Super Lice vs. Lice
We know you’ve heard about lice, but have you heard about it’s nasty big brother? Super Lice. Yep, Super Lice. While “super” might sound fantastic with Superman and Superwoman, don’t be fooled! There is nothing fantastic about these guys.
A 2016 study published in the Oxford Journal of Medical Entomology found that head lice in 48 states were treatment resistance to over-the-counter products. Apparently, Alaska and West Virginia were the only two states devoid of these vexing parasites. However, given the hyper-contagious nature of lice, Super Lice will soon be just as common as regular lice!
What Are Super Lice?
Super Lice are treatment-resistant, which means that over-the-counter options are no longer effective in eliminating lice and their eggs. The two most common chemicals used in head lice treatment formulas are permethrin and pyrethrum. The chemicals commonly used for these types of lice treatment formulas are permethrin and pyrethrum. With these components in the treatments being around for decades, lice have had plenty of time to develop an immunity against them. This immunity comes from genetic mutations over time in lice, as explained in an article published in the Oxford Journal of Medical Entomology:
Overall, the TI [mutation] frequency in U.S. lice was 84.4% from 1999 to 2009, increased to 99.6% from 2007 to 2009, and was 97.1% in Canadian lice in 2008… Thus, the frequencies of TI [mutations] in North American head louse populations were found to be uniformly high, which may be due to the high selection pressure from the intensive and widespread use of the pyrethrins- or pyrethroid-based pediculicides over many years, and is likely a main cause of increased pediculosis and failure of pyrethrins- or permethrin-based products in Canada and the United States. Alternative approaches to treatment of head lice infestations are critically needed.
– The Oxford Journal of Medical Entomology (2014)
Though head lice are quite small, it is important to not that they can actually still be seen by the naked eye. They keep close to their source of food — human blood. They stay close to the scalp, near the shaft, to have better access to their food. Lice eggs are called nits, and even if one nit is left behind, the cycle of lice infestation can continue.
How Are Super Lice Different From Normal Lice?
The only difference between lice and Super Lice is resistance to the active ingredients in insecticide treatments, namely permethrin and pyrethrum. Other than that, Super Lice do not look different or act differently than regular lice. They cause exactly the same symptoms of itchy scalp, and you’ll still find lice or nits (eggs). Moreover, Super Lice eggs are the exact same as regular lice eggs.
Super Lice are just as contagious as regular lice – which is not a reassurance as they are still extremely contagious. They spread easily from person to person, crawling from head to head or from hats, scarves, pillows, or other items that could offer lice transport from one head to another. The biggest problem with Super Lice is that they are harder to eliminate, given their resistance to chemicals.
Super Lice Treatment: How Did They Become Resistant?
Super Lice started off the same as regular lice. However, they genetically mutated to become resistant to the active ingredients in popular over-the-counter head lice treatments.
It all boils down to natural selection. In Darwin’s theory, it is stated that with each generation, offspring have a better rate of survival. When a genetic variation occurs that ensures a higher rate of survival, this trait is transferred to offspring. Unfortunately, this mutation has indeed occurred in the last few decades, as lice have adapted to the insecticide threat to their survival. Their genetic resistance has turned lice into Super Lice.
How To Get Rid Of Super Lice Fast
With Super Lice’s chemical resistance, infected individuals may turn towards home remedies for Super Lice. Through a quick search online, you may find a long list of suggestions – from ‘special’ Super Lice shampoo to tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, mayonnaise and even Listerine! But don’t be fooled! At-home remedies have never been proven successful in clinical trials, and when it comes to lice, you need to make sure that they are 100% gone. Just one nit left behind, and game over – the cycle of lice starts all over again.
Lucky for you, there is a product proven to work on Super Lice.
How Lice Do Not Become Resistant To Our Products
At our treatment offices, we have helped thousands of people who, prior to coming to us, used popular over-the-counter head lice treatment products, yet they still had LIVE bugs on their head because the lice had developed a resistance to the products they used. Many of these people had done multiple treatments over a period of weeks (and sometimes months!) but they were still not effective.
So, how does one effectively eliminate Super Lice? It’s impossible to distinguish whether you and your family are suffering from an infestation of lice or Super Lice. Don’t take the risk of using an over-the-counter product only to discover that it’s useless! Start the process of elimination right.
Lice Choice products utilize a proven formula that is enzyme-based, all-natural, pesticide-free, and chemical-free. Lice Choice was formulated by using the lice’s own digestive enzymes against them. The naturally occurring digestive enzymes cause the lice to rapidly molt and shed their exoskeleton. This creates an extreme acceleration of their life cycle so that they are eradicated within a few minutes!