They're called super lice because they are resistant to pyrethrin and lidane, which are chemicals used in drugstore lice shampoos, prescription treatments, and other lice products.

Many lice products rely on chemicals like lidane, malathion, and pyrethrin to interfere with normal nervous system functions in order to kill lice. While the dose makes the poison, there are very few quality studies on the long-term effects of these products and many are marketed as supplements in order to avoid scrutiny by the FDA.

Since lice die after 24-48 hours without feeding, you can simply set items aside or bag them for 24-48 hours. However, lice “usually cannot survive in bedding or clothes, so extreme cleaning is unnecessary and ineffective” -"Head Lice," by Dr. Bryant.
If you want to take action immediately:
1. Loosely pack items that can be laundered into the dryer for 30 minutes.
2. Vacuum items that can’t be dried: sofas, beds, stuffed animals, etc. 3. Items that can't be washed can be bagged and put in the freezer for 24 hours.

The current best DIY option is the 21-Day Method. Like the name says, it takes about 21 days and requires a lot of hours learning how to comb and then more time combing out each person, and success isn't guaranteed. We understand lice services aren't for everyone and if you have no other option we still want to help you because no one should have to suffer from lice. Give us a call and we will try to advise you on how to get good results on your own.

"As noted, over-the-counter products that contain pyrethrins or pyrethroids (like permethrin) are unlikely to offer much relief because many to most lice are now resistant to those chemicals. In fact, they could prolong a person’s suffering, because it takes a few days to know whether the product is working." - Consumer Reports Aug 29th 2016

"Skip products containing lindane. This chemical is neurotoxic and carcinogenic to humans, and has been linked to reports of seizures and even deaths from improper use. ...[N]ewer prescriptions may well work against super lice because they act via different mechanisms than the pyrethrins or pyrethroids. But you'll need to go to the doctor, and these products are expensive—$100 or more for a single treatment. What's more, they won’t necessarily kill the lice eggs. And because young children have thinner skin, they are more susceptible to absorbing these chemicals through the scalp and to the side effects that they might cause." - Consumer Reports Aug 29th 2016

"Shampoo shields: These products claim they can prevent or reduce the risk of getting head lice, but evidence is sparse. The Federal Trade Commission charged the manufacturer of at least one such product with false advertising." - Consumer Reports Aug 29th 2016