Q. I am a 12-year-old girl with VERY thick hair. I’ve gotten lice every year since second or third grade. This year I’ve had them four times!
I have lice now and I’m tired of it. I am scared someone will see a louse in my hair at my camp. I tried pouring Listerine on my hair but I couldn’t stand the smell for two hours. What else can I do?
A. If you cover your hair with a shower cap or towel after drenching it with Listerine, it should reduce the smell. Half an hour to an hour should be long enough.
Another option is to soak your hair in Cetaphil cleanser and use a blow dryer. It will make a hard shell on your hair, but the lice should be dead when you wash it off the next morning (Pediatrics, Sept. 2004).