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Let’s be real; there is nothing fun about having a case of lice. Similarly, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of relief once your lice treatment is completed. But if your head still itches after lice treatment, this could send you right back into the panic and stress you just rid yourself of. Did your lice come back? The experts of lice removal in Los Angeles - the Hair Whisperers - are here to remind you to stay calm. There are a variety of reasons why your head still itches after lice treatment. Here we’ll take a look at four primary reasons that your head still itches after lice treatment, including:

• Dry Scalp from Treatment
• Psychosomatic Itching
• Healing Louse Bites
• Incomplete Treatment

For each of these possible sources of continued itching, we’ll dive a little deeper and provide you with options for treating your itchy head after lice treatment. If you still have questions, or saw a different lice professional and believe you still have active head lice, feel free to call us at (800) 319-8751!

Dry Scalp from Lice Treatment

One of the most likely sources of your head still itching after lice treatment is from a dry or irritated scalp from treatment. All over-the-counter lice treatments contain a variety of irritants - from chemicals to salt-based compounds - that cause irritation and drying on the scalp.

We at Hair Whisperers urge your to avoid these treatments due to the harmful effects of these chemicals, many of which are considered carcinogenic and unsafe for children, women who are pregnant or nursing, and people with severe allergies or asthma. If you’ve already fallen victim to the harmful effects of these OTC treatments and your head still itches after treatment, there are a few simple solutions for this issues.

How to Fix It:

• Moisturizing & Dandruff Shampoos: If you find that your scalp is dry after treatment, an extremely affordable, long-term treatment is trying out a shampoo and conditioner designed to hydrate the scalp. It’s important to note one thing, however. Dandruff shampoos often contain pyrithione zinc, which in some people can further irritate the scalp further. This can be an escalated risk for children.
• Natural Oils: As a natural remedy to an itchy scalp, explore the variety of oils that can be massaged in to the scalp help moisturize the skin. Some of our favorite include coconut oil and argan oil, both of which have a variety of uses, are affordable, and have minimal side effects.
• Deep Conditioning Treatments: There are a variety of deep conditioning treatments on the market, many of which can be purchased at drug stores or beauty supply stores. Look for deep conditioning treatments that nourish the scalp and use all-natural ingredients to avoid further irritation.

Psychosomatic Itching

Have you ever watched a documentary about insects and instantly felt like you were covered in bugs? Likewise, you’re probably itching right now just THINKING about lice. Chances are, you’re experiences psychosomatic itching - which many psychologists classify as as hysterical condition. Simply put, psychosomatic itching is a manifestation of anxiety and paranoia on the human body. As a (frankly interesting) reminder of the complexity of our brains and out natural ability to empathize, psychosomatic itching can be a frustrating experience.

How to Fix It:

Since psychosomatic itching is quite literally IN your head and not ON your head, it can be difficult to treat. Since psychosomatic itching is based in anxiety, we recommend the same approaches many take at combatting anxiety, including:

• Grounding Techniques: Many people with anxiety, when feeling overwhelmed by feelings of anxiety, focus on other feelings in their body using all five senses. Take time to focus on things around you that you are feeling, smelling, tasting, seeing and hearing (about three for each sense). By distracting yourself with these other senses, you can train your mind to avoid the psychosomatic itching.
• Self-Awareness: Take a second to recognize that this feeling is likely all in your head. Chances are, if you didn’t start itching until AFTER you thought about lice, you’re okay.
• A Quick Lice Check: Of course, you can always ease your mind with a follow-up lice check. Once you can confirm that your lice are gone, your psychosomatic itching should cease instantly.

Healing Louse Bites

Lice are parasitic insects that get nutrients from human blood. To get the blood, they bite the scalp. Much like mosquito bites or bites from other insects, these bites can cause irritation. Mom always told us that the only way to stop the itching is to stop scratching, but we all know that’s easier said than done. But (as always) mom was right! Itching can cause the louse bite to reopen and potentially get infected and take longer to heal.

How to Fix It:

Like mom said; you have to stop scratching. To stop scratching we recommend a few things:

• Low-dose Antihistamines
• Icing the wounds or adding a cold compress to the scalp or affected areas
• Apply Witch Hazel: As a natural astringent available at most drug stores and grocery stores, with hazel is an all-natural solution that soothes skin, reduces inflammation, and calms itching.

Bad News: You Might Still Have Lice

The source of the itching you’ve been dreading: you might still have lice. This harsh reality is an increasingly common issue. Since lice are becoming resistant to most over the counter lice treatments, you could easily still have lice after a treatment. Even if you chose a nit-picking technique, lice reproduce quickly, and missing even a few nits could mean the infestation continues.

How to Fix It:

If your first lice treatment didn’t work and you’re tired of the stress and hassle of head lice, we recommend seeking professional help. The Hair Whisperers are the experts of lice removal in Los Angeles, and perform in-home lice removal by hand. Their specially-trained associates know the proper techniques for getting rid of lice once and for all without harmful, irritating chemicals. This way, you can rest assured that you’ve treated your lice infestation fully and can get back to life as planned.