Headlice bites

[akka naeda]

I have unfortunately caught lice from DD:(. I found a large one, so I did a chemical treatment to kill everything quickly and since then I'm keeping my hair well oiled and combing regularly. The total number of lice I have combed out is 4 - the big one, and 3 miniscule ones. While I hope I got the infestation at the beginning fine-combing thick calf-length hair gives the lice plenty of time to get away from the comb and my head itches horribly, so I'd like to know if anyone knows

- do lice have some kind of chemical in their saliva which makes the bite itch afterwards or does it only itch when you are bitten?
- how long does the itching last after the lice are dead/removed from the hair?

I'm also prepared to accept the fact that the itching is at least partially due to the fact my scalp is massively oversaturated with oil, and that the comb has scratched my scalp but I'm going to carry on with the oiling and combing for another week just to make sure I've really got rid of them.

[Flynn]

I'm no expert in the anatomy of the louse, but I'd guess that yes, there would be something that makes it continue itching after the bite. (Isn't that just true of all bloodsucking insects?) Also, the chemical treatment might be causing you to itch for several days afterward.

Following the chemical treatment, heavy oiling should work in suffocating the rest of them (if there are any). Look up their life cycle; oiling doesn't suffocate the eggs, so that should give you an indication of how long you'd need to continue for.

[EvaSimone]

Gosh I am sorry about the lice... that is awful.

I did a bit of research and apparently the itching is from the body having an allergic reaction to the lice bites.

I know their was a thread on lice a while back I'll go see if I can find it.

ETA: Here is what I found, I hope some of the info will help you. :flower:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=539&highlight=lice

[neon-dream]

I've had headlice 12 times, and they lay their eggs every three days and they are born pregnant. So if you missed one tiny egg, you will get an infestation again.
They're nasty little things! When I used to get them my Mam would use a family sized bottle of the lice removal stuff and then comb through my hair the day after with leave in conditioner and a lice comb.
This seemed to work for me! Hope you get rid of them, I know how horrible they are.
:flowers:

[NiAosSi]

Oh how horrible. I hope you feel better soon.

The saliva in lice is numbing but, unfortunately after it wears off it cause an allergic reaction which presents itself in the form of itching. Not until the small wounds heal will you feel better. Maybe 1-2 weeks?

Try to oil your scalp with a mixture of your regular oil and tea tree EO. These EO's work as well :
lavender
eucalyptus
rosemary
peppermint

I would think 5-10 drops is sufficient. And, comb the heck out of your hair!

[heidi w.]

I hope you are also washing pillowcases, pillow coverings, bedding, clothing and combs and brushes on a regular basis throughout this ordeal. VERY HOT WATER, too!

For a while you will be daily washing stuff.

This includes towels!!!

All combs/brushes should be freshly cleaned, and not allowed to sit overnight and used the next day again without cleaning.

DO NOT SHARE COMBING TOOLS, nor grooming tools.

Apparently lice like a really clean head of hair!!

heidi w.

[Aisha25]

You can do a henna,that helps to kill those buggers. Its good to add neem powder to the henna mix and just let that sit on your scalp for few hours. It should kill them just have to pick the eggs out.

[heidi w.]

HOW TO DISINFECT A COMB

You can wash the comb using a nail scrub brush and some of your shampoo. Then you can place this comb, if entirely plastic, on the upper tier of a dishwasher. The heat process is a type of disinfectant.

No dishwasher?
You can make a concoction of rubbing alcohol and water and spritz on the comb, or apply on a plastic comb straight rubbing alcohol with a cotton ball. Then rinse in warm water, and dry with a soft cloth, or air dry.

TIP: on combs of all types, buildup can occur between the teeth of the comb, especially at the bridge and we may not even see it. Use a toothpick to glide along the inside of each tooth and at the bridge to remove any built up gunk. Then clean, THEN disinfect.

The latter part, spritzing with rubbing alcohol/water solution....this can be done on wooden combs. Wooden combs can be washed if IMMEDIATELY DRIED VERY WELL with a cloth. Dry IMMEDIATELY the rubbing alcohol solution, and rinse.

Brushes, depending on the design and materials may possibly be ok on that upper tier of the dishwasher.

You can lift and loosen hairs and crud with a comb or pick, or even fingers. Then use BAKING SODA to scrub between the bristles with water. Rinse. Then use the same disinfectant, and rinse and press firmly with a cloth to dry, and set in a windowsill to finish air drying.

For BBBs you can do the above (allowing the bristles to be turned upside down in a pool of water since many handles & backs are wood)--sit in the solution, and then scrub with a nail brush. Then pat dry with a towel, pressing hard into the bristles. THEN set in windowsill to complete drying. Once COMPLETELY DRY re-oil the bristles with the teensiest amount of oil rubbed between your palms to produce a sheen only seen if hand is tilted in the light. Then press hard the heel of the hand into the bristles, and work in a bit of oil. Don't need much at all!!!!

heidi w.

[heidi w.]

You can do a henna,that helps to kill those buggers. Its good to add neem powder to the henna mix and just let that sit on your scalp for few hours. It should kill them just have to pick the eggs out.

While Henna (and Neem Powder) may well solve the lice problem, Henna, at least, also is a coloring process of the hair, as I'm sure you recognize. So this is not merely a solution to a problem of lice.

heidi w.

[Anje]

Like the others have said, the itching continues after the lice have been removed. I only had them once as a child, so I don't remember how long afterward it lasts. If it is an allergic reaction, as Eva Simone states, I'd expect the itching to last at least a few days to a week or so following the lice removal. Furthermore, you could be itching from the chemical you applied to your head. (Heck, henna makes my head itch!)

I'd expect it to be a lot like mosquito bites. If yours only itch for a day or two, I'd expect the same thing for lice. If they turn huge and purple and last for 3 weeks like they do on DH, I'd expect lice bites to as well. But that's my guess, not necessarily true.

[GlassEyes]

While Henna (and Neem Powder) may well solve the lice problem, Henna, at least, also is a coloring process of the hair, as I'm sure you recognize. So this is not merely a solution to a problem of lice.

heidi w.
I -think- she already hennas...so that'd be a good way to go.

[Xandergrammy]

I -think- she already hennas...so that'd be a good way to go.



But she stopped!!! :wail:

[Darkhorse1]

I think each person would react to a bite of a bug differently. So sorry you have lice :( Or had.

Just one note--lice adhere to hair when it's dirty, so it's better to keep it really clean. Something about how they attach to the hair strand. I know my mom told me this when I was a kid, and between that and ACV rinses, I never got lice.

[Thinthondiel]

Just one note--lice adhere to hair when it's dirty, so it's better to keep it really clean. Something about how they attach to the hair strand. I know my mom told me this when I was a kid, and between that and ACV rinses, I never got lice.

What I've heard is that lice prefer clean hair, because it's harder to make their eggs stick to greasy hair strands than to clean ones.

I haven't really found proof one way or the other, though.

[GlassEyes]

But she stopped!!! :wail:
Well, that just figures. :justy: Of course this would happen AFTER. D:

[Xandergrammy]

Well, that just figures. :justy: Of course this would happen AFTER. D:


:gabigrin: Oh well!

[Periwinkle]

You can also disinfect brushes/combs by throwing them in the freezer (in bags of course).

I had lice about a year ago and found something about having to clear your hair every day (be it through wet combing or a chemical treatment) for two weeks and then if you still have them after that, you got re-infested. I combed through all my hair with a lice comb for two weeks (drenched my hair in conditioner first - makes it SO much easier) and then used a chemical shampoo on the last day and that busted the little buggers.

[akka naeda]

Thanks everyone.
I used to henna, and you know, when I got the lice I was thinking that perhaps it is the fact that I have been hennaing every 2 weeks for most of the time DD has been at school, and then every 1 week for the last 6 months - 1 year that I hennaed that has stopped me getting them.

I'm using neem oil in the oil mix at night, so perhaps that will work just as well as using the powder although it does stink (I rinse it out in the morning because I'm not walking around in public with that on my hair:) ), and combing twice a day. It's going to be pouring with rain all weekend so we won't be doing anything, so I can comb my hair more often too.

I'm keeping my hair very oily - if it wasn't plaited it'd be all stringy (I do this for DD when she gets them) on the basis that it's easier to run a comb through the hair, it counteracts the dryness and stickiness you get with lice, and it's good for the hair too:).

And thank you for the info on oiling a BBB heidi w

[enfys]

When I had lice my mum refused to use the chemical stuff on me (I think there was a scare about learning difficulties from it or something, I can't remember), and just combed it every night with a thick thick coating of conditioner. Very thorough combing indeed. We did that for two weeks and I was fine. That was on classic hair, and happened several times usually in the summer. No idea why. Sharing hats?

Clean clean clean everything you can as much as you can.

As for the itching, I was too paranoid to scratch it incase the fresh blood attracted them again. I think the itching is partly just the nature of the wound because all scabs itch me, and the scalp skin is quite tight anyway.

Good luck with it. I'm now really itchy.

[jojo]

A good way to get rid of them is to get some cheap conditioner a couple of bottles for your length, add some tea tree oil and saturate your hair with it and then with the conditioner in comb your hair with a fine toothed comb, do this until you have combed near enough all the conditioner out. Headlice hate tea tree oil, plus it will sort your scalp out.

This method helped me in the past,you have my sympathies the itchies are awful.

Hope this helps.

ETA-just noticed your in the UK the asda brand 99p is what I used!

[Aisha25]

Yeah the neem oil will help some the powdered leaves are great to use and actually repells the lice from coming near your head. I think its the smell lol I know I would stay away if I smelt that :lol:

[Autumnberry]

There was an extensive lice thread started about six months ago in the Mane forum that might also be of help. I hope you have the best of luck getting rid of them quick!

[Addy]

UGH! I'm so sorry to hear this!

I got lice from my kids once who got it from my best friend's son. That one time was enough for me/us! I only had a few buggies like you and a few eggs too. I had the Head Start <kids' pre school nurse> nurse comb through my hair since she knew what to look for.

My BF's son was infested and she didn't even tell me! So much for best friend status! :rolleyes: It was horrible! DH never got it though.

We haven't had it in ten years or more! *touching wood*

I feel for you.

[HairColoredHair]

A nip of benedryl may help the itchies, it helps me with mosquito bites - which I react a bit poorly to...