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Five Things You Forgot to Clean for Head Lice

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One of the first things a parent can feel when faced with a head lice outbreak is the need to clean everything in sight! We worry that head lice or nits, lice eggs, could be anywhere that our children have been in contact with. The truth is, head lice will only live for 48 hours after they are separated from a host head. This means, if they do not hitch a ride on a new host within that time, they will not survive. Unfortunately, our children do come into close contact with many items on a daily basis we might not think to clean. Here’s a few you might want to double check:

 

#1 – Children’s Stuffed Animals

Children all over the world love to snuggle with their furry friends. In fact, one recent study relates that children who cuddle up with a favorite stuffed animal at night are less likely to experience anxiety. What could cause anxiety more than a bout of head lice? If your kid is feeling extra stress from having head lice, or maybe even losing sleep from symptoms of itching, feeling the crawling sensations on their scalp or just plain anxiety, they may be reaching for even more stuffed friends. It is essential that you gather all items in their room that could potentially be carrying head lice or nits and place them in a warm dryer for 25 minutes on a high heat setting.

 

#2 – Hoodies and Jackets

It’s easy to see how this could be overlooked. You are not thinking about items that head lice might have fallen down on or briefly touched your child’s head. However, hoodies or jackets are a concern and could have traces of head lice or nits. Make sure that if items are not washable you take proper steps to sanitize them and ensure they are free from head lice.

 

#3- Items from School Locker

Jr. High and Schools are being impacted by head lice more than ever. If your teen is showing symptoms of lice, make sure to clean out all the contents of their school locker. Even if you have lockers at home, a new mudroom concept that is very popular, take steps to sanitize and clean any items that could be carrying head lice.

 

#4 – Headphones from Smart Devices

Although head lice are most commonly passed from direct head to head contact, it is possible they can be transferred from items that are near to the scalp and head. Head lice are most commonly found near the crown of the scalp and hiding behind or near the ears. For this reason headphones could be a culprit for transferring and carrying head lice or nits. Especially if your teen or preteen is into sharing headphones with classmates or friends, make sure they are properly cleaned and not leaving traces of head lice.

 

#5 – Sports Equipment

If your kid is into sports it can seem like a stretch to have to wash and clean all of their sports equipment for head lice. We aren’t suggesting that cleats, hockey pucks or shin guards could be your problem. Instead, think of anything that comes into contact with the head, helmets, earpieces, shoulder padding, jerseys, etc. Even a gym bag where dirty clothes are thrown altogether after a grueling practice needs to be thoroughly cleaned.  Make sure that especially headgear is not shared during the season and not thrown into piles near all the other player’s equipment as well during practices or games.

Head Lice: A Common Problem

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When the dreaded head lice problem hits your home a thousand questions can flood your mind. Is this a common problem? How did my kid get head lice? Who gave it to them? Is it going to harm them? Lice Clinics of America Medway is your best source for figuring out your head lice problem. We want to walk you through the answers to these questions, and any others you may have during this process.

 

Here are a few things every parent might want to know when dealing with head lice:

 

-Head lice is a normal, common thing many people deal with. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tell us that roughly 12 million children in the United States between the ages of 3-11 will become infected with head lice each year.

-Teens in Jr. High and High School are catching head lice more and more often. Call it a selfie induced dilemma, blame it on their need to constantly share videos on smartphones, but whatever the case may be, teens are also bringing home head lice at an increased rate.

-Across the country, head lice is a top three reason for students to miss school. Check with your school district to make sure you understand what to expect with the school. No-nit policies are still in effect in many areas, but being changed quite often to help prevent students from missing too much school unnecessarily.

-Head lice are transferred most commonly through direct head to head contact. It can be caught through sharing things that are worn or used on the scalp as well such as hair accessories, brushes, helmets, hats, hoodies, etc.

-Most often adults that catch head lice are infected through small children that live in their home. All members of a household should be screened for head lice when one family member is showing symptoms. Lice Clinics of America offers head lice checks by a professional staff member if you need help determining.

-Head lice like clean and dirty hair alike. They show no preference for one or the other. This means the old rumors people hear that head lice equal poor hygiene are completely false. Although personal hygiene is a key part of eliminating head lice, it plays no role in becoming infected with it.

-Household pets like cats or dogs play no role in the transfer of lice. Head lice are a human parasite.

-An adult louse or a nymph that loses its human host will live up to 48 hours without a food source. This means things like hair brushes, couches, or pillows could have live lice on them that need to be killed. Washing items in a hot cycle and then drying them will eliminate any live lice or eggs that may be present. For hair brush items, soak them in bleach or boil them on the stove top to sanitize them. Wipe down furniture and vacuum it well. 

-Most importantly, remain calm! Lice Clinics of America is your source for all things head lice. We understand the pressure you are feeling and the panic that can set it. We are here to answer your questions and give you real solutions at affordable prices. Call our lice clinic today to schedule your visit!

 

What is a Lice Clinic?

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Why go to Lice Clinics of America?

In many parts of the world, the term lice clinic is becoming mainstream. Although there are lice clinics of various names opening up all through Europe, the United States and Australia, many people still don’t really know what a lice clinic offers and why they are becoming so popular.

Lice Clinics of America is a place you can go to handle your head lice problem in a worry-free, non-judgmental environment. Many people realize that treating head lice has never been more difficult for a variety of reasons. New super lice have entered the scene that are making over the counter products more and more obsolete. Parents are learning through hard experience that this new type of head lice are much more difficult to deal with on your own. Many times after weeks of the headache of dealing with head lice, parents will finally call our office. We want to save you the stress and money of products that will not work!

 

Trust our Professional and Courteous Staff

When you walk into Lice Clinics of America Medway you know that you will be treated with respect, kindness, and honesty. We offer a non-judgmental environment with a professional staff who understands the ins and outs of head lice. In certain situations, such as head lice, there can be fears of embarrassment or a stigma that you are unclean. Our team knows the truth about head lice – anyone is at risk. We can offer you a place to rest easy that you are in good hands and well on your way to eliminating your head lice problem for good.

We know that it is concerning that your child may not be able to return to school if they are showing signs of nits or head lice. We understand that other members of your family may be infected as well. We also have the experience of helping thousands of patients, just like your family, and will do our best to make this a positive and relieving experience.


We Want You to Walk Away With a Positive Result

We are all about creating an uplifting experience for you! We know that each situation is unique, each patient has different needs and desires. We will walk you through the severity of your situation, offer the best solutions for you, and help you leave having had a positive, experience. We want you and your family to be head lice free!

Our most popular head lice treatment is the revolutionary AirAllé® system that has taken the head lice industry by storm.  This is an FDA-cleared medical device not only guarantees that a single treatment will eliminate head lice but their nits or eggs as well. We also offer a variety of other treatment solutions that our professional team member can walk you through. We want you to feel good about your treatment and be well on your way to becoming head lice free.


 

Why Do Head Lice Keep Coming Back?

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Are you at your wit’s end, trying to figure out why your head lice problem simply cannot be dealt with?  In some cases, parents are reporting five to six different bouts of head lice in their home before they finally seek out professional help. Why put yourself through the torture? Lice Clinics of America is your professional source for head lice removal. We can help you determine where the problem is continually coming from and eliminate it once and for all.

Here are a few of the most common reasons head lice keep coming back. Could one of these issues be the source of your problems?

 

-Head lice are NOT killed by over the counter shampoos. Over the years, pyrethrin, the active ingredient in most over the counter shampoos from local drug stores has shown to not be working anymore. Why is this? Overuse of the product and misuse of the product for decades has resulted in a new generation of head lice that have built up a high tolerance for it. They are simply not dying from the application of the shampoos any longer. Not only this, but these products do not kill the lice eggs that are attached to hair strands along the base of the head. These eggs will hatch in 7-9 days and reinfect the victim, creating a whole new batch of problems. Parents frantically trying to eliminate the head lice problem in their home will sometimes use the product too often, which has resulted in injury to the child. Pyrethrin, according to the National Pesticide Information Center, can give children burns, cause eye scratches and blurry vision, cause problems with breathing and even reactions such as diarrhea and vomiting.

 

-Natural remedies have not been proven to work. There is no shortage of blogs out there boasting natural, home methods of killing head lice. The problem is, these solutions have not been scientifically proven and are most often not effective at all in killing head lice and their eggs. If the nits or eggs are not eliminated entirely from the infected person’s scalp, the problem will continually persist. Even if mayonnaise, vaseline, essential oils or kerosene (yikes) to name a few, did kill all the active adult head lice on the scalp, the eggs will remain intact. At Lice Clinics of America, Medway we DO NOT recommend these methods as they can be dangerous and harmful to the child. Using plastic on the head to trap in the product and suffocate the head lice is potentially hazardous to a small child. All other methods are old wives tales and not scientifically based methods to get rid of your head lice problem.

 

-Children are highly likely to pass head lice to others in the home. Sometimes people overlook the simple fact that head lice are passed on by direct head to head contact. When you are living in a household with a child who has head lice, the likelihood of it being contracted by another member of the family, even a parent, is very good. If the whole family is not checked and treated for head lice, you will definitely have a recurring problem on your hands.

 

What should I do now?

The most popular, highly effective method of killing head lice AND their eggs is the AirAllé® medical device. This FDA cleared treatment is a single application that uses hot air to dehydrate and completely eliminate head lice and their eggs. This product is over 99% guaranteed and has helped hundreds of thousands of people be rid of head lice. Call our team of professionals at Lice Clinics of America, Medway to discuss why this method works and how we can help you officially put this head lice problem behind you.

Learning Success During Summer Break

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Engaging children and keeping them interesting in learning can prove challenging during the summer break from school. Parents often wonder how they can help their child retain what they learned last school year and be prepared to enter a whole new year of school in a few short months. Here are a few tips to helping children with the transition and keeping them prepared:

 

–Read! Reading is entertaining, increases imagination, builds vocabulary and helps develop grammar skills. Essentially, reading helps children develop their minds in many ways. That doesn’t mean it has to be a chore! Find topics your child is interested in such as sharks, how bubblegum is made, volcanos or horses. Let them learn about what they love through magazines, websites, crossword puzzles, novels, graphic books or any way that engages them. Reading should be enjoyable.

 

-Create a motivating, encouraging environment. Instead of punishing if a child doesn’t read, motivate by rewarding them if they do! Local libraries often have summer reading programs that offer incentives for children to read. Try doing this at home with rewards like family game nights, friend camp outs, candy, prizes, trips to a water park or whatever will engage your child.

 

-Teach children real life skills. Have your child help prepare a weekly meal plan, buy the groceries, and prepare the food. Involve them in vacation planning. Give them a chance to navigate the map on your next family trip. All of these life experiences will help them feel capable and give them confidence that they can accomplish adult things.

 

-Find them an international penpal. There are many programs such as Students of the World where you can connect your child with a penpal from another country. These opportunities to express themselves and describe their life, learn from another person who lives in a totally different environment and learn to communicate can be a wonderful, fun and exciting way to engage children. They can make a friend, learn about the world and learn to interact with others.

 

Summertime is a great time to build some of these awesome memories with your children while helping them to continue learning. A love of learning will help them for a lifetime!

What NOT to Say When Your Kid Has Head Lice

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So, you just found out your kid has head lice. Let’s be honest, here are some of the first things that may come to your mind:

 

“Who have you been playing with? Those kids are so dirty!”

“Yuck! Please don’t hug me. I don’t want to catch it!”

“It’s so gross! So Creepy!”

“How could this happen, haven’t you been careful? Have you been showering?”

“Oh no, now I have to tell all your friends and neighbors that you have head lice!”

 

Every parent has had those moments of weakness when they realize something blurted out of their mouth that probably shouldn’t have. Then we take a step back and try to recover from it. But, it is sometimes not as easy as it sounds. In highly stressful situations such as head lice infesting your home, it is super important to take a second to breathe, collect yourself, power yourself with correct information, and deal with the situation like the adult that you are.

 

Here are a few things to remember:

#1- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tell us that up to 12 million children will contract head lice in the United States alone each year. That’s an awful lot of people who could possibly pass on the parasite unknowingly. Especially because children are much more prone to head lice than adults. They spend much more time in close-knit groups, don’t appreciate personal space and play together in ways that result in more direct head to head contact.

 

#2 – Shampooing and bathing do NOT kill head lice. Despite what people may think, head lice is not passed on to dirty or gross people. Anyone, no matter how clean, can catch head lice. Head lice are able to hold their breath underwater for over 4 fours. This means that water alone does not kill them.

 

#3 – When your child contracts head lice, it is common courtesy to tell the parents of children they are surrounded by the most. It is also important to contact the school and possibly teachers of their class. This doesn’t mean that every child needs to know or that it needs to be posted on a billboard for all the world to see. Most parents understand the embarrassment that can come along with head lice for a kid and can be trusted to discreetly check their own children and not cause them additional grief.

 

#4 – Kids look to parents for safety and security. Keeping your cool, using kind, positive language and looking for ways to use this opportunity to build trust are the right approach to dealing with head lice in your home.

 

#5 – Lice Clinics of America is your source for all things head lice. We can help you diagnose the problem, offer affordable and viable options for getting rid of it fast and effectively. Call us today to schedule your appointment.

 

AirAllé® Treatment Recognized By American Academy of Pediatrics

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Among the many things we do here at Lice Clinics of America, our top head lice treatment device has recently been recognized by the American Academy of Pediatrics as a reliable, smart choice in head lice removal.

We are proud to offer our customers the latest, and most effective head lice treatment on the market. In fact, in 2015 the American Academy of Pediatrics changed their recommendations for head lice treatment. Innovations in the industry and new “super lice” that are showing immunities to over the counter shampoos have proven to be a game changer.

Here’s what they had to say about our head lice treatment:

“The AirAllé® (Larada Sciences, Salt Lake City, UT) device is a custom-built machine that uses one 30-minute application of hot air in an attempt to desiccate the lice. One study showed that subjects had nearly 100% mortality of eggs and 80% mortality of hatched lice.”

Want to know why?

 

 The AirAllé® Treatment is much safer than chemical shampoos.

During the 1990s over the counter products that contained the active ingredient of pyrethrins were introduced to the public. These shampoos and powders are chemical based and can often lead to problems from overuse. For example, if a parent is overly anxious about getting rid of head lice and uses too much, too often than it can result in physical harm to the child and a pediatrician may be needed. Also, inhaling the fumes is potentially dangerous and not recommended for long-term use. These commonly used shampoos are not effective any longer and as a result are not the most recommended product for use by pediatricians.

 

The Treatment is Fast and Painless

From start to finish the entire process takes from 60-90 minutes once you have entered our clinic. When using over the counter shampoos, parents often times don’t even know what to look for and can misdiagnose a problem or not really even get rid of the head lice. Not to mention that one shampooing will not effectively eliminate the problem and must be repeated in three distinct steps.  Our expert staff can indicate a head lice problem, perform the 30-60 minute AirAllé® Treatment and your child can leave our clinic head lice free.

 

 No Repeat Application is Necessary

Not only are there NO harsh chemicals or NO harsh fumes, the AirAllé® Treatment is a one and done application. The process actually uses a device that works to dehydrate the head lice and their eggs on the scalp. This process is painless and works to eliminate all the head lice on the head in one single application. If you are not head lice free, we guarantee our work. However, the application has proven over 99.9% effective at killing head lice in a single treatment.

 

“Super Lice” Are Not So Super Compared to the AirAllé® Treatment

In 48 out of 50 states, “super lice” have been reported by school districts and pediatrician offices. The overuse of over the counter products containing the active ingredient pyrethrin has resulted in a new breed of lice that are showing strong immunities to old, outdated methods of head lice treatment. The AirAllé® Treatment uses dehydration technology, no harsh chemicals or dangerous toxins to eliminate the problem in a single visit to Lice Clinics of America. Super lice or not, they don’t stand a chance against the power of the AirAllé®.

 

Head Lice AND Eggs are both killed by the AirAllé® Treatment

A female louse can lay 5-6 eggs per day. Her eggs will hatch every 7-9 days. These cycles of life make it extremely tricky for normal head lice shampoos and powders to be effective. The problem lies in that even if the adult lice are all killed, the eggs are simply unaffected. The new generation will hatch and in a week you will have a new batch of head lice to deal with. The AirAllé® Treatment guarantees that head lice AND their eggs are taken care of with a single treatment. No worrying about hatching eggs, reapplying the treatment in a week or if all the eggs have been removed.

 

The Lice Clinics of America has helped hundreds of thousands of people eliminate their head lice problem. Our expert staff is here to answer any additional questions you may have about the products we offer and their effectiveness.

Contact Lice Clinics of America today to speak with someone who deals with head lice every day! We can help.

 

Does Swimming Kill Head Lice?

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Summertime is just not summertime without the experience of enjoying a cool, refreshing dip in the pool. For many people, public pools are an only option as upkeep and maintenance for a private pool can be quite expensive. What are the risks of swimming in a public pool and contracting head lice? Many people say the risk for head lice is greater in the warmer summer months? What should parents know and do to prevent the spreading of head lice while swimming?

 

Swimming CAN spread head lice, but it is HIGHLY unlikely.

Research shows us that head lice can survive underwater for several hours at a time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state the swimming does NOT pose a great risk for catching head lice because head lice go into survival mode underwater. They tightly grasp onto strands of human hair and do not let go.  In the event that a louse would get knocked off of a host during swimming, it would float to the top of the water and hope for another head to push up next to it. In this rare case, head lice could be transferred while swimming or bathing.

 

Why would swimming pose a risk for head lice?

The greatest risk for transferring head lice during swimming is by sharing towels. Head lice can easily be transferred to the interwoven fabric of towels. If these towels are shared by others by laying on them, wiping off their body, or drying their hair the likelihood of transfer is much higher than in the water.

 

Why doesn’t water kill head lice?

Head lice can hold their breath for several hours. This is why simply shampooing your hair does NOT effectively kill head lice. They also have distinct claws on the end of each of their six legs. These claws are designed to grasp onto hair strands and keep them firmly in place.

 

Does chlorine from the pool kill head lice?

Despite what you may have heard, chlorine does not kill head lice. This is a myth that has been debunked.

 

Is head lice more prevalent in the summer months?

The warmer weather does mean more cases of headlice simply because more people are spending time together and transfer is easier. The busiest times for head lice outbreaks are summer camps, spring break, back to school, and school breaks like Christmas time.

 

Summer Camp Busy Time for Head Lice

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Every kid loves to go away to summer camp. There is nothing like the experience of canoeing, cooking dinner around the campfire and hiking with friends in the great outdoors. As parents, you are certainly preparing your child with bug spray and sunscreen for their next big adventure. There’s another area of protection you should definitely take the time to speak to your child about.  Did you know that summer camp is one of the top times of year that children are most susceptible to head lice?

Every year in the United States alone up to 12 million children will catch a case of head lice. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Head lice are spread by direct contact with the hair of an infected person. Anyone who comes in head-to-head contact with someone who already has head lice is at greatest risk….Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice.”

 

Why Summer Camp?

Two major factors play a role in the significant spread of head lice during summer camp situations. First of all, the warmer weather makes head lice more prominent. Secondly, with summer camp comes loads of children playing together, living in close proximity, sharing clothes, sleeping with the same blankets and pillows and ultimately, sharing head lice.  Nothing really special happens, just more of the same normal ways head lice are commonly spread.

 

How to Prevent Lice at Summer Camp?

Talk to your local Lice Clinics of America professionals about preventative sprays, conditioners, or other deterrents that your child could use while at summer camp. These products are specially formulated to repel head lice and keep them from making your child a host.

Talk to your camp about any measures they will take. Many camps offer head lice screenings and products for their campers if they are caught with head lice. Often, Lice Clinics of America are even asked to provide the screening and bring their innovative technology, the FDA-cleared AirAllé device to eliminate the problem.  If your summer camp doesn’t have a plan or a policy, suggest that they develop one. Lice Clinics of America is an excellent source for summer camp head lice prevention and treatment.

Remember, head lice is more easily caught when girls have long hair, left down. Remind them to pull hair back into braids, pigtails, ponytails, or even wear a hat. Keep boys hair short and trimmed. Always talk to kids about not sharing brushes, combs, hats, helmets, clothing, towels or pillows. Even some electronic devices can pass head lice, such as headphones or earbuds.

 

What Do I Do When My Child Returns Home?

Most commonly, head lice symptoms will take weeks to manifest. The best way to catch head lice quickly is to perform head lice checks. These can be done at home with a nitpicking comb, a paper towel and a lot of patience. Simply sift through your child’s hair looking for traces of head lice, irritated markings on the scalp, or signs of nits, lice eggs around the base of the hair shaft. Wipe the nit-comb off onto the paper towel after every swipe to look for traces. Lice Clinics of America offer head lice screening at our clinics if you are unsure what to look for.

Wash all clothing and belongings on high heat. If you are unable to wash any particular items, place in the dryer for 30 minutes on a high heat setting. There is no need to throw away items, washing and drying them will eliminate any live lice or their eggs.

 

Nitpicking Isn’t Always a Bad Thing! In fact, We Recommend It.

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Ok, so we aren’t giving every parent a free pass to constantly gripe at their children. We are talking about another form of nitpicking altogether. One of the most effective ways to catch head lice early on is by doing regular head checks on your children. This practice dates back to homo sapien times when groups of our early human ancestors and chimpanzee families would literally sit around for hours “nit” picking head lice and body lice off of each other to help relieve the itching and irritation. This original form of nitpicking is exactly what parents can be doing now to help keep their family protected from head lice. It often takes weeks for a case of head lice to manifest symptoms. Checking scalps often and thoroughly can be your first indication that you have a problem. So, how do you nitpick the good way?

 

Nitpicking Tips for Parents:

1. Make sure you are using a nitpicking comb. Lice Clinics of America sell effective nitpicking combs that are specifically made to sift through hair strands and remove nits or live lice as they come into contact with the teeth. These are also readily available through Amazon or any general store. Having the right tool for the job can make sure you are not wasting your time and doing it effectively.

2. Be able to identify nits, nymphs and adult lice. Lice grow in three stages. Nits or lice eggs are laid near the base of the scalp on individual hair strands. Eggs will be small in size, transparent in color and difficult to peel off. Once the eggs hatch, nymphs are minuscule in size and difficult to spot. They spend 9-12 days growing at this stage until they have developed into a full grown louse. Lice fully grown are the size of a sesame seed, brown in color and will quickly scurry away from light.

3. Know where to look. First, wet the child’s hair and brush through with hair conditioner. Lice are most often behind the ears, at the crown of the head or along the neckline. Carefully comb through these areas searching for nits, the most obvious sign of head lice. Get a paper towel to wipe off the comb after each stroke and examine any traces of what’s coming off the comb.

 4. Perform head lice checks often. Head lice are a problem all year round, however, the most critical times for head lice are back to school, summertime, and vacations. Particularly after these times make sure you are checking your children for head lice. Summer camps are a big problem for head lice, sleepovers, or even participating in sports teams. The more often you check, the better you will get at it and the easier it will become.

5. Be patient with yourself. Even school nurses who are checking hundreds of kids for head lice every year make mistakes in diagnosing the problem. Research, practice and remember that you will get the hang of it. Contact the Lice Clinics of America, Medway if you have any questions or concerns. Our professional staff is here to help you in the fight against head lice.

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