Lice- Preventative Treatment?

Updated on July 02, 2014
F.B. asks from Kew Gardens, NY
11 answers

Mamas & Papas-

My brother's girlfriend babysits kids who have/ may have lice. She suggested that my brother use some lice shampoo so he doesn't contract them and/or pass them on. We haven't had to contend with lice as of yet, so I am pretty ignorant as to their life cycle, and what can/ needs to be done.

Any thoughts about this? All I can remember is that if someone in the house does get lice, all the linens and towels need to be boiled. Is that still true?

Thanks,
F. B.

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

My girls have very long hair. To prevent them from picking up lice at school, I always sprayed their hair with hair spray. I believe that repels them.

2 moms found this helpful

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L.H.

answers from Abilene on

If you put a few drops of tea tree oil in your shampoo it's supposed to repel them. I did this with my daughter when she spent the night with friends and a different friend had lice and didn't know it. I combed her hair and checked her scalp for 10 days after exposure and began the tea tree oil in her shampoo. She didn't like the smell very much but would rather deal with that instead of lice.

Lice is a big issue in our rural community school. Before we homeschooled my daughter shared a table with a girl they were constantly watching for lice. It was hard for me to know.

Blessings!
L.

5 moms found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

No, you don't have to boil anything.

There are SOOOO many old wives tales out there that "everyone" just knows is true! But it's not true. Please don't do this silly stuff.

Go to headlice.org and get good common sense information. Vacuuming will do more for lice prevention than a lot of other stuff.

Think of lice as little pets. Okay? Could your cat or dog survive in the washing machine? Maybe. Could they survive in the dryer? NO!

Lice breath air like we do. That's why people put stuff on their hair, to suffocate them. When we wash our hair the bugs get stunned by all the soap, conditioner, and water. So if you simply wash the kiddo's hair, leave it drippy wet, put on some magnifying head gear, and sit down with kiddo's hair in a bright light you'll be able to see the bugs, pick them out with tweezers or your fingernails, put them in a glass of water, and be done with that session.

Shampoos are a last resort. They are POISON and CAN get inside your child's system. They can MAKE YOUR CHILD SICK. So they should be used only as a last and final resort.

AND TO MAKE A POINT

Nothing at all, nothing, nothing, nothing you can spray, wipe down with, or anything else marketed to repel head lice does anything.

All those sprays and cleaners that say they do something to head lice? They sell a lot of stuff but people still have head lice don't they?

Tea Tree Oil is a product that does do something. It is an oil, it gets on the hair shaft and coats it. It stinks to the bugs, they don't like it. I made a small 8 oz spray bottle up every other day. About 6 oz of water and some Tea Tree Oil. I don't remember the "recipe" I just added some drops until it looked like it wouldn't be too oily but enough to make a difference.

Your child's hair should not be greasy but....just enough. I spritzed the kids hair with the water and Tea Tree Oil mix in the morning when I was styling it for the day. I kept the kids hair in pony tails or french braids if they'd let me. The

Head lice like clean people. That's why people with pretty oily hair don't get infested with them. Body lice like dirty people, they live on filth and nastiness. That's why they live in the nether regions of a person's body.

Head lice like clean hair, shiny pretty clean hair.

Dirty hair/oily hair doesn't allow them to stick their eggs to the hair shaft. It makes the hair unable to support their life.

You'll learn all this and more at headlice.org

4 moms found this helpful
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H.W.

answers from Portland on

Well, we have to wash linens and towels in HOT water, no longer is boiling required.

I haven't heard of any sort of preventative, other than making the scalp absolutely disgusting to the lice, which is dirty, oily hair. If she or the kids have brought lice into her home, the entire house needs a top-to-bottom clean-out. Linens and clothing all washed in hot water, furniture and floors meticulously vacuumed and any pillows or stuffed toys which can't be washed must be bagged for at least two weeks to let the lice die. Hair should be made free of lice, nits, eggs, etc.

ETA: Thanks, ladies, for the tip on the tea tree oil!

3 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Google Search:
"Fairy Lice Mothers Magic Mint" two in one revolutionary lice fighting tool.
Here is the website:
http://www.fairylicemothers.com/

I found this at my local health foods store.
They also have a website.
It is all natural.
Non-toxic

Or just Google search "Natural lice repellants" etc.

And keep in mind, that if one kid has lice, it can easily spread to ALL of the other people in that home.
And THEY have to have their heads/hair checked also.
They should be going to the Doctor.

I know one family, and one of their kid's had lice. THEN, their other kid got it and then the wife and husband got it.
It took awhile.. .for them to eradicate it.
And they had to check themselves daily... for it until is was all gone.

2 moms found this helpful
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A.B.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I don't let my kids wash their hair everyday to partly prevent it. There is nothing foul proof but the only thing lice do not like is dirty/oily hair. Other than that when and if you do have an issue do what Nervy girl suggested. They used to have spray that you could use on furniture and mattresses but it has been over 10 years since I have dealt with any that I do not know if they still have it.

1 mom found this helpful

J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

I would also use some tea tree oil in your regular shampoo and/or conditioner. This will keep them away from all of you. You can also add a few drops to a water bottle and spray around you house if necessary.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from New York on

Tell him to use some product in his hair. Lice don't like that. They like clean, washed hair.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.S.

answers from Portland on

We went through the real thing this fall, and it was terrible. I finally ended up using the Fairy Tales line from Ulta. Great Clips also sells the Ladybug line, it is all natural and uses different oils like tea tree, rosemary, citronella, and some other stuff. It is expensive, but they have a leave in spray in conditioner that will make the hair unattractive to the lice so they won't get on the head. I have to say this stuff works. I used the medicated stuff first, and dyed hair, but the lice kept coming back. Then, I used the Fairy Tales line and it didn't come back, even when they sent notices home from school that other kids had it; we didn't get it again. So, I would get him some of this to spray on and it should work well. Good luck. And, no you don't have to boil anything, just use the washer and dryer.

I.B.

answers from Saginaw on

I have heard that coconut shampoo and conditioner can help prevent lice. We used Suave ccoconut products when lice problems were frequent at my daughter's school, and we were spared... I'm not sure it was because of the coconut though...

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M.P.

answers from San Francisco on

Tea tree oil or a mint spray is what I have heard.

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