Dear Anne
I am 11 years old and I have a head lice problem! I can't seem to get rid of them ever since I went to my mate's house. We have tried everything there possibly is right up to tea tree oil. Hairspray does work but they are not going fast enough. My hair is medium length but thick and people at school are calling me names. I am having so much time off because of them. I can't take it any more. I just want to be normal. Please help! Nikki
Dear Nikki
You are normal! Lots of people get nits as they're so easily passed from one person to the next. You'd be normal if you had a cold, wouldn't you? Well, now you're a normal person who at the moment happens to have nits. It's just another kind of bug, and one you can get rid of.
Firstly, either you or a parent should go and talk to your pharmacist. He or she can tell you what's the best treatment for you and your family. An effective treatment should work almost instantly or at the most overnight. This will kill any lice. However, some may already have burrowed in or laid eggs so a repeat treatment 7 days later is essential. It's vital that when you treat yourself, everyone else in the family treats themselves too. Avoid sharing towels, and on the day of the treatment wash any bedlinen especially pillowcases you've all been using.
In daily life use a comb as well as or instead of a brush for keeping your hair in order, then check to make sure there aren't any nits (the eggs) or lice on the comb. This will help you keep yourself bug-free. As your hair is thick it may tangle, so it's easier if you comb the ends first, then comb down from a few centimetres above the ends, gradually working up to include the roots. Every week after you've shampooed, you might use your ordinary comb first on your wet hair and then a fine-tooth comb to make sure you're nit-free. Then style as usual.
What goes around comes around. Those nasty name-callers may well be in for a dose of nits themselves at some point. I'm sure you're too nice to be as unkind as they've been, but you might enjoy a private smirk at their comeuppance.
Good luck, Nikki.
