Question:
I was wondering if anyone could help me. My sister has found nits in my
niece's hair. My niece, who is part African, has long, really nappy
hair. I just found out that it is rare for black children to have this
problem. Anyway, it's like physical torture even just to comb
conditioner or oil through her hair; that's how difficult it will be to
comb.
I called the NIX hotline and the operator told me it would probably be a
waste of time trying unless we cut her hair. If that is what it will
take to get rid of them, then of course she'll have to have it cut. But
we don't want to do it if there is any other way. I'm not being
over-dramatic when I say that cutting her hair would be traumatic for
her. Nevertheless, we will do anything to get rid of them.
Is there anyone out there who has dealt with lice in black children's
hair? We are desperately needing this info as soon as possible.
Answer:
I called the NIX hotline and the operator told me it would probably be a
>waste of time trying unless we cut her hair. If that is what it will
>take to get rid of them, then of course she'll have to have it cut.
That does work! In some countries, lice are just not considered a serious
problem--the entire family simply shaves their heads and washes all bedding
and headwear. No more head lice. But in the US that approach is not quite
so readily accepted.
>But we don't want to do it if there is any other way. I'm not being
>over-dramatic when I say that cutting her hair would be traumatic for
>her. Nevertheless, we will do anything to get rid of them.
Live, hatched lice can be killed with insecticidal shampoo (if they are not
resistant) or by smothering with virtually any oil. If the hair is too
thick to pick the nits (eggs), you'll have to repeat the treatment often
enough to get the newly hatched lice before they mature an lay the next
crop of eggs. That's hard to do without overusing the insecticide, and you
*don't* want to use it any more than the label allows. But you may be able
to alternate the two methods often enough to do the job. In the meantime,
the child should be kept away from contact with other children (she'd be
sent home from school, etc.), and you may have a devil of a time re-washing
all of the bedding.
See for a good overview of the
treatment methods, for the
"Non-Standard Treatments", including oil.
has a very authoritative
treatment of the FAQs.
