My sisters recently found out they have head lice. I got my hair looked at and only found a few nits. We picked them out, but im afraid we missed some. If i missed even one nit, can't the lice just start over again? What should i do to get rid of them?
It is really important you take a lot of time combing your child's hair. Even if you don't use any of the shampoos or treatments, you need to comb - and comb correctly, with the right kind of comb. We have a special lice comb - not one of the plastic ones that come with the product. It is metal. I've also used an electronic comb I got a local drug store (with iffy results).
I've got two girls - they've had head lice 3 times since pre-school. They are now teens. They've gotten them from classmates (and in one case softball helmets being shared by the girls team. The first time my kids got head lice I was panicked and had to look the little buggers up in a dictionary to see find out if that's what I had.
Over the years, I've had to learn how to deal with them. (and my kids know more about lice than they ever wanted to). It takes a lot of patience and dedication. And just because one person in the family has lice doesn't mean everyone does. Just keep checking yourself and if you find lice - treat.
If you choose to use a lice shampoo, you have to read the label directions carefully and follow them EXACTLY. Same for any retreatment directions. One of the problems with lice resistance is the incorrect use of these shampoos/insecticides.
I can tell you research-based studies have shown again and again, that the focus of any treatments should be the child/adult's hair. If your time is limited, you don't have to constantly be washing laundry or vacuuming.
There is free help from lots of sources. For me, seeing the lice and how to comb was very helpful. There is a free video from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and you can watch it on-line. http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/lice/video.shtml
Here is information with regard to the ingredients and complications using Nix, an over the counter head lice remedy. Please be aware of the dangers.
Nix
Active Ingredients: Permethrin Representative Names: Nix What is permethrin lotion?(Back to top)
PERMETHRIN (Nix® Creme Rinse) is used to treat head lice infestations. It acts by destroying both the lice and their eggs. Permethrin is also used to treat pubic lice. Generic permethrin lotion is available.
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?(Back to top)
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
•asthma
•an unusual or allergic reaction to veterinary or household insecticides
•an unusual or allergic reaction to permethrin, other medicines, chrysanthemums, foods, dyes, or preservatives
•pregnant or trying to get pregnant
•breast-feeding
What drug(s) may interact with permethrin?(Back to top)
Tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are using any other prescription or nonprescription medicine that is to be applied to the hair and scalp. These may affect the way your medicine works.
What side effects may I notice from using permethrin?(Back to top)
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•itching
•redness or mild swelling of the scalp
•stinging or burning
•tingling sensation
I would protect my child (or myself) and take a more effective, safer natural route:
Mayonnaise, lime juice, green apple shampoo and a fine toothed comb.First run a fine toothed comb through your hair and then apply real mayonnaise rub as if it were shampoo.Next, apply lime juice on top of the mayonnaise. Run the fine toothed comb through your hair again then wash your hair out after combing for five to ten minutes and it should do the trick.Continue using green apple shampoo (like made by Suave, for example).Lice do not like the smell, evidently and it keeps them at bay.
Neem oil or neem leaves.If ready neem oil is available, apply generously on hair, soak for an hour and shampoo. Later comb out the dead lice.If neem leaves are available, boil a handful in a mug of water and use the water on your hair after shampooing. Soak with the water on your hair for few minutes after shampooing and rinse with plain water. Repeat if lice persist. Bitter but effective remedy.
Mayonnaise, plastic wrap, and bread tie.Completely cover the hair and scalp generously with mayonnaise and knead in.Wrap the hair and scalp with saran wrap and secure with a bread tie.Use caution with children to make sure there is no danger of suffocation!Leave on for three hours and the nits should be drowned.Comb through with a nit comb.Great for conditioning too.
Olive oil and shower cap.Saturate the hair with olive oil, put in a shower cap, or a Wal-mart size bag with clip, and leave in overnight. Brush out hair, then use nit comb to get out the lice and nits.The best nit comb is the metal one, as the plastic ones break (especially if you have thick hair).
Always wash all bed sheets, bed covers, clothes and towels when ridding someone of lice.
Taken from Collected Home and Herbal Remedies by Tony Isaacs
use acv on hair with a shower cap over night. clean house with borax wash clothes and bed clothes with it and vacum matress spray with borax leave clothes in dryer as long as you can or line dry in hot sun do it all over again to get the eggs I work in daycare and see this often this is what my boss tells moms
I have a daughter with fine, blonde hair who happens to get lice from the neighbor boys every winter. Her skin is sensitive too (Psoriasis) and we've had success with Licenex. My wife thinks its the peppermint oil that keeps her head from getting too dry. It also has "enzymes" which, supposedly disintegrate lice. Has anyone else tried Licenex, peppermint oil, or enzymes by themselves? Licenex isn't too expensive. Does anyone else have lice problems with sensitive skin?
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Head Lice? 
