... to have had head lice for weeks?

[mycatisannoying]

I'm a mum of four, so have had much experience over the years with treating head lice. My kids are all older now and haven't had them for years ... but I do I work in a primary school.
I don't know if there is a 'super lice' currently on the go, but I cannot shift these at all. I am embarrassed to say that I've had them for weeks or even months.
Hedrin used to always be my 'go to' treatment, and it worked extremely effectively. Not any more. I've been leaving it on overnight (8 hours plus), washing it out in the morning, and by the following day my head and neck feel like a pin cushion It goes without saying that I've had several treatments.
I have also used a nitty gritty comb but have post-Covid hair loss, and the fine combing is wreaking havoc on my hair.
In my years, I have never experienced anything like this. None of my colleagues have mentioned getting them, and it feels like it's just me.
I don't think I'm being reinfected repeatedly. Logistics would suggest not.
This is really getting me down. Does anyone have any advice? I'm in Scotland - not sure if it's a regional issue!
Thanks.

Oh, and I generally do wear my hair back at school.

Do you have a partner? In my experience combing your own hair is not effective, you need someone else to do it for you.

I had a friend who simply could not get rid of the lice in her teenage kids' hair, in the end they cropped it right short (buzz cut). Not sure if that's the answer you're looking for though.

Also check that it's definitely still lice/nits in your hair. Another friend I had treated her son's head so much the lice were dead but he had bad dermatitis/dandruff as a reaction to the treatments - she thought these were nits and kept treating him for ages.

Thanks for your reply. I don't have a partner, but recently asked my eagle-eyed mother to check my hair. She couldn't find a thing. But there was a dead louse when I treated it. They are sneaky bastards, this lot!

I ended up with super lice in my 20s from babysitting and I found dying my hair killed them. I had the same experience where the shop bought treatments weren't working at all. The buggers seemed to be immune to it.

Gosh, so super lice is actually a thing then? I thought I had coined the phrase!
I am now wondering if there is anything the doctor can prescribe.

Had headlice recently (both myself & my daughter) & the Hedrin didn't touch the sides... Then tried a brand called Nitwits
nitwitsforkids.com/
Absolute game changer! 🤩

Coconut oil and comb

Can your mother comb for you?

Thanks everyone. Mum and I don't live close to each other - we had met up for a weekend away.

Hi op, comb through with conditioner and a nitty gritty ever day in the shower. Dry with a hot hair dryer and if you can straighten it as close to the roots as you can.
From there on in always wear a few drops of lavender oil in your hair.
I’m an early years teacher. Never had them since doing this, and we definitely have a problem with the little beasts!

I used to use quassia tea that I brewed myself from quassia chips from an online herbalist. Sounds bonkers but it really did work and if you keep it in the fridge with a few drops of teatree oil added it keeps for a while so you can also use it as a leave in spray to prevent getting them again.

Thanks for the link - my WiFi isn't playing ball for the moment, so will check that out later.
Lying here desperately trying to avoid the itching

Straighten your hair daily. Only thing that worked for me!

Dying hair works, simple box dye.

I have never used a nit shampoo just LOTS of conditioner and the nit comb then hair dryer the hair next to your scalp as one final blast on the suckers

Cheaper, kinder to your hair, smells good, works !

Wonder where you are getting them from though with social distancing !

Put aside at least an hour every 4 days until they’re gone. Don’t use chemicals as they are nerve agents that go into your bloodstream.
Slather conditioner on and comb; wipe comb with tissue every time and you’ll be nit free quickly with nicely glossy hair!

lyclear xtra strong, shampoo not the spray.
this is what we used when combing wasnt working (with other treatments)the amount left in the bath was astounding and quite gross as none were on the comb hardly! it worked within 1 treatment on 1 kid and 2 on the other but i think she had picked a few back up at school tbh

I’ve used the chemical approach without success, a nursery nurse friend told me to use proper tea tree oil added to shampoo and conditioner, then comb through, rinse, and then rinse a handful of malt vinegar through their hair. It has worked every time and leaves DCs hair lovely and shiny!

you've had them for weeks? Jesus I'd shave all my hair off

i had this with my girls. I'm had their hair cut into a bob. Then got some cheap conditioner and lathered the hair and combed it thorough. Every other night. i found the cheap white plastic combs more efficient than the nitty gritty. Pay particular attention to the back of the head and behind the ears.

Are there definitely still any on your head and the itching isn't just irritation from all the chemical treatment and scratching?!

Maybe you do keep getting reinfected, especially if there is a nit problem at the school at the mo?

Take an antihistamine too

The bug buster kit, followed to the letter, is the only thing I've found to work. I've tried chemicals, nitty gritty, tea tree etc to no avail. With bug buster you condition and comb the hair on set days to break the cycle of reinfestation and the combs just seem more effective than any others.

Use lots of conditioner, and with a nitcomb comb out small sections starting at the back/underneath every four days. Do everyone the same night even if you think they are clear. Will be gone in under two weeks.

I was going to suggest hair straighteners too, as near to the roots as you can