What Are Super Lice? Super Lice Symptoms & Treatment

Dealing with head lice can be extremely frustrating, but it can be even harder when the new "super lice" are resistant to common lice treatments. This article provides all the information you need for identifying and dealing with a super lice infestation. With this knowledge of what are super lice vs regular lice, you'll be better equipped to tackle this pesky problem and you'll understand how to get rid of super lice for good.

What Is Super Lice?

When people ask questions like "What color are super lice?" or "Can super lice fly?" it highlights the common misconceptions surrounding these resilient pests. To clarify, super lice are essentially the same as regular head lice in appearance, but with one crucial difference: they are resistant to many common over-the-counter treatments.

According to the CDC, super lice are head lice that have developed genetic mutations, making them resistant to the pesticides typically found in over-the-counter lice shampoos. These tiny insects, about the size of a sesame seed, are translucent grayish-white with a dark brown abdomen and six legs. Their eggs, or nits, appear as tiny, clear, tan, or brownish teardrop shapes attached to hair near the scalp. Visually, super lice are indistinguishable from regular lice, but they can be identified by their resistance to chemical treatments.

Recent studies have shown that super lice are now widespread, with resistant strains found in 48 states. Alarmingly, in 42 of these states, only chemical-resistant lice were detected, suggesting that super lice have become the dominant strain.

Lice vs Super Lice: What Is the Difference Between Lice and Super Lice?

Parents call us to ask, “What does super lice look like?” They’re looking for bugs that are bigger, darker, stronger, crawl faster, or itchier. They worry about more severe sores, worse scratching, or greater risk of complications like skin infection or disease.

It isn’t possible to tell the difference between lice and super lice by behavior or appearance. They are just a genetically mutated strain of regular lice, so they behave and look the same, except when it comes to their reaction to pesticides.

The most common treatments that families and even doctors start with are still over-the-counter lice shampoos. Because most OTC lice shampoos with pesticides kill only 2% of these chemical-resistant bugs, and none of the eggs, super lice treatment is more challenging than regular lice treatment. Parents will often treat kids over and over, just to see another bug crawling. The futility makes them feel overwhelmed and hopeless.

How Have Treatment Resistant Super Lice Developed?

Parasites, just like viruses and bacteria, have an uncanny ability to mutate into more infectious forms. Similar to mutations that make viruses more contagious, or bacteria resistant to antibiotics, head lice mutations make them less sensitive to lice shampoo.

Like all insects, head lice use a natural process of mutation and survival of the fittest to adapt to new conditions as a species. This has caused them to develop resistance to common pesticides used in over-the-counter treatments.

This process has been accelerated by human behavior, such as overuse and misuse of pesticide shampoos. Pesticide treatments should only be used when crawling live lice are found. But they are often used "just in case," leading to further exposure and more resistance in future generations of head lice.

How to Check for Super Lice?

Most families realize they have a super lice infestation when they apply an at-home treatment and the adult lice keep moving.

The steps for how to check for lice on yourself and your family members:

• Saturate hair with oil or conditioner.
• Use a metal nit comb, wet combing each section of hair in bright light.
• If you find even one head louse or nit, assume the child has a case, even without an itchy scalp.

Many infestations in the US have resistance to traditional treatments nowadays. If more than one application of lice treatments is not effective, suspect head super lice.

How to Identify Super Lice: Common Symptoms

Resistant strains share the symptoms of normal head lice, including:

• Allergic skin rash on the scalp and neck which may cause itching that's worse at night.
• The feeling of tickling or movement on the scalp that may disturb sleep and lead to irritability.

You can have NO symptoms from a lice infestation. In that case, you'll still eventually find:

• Barely visible tiny nits glued to the hair shaft near the scalp.

In addition to these, super head lice specifically:

• Return after OTC treatment.
• May continue moving during OTC treatment.

Are Super Lice Eggs Different?

Super lice eggs do not differ from regular head lice eggs. At home head lice treatments are not very effective at killing lice eggs, whether they are regular or treatment resistant lice eggs. The most effective way to eliminate nits is to use a long-toothed metal nit comb and some oil or conditioner to remove them. The conditioner or oil will make it easier to comb through the hair and remove the eggs, which are firmly glued to the hair shaft.

Comb thoroughly and repeatedly, since you will probably miss some nits during the first combing. Once the eggs are detached from the hair, they cannot hatch. Ensure that you schedule additional nit combing sessions to remove all the eggs that were too undeveloped to see during the first treatment.

Effective Ways to Treat Super Lice

If over-the-counter head lice treatments haven’t worked for you, there’s a chance you’re dealing with “super lice.” However, it’s important to consider other factors like incorrect application, not following instructions, or using an expired product.

Tried everything and still have lice?

If you suspect you have super lice, here are some reliable strategies to help you tackle the problem.

Seek Professional Assistance

When seeking help, choose a service that focuses on natural, hands-on lice removal techniques. Professional services are equipped to remove both live lice and their nits effectively, ensuring thorough treatment

Try Wet Combing

Wet combing is a highly effective method that relies on precision instead of chemicals. Here’s how to do it:

• Thoroughly wet the hair with conditioner.
• Use a fine-toothed nit comb to comb through the hair, starting from the scalp and working your way down to the ends.
• Wipe the comb clean after each stroke.
• Repeat the process multiple times, focusing on the nape of the neck and behind the ears.

Incorporate Olive Oil for Enhanced Results

Using olive oil in wet combing can improve results. Olive oil helps suffocate lice and makes combing easier by smoothing the hair.

Consider Essential Oils

Certain essential oils, such as tea tree or lavender, are believed to repel lice. Incorporate these oils into your treatment plan by following these steps:

• Mix essential oils with carrier oil (like almond, jojoba, or coconut oil), typically at a 1-2% ratio.
• Massage the diluted mixture into your scalp and hair, especially in areas where lice are present.
• Cover your hair with a shower cap or towel and leave it on for 1-2 hours.
• Rinse thoroughly with shampoo and conditioner.
• Repeat daily for several days.

Maintain Thorough Home Care

While lice don’t survive long off the scalp, maintaining a clean environment can help prevent future infestations. Wash bedding in hot water, vacuum regularly, and follow other recommended practices.

Educate Yourself and Stay Committed

Gaining a solid understanding of how lice spread and the most effective treatment methods gives you the power to make informed decisions. Take the time to learn about proven techniques like wet combing and maintaining good hygiene practices to ensure successful treatment.

Be Patient

Natural lice treatments can take time and require consistent effort. Stay patient and stick closely to your treatment plan. If you feel unsure or overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out for professional support to keep things on track.

How Do Super Lice Spread?

Human head lice are spread by direct head-to-head contact about 95% of the time. Direct contact where heads touch, like:

• Carrying a child
• Hugging
• Selfies
• Playground-type physical play with other children
• Hair styling
• Contact sports

Although these bugs may laugh in the face of lice shampoo, they are NOT so super in other ways. In other words, super lice still cannot fly, jump, or live anywhere other than head hair attached to a human scalp. Head lice can't live more than a day or so on pets, clothing, bedding, brushes, combs, hats, or toys. They cannot cause an infestation in schools or homes.

A louse can only lay its tiny egg on the hair shaft. They tend to congregate behind the ears and on the nape of the neck. An egg cannot re-attach to the hair shaft and is not contagious when removed from a person. You might find a grayish-white empty eggshell further than 1/4" from the scalp, which is not dangerous and doesn't need to be treated. Some lice treatments can cause reactionary dandruff and itching, which can be mistaken for ongoing lice bites.

Steps to Prevent the Spread of Super Lice

Taking steps to prevent lice infestations is the best way to avoid the inconvenience and stress of treatment. Here are some practical tips that can help reduce the risk of super lice spreading:

• Keep hair tied back: Encourage your child to wear their hair tied back while at school to minimize contact.
• Use hair products: Applying hair gel, oil, or hairspray can make it harder for lice to attach to hair.
• Daily lice-repellent products: Use LiceDoctors’ safe and natural lice-repellent products every day before sending your child to school.
• Avoid sharing personal items: Teach your child not to share hats, helmets, combs, or brushes with others.
• Notify others: If your child does contract lice, promptly inform families with whom you’ve had recent contact so they can take preventative measures.

Super Lice: Myths vs. Reality

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about super lice. Here’s what you really need to know:

• Super lice are a new species. This is false. Super lice are the same species as regular head lice. They’ve simply developed resistance to certain treatments.
• Super lice are more difficult to kill. While super lice are resistant to some common treatments, they aren’t impossible to eliminate. Alternative treatments, like those offered by LiceDoctors, can still effectively remove them.
• Super lice spread faster or are more contagious. All head lice, including super lice, spread primarily through direct head-to-head contact at the same rate.

Don't let these myths about "super lice" lead to unnecessary worry. LiceDoctors provides the right information and professional discreet traditional treatments. Our experienced technicians use safe, proven methods to eliminate lice and their eggs, ensuring a comfortable and effective experience for your entire family.

LiceDoctors: Your Solution to Lice-Free Living

Super lice might sound intimidating, but they are not a new or insurmountable problem. With the right knowledge and treatment, lice infestations can be effectively managed. Whether dealing with super lice or regular lice, LiceDoctors is here to help you reclaim a lice-free life.

Don’t let lice take control — reach out to LiceDoctors today for a safe, effective, and convenient treatment plan. We’re committed to helping you regain your peace of mind and become lice-free!