits were sent home and not allowed to come back until they were nit free. They sent home a flier about making sure bedding was washed as well as all clothing and carpets, mattresses, and drapes vacuumed. They also mentioned the stuffed animals too. My brothers kids had them and their pediatrician said that they should either throw away the stuffed animals or to tie them up in plastic bags for a month in case eggs were in them and hatching then reinfecting the kids again. Everyone who sleeps with a child should be treated too even if they do not have symptoms. They also stressed checking behind childrens ears and the napes of the neck.
I'm not sure nowdays they would be allowed to check all the kids like we did at that school with privacy issues being what they are today but it was the only way to completely irradicate them! Not all parents were checking and it was reinfecting the children who were treated. Thank God my son never got them! My brother and his wife were mortified and I told them it happens, even to scrupulously clean people, it happens! But you are right. Even though lice do not live on surfaces the nits can.
You always do give great advice!
DzooBaby
12 April 2011
Ive even seen nits in the seams of clothing.
Inactive
12 April 2011
Once a person manages to clear the lice up, the use of mint smelling shampoos or conditioners tends to make them less likely to get them again. The lice do NOT like the smell and will avoid that person, usually. It will not kill lice, eggs or stop eggs from hatching, but it will coat the hair with a smell they hate.
Inactive
13 April 2011
Lice do't like the tea tree shampoo, after you get rid of them try that about once a wk. Sounds like the kids are getting it from a friend or family member. This happened to my daughter, everytime she was with a certin she would get them. It cost me over 100.00 to get rid of them not to mention her hair was very long. I was one mad mother everytime this happened! When I found out where she was getting them I kept her away from them.
Inactive
13 April 2011
Of cours patti & dzooBaby are right! But the stuffed animals usuall can be washed in very hot water without harm. We do this for our dog toys, & also throw them in the dryer on high heat.
Inactive
12 April 2011
I think one of the problems might be that you are not getting the eggs out of the hair and they are rehatching causing another wave of the bugs. I was told by the pediatrician that the over the counter medication NIX is the preferred med, but also that the lice have a two week life cyle, egg to egg laying adult, so I devised a plan that finally stopped it in my daughter.Pediatrician did say to treat her 3 times in 6 weeks, so, to make sure even the last egg was killed and combed out. There is a product that used to be called Comb Out Gel, that dissolves the "glue" that the eggs are stuck to the hair with. Try this, Shampoo with Rid, if there are any live bugs, if there are just eggs nits, you can skip this part, but if it were me, I would do it anyway. Apply the Comb Out Gel, and comb the hair according to directions on the package, seems like it says for about 10 minutes, rinse, then apply the NIX according to the directions and rinse thoroughly.
NIX kills the eggs, the lice and prevents reinfestation for 2 weeks, in 2 weeks, you need to repeat the procedure, and then again in 2 weeks. I am going to urge you to make sure there are no abrasions, cuts, open places on either of your scalps, it is not wisdom to put medicine or chemicals on a scalp that has cuts, I mention this since you said you have used multiple products on both of you. Rid does not really kill the eggs, NIX will, it will also prevent reinfestation for 2 weeks. If your daughter spends the night out anywhere often, explain to her, that while you are treating for the problem, she won't be able to spend the night out and keep her home. If you are divorced and she goes to her Dads' on the weekends, that may be where the reinfestation is occuring, that was what happened in our case. Best of Luck, this is the way we finally got rid of this plague. Pattishan
MichellePerez1027
12 April 2011
my sister had the same problem with her daughter... she eventually cut her hair shorter so the RID wouldnt have so much to cover and that she could get all the eggs out. its possible for the RID not to kill just one egg n it hatches n pro-creates like crazy. so make sure you get ALL the eggs out with the special comb.(you dont have to cut hair, its just safer n easier when it comes to the eggs)... oh n she said the metal comb is the only one that works good. and i remember her combing a peice that she saw an egg on n it didnt grab it the 1st time. so really look hard n take you time... hope this helps :)
Karaharvey
22 March 2024
Done it all have no one with good enough eye sight to pick them all out have very thin fine hair and the comb will not remove the eggs my hair is too fine and thin
Related topics
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.