A Miami Herald article on unusual jobs in the city featured a number of surprising occupations—from hurricane hunter to cruise ship brew master to resort mermaids.
One job on the list that might surprise you is “lice fighter.” The article features the Miami outpost of Lice Clinics of America, the largest and fastest-growing network of lice treatment centers in the world. Miami clinic owners Heather and James “JJ” O’Connor guarantee they can get rid of head lice at their Miami salon, promising “urgent care for lice.”
Head lice, the article points out, have been afflicting humans for millennia. There is evidence in Egyptian tombs that Egyptian royals were buried with lice combs. Perhaps they thought that the pests would follow them into the afterworld.
Lice Clinics of America has a secret weapon in the battle against head lice. The company’s AirAllé device is an FDA-cleared Class I medical device clinically proven to kill live lice and more than 99 percent of eggs in a single treatment that takes about an hour. That’s a giant leap forward from over-the-counter products that need to be applied several times over a few weeks—and still might not get the job done.
That’s because lice have developed genetic resistance to the most popular drugstore lice products. The most recent study found that 98 percent of head lice in 48 states and most of Canada now carry a genetic mutation that renders them impervious to pyrethroids, the class of insecticide used in the products.
The AirAllé device was developed by researchers at the University of Utah. A team with a grant to study bird lice found it difficult to keep the bugs alive in the arid desert climate. When one of the team’s children contracted head lice, and over-the-counter products didn’t work, he came up with the idea of recreating the conditions that were killing off bird lice.
After 10 years of tinkering, AirAllé was born. It works by applying carefully controlled warm air to the scalp where lice are most likely to dwell, dehydrating the lice and eggs in a matter of minutes. It’s one of the most significant advances in lice treatment in decades.
Lice Clinics of America clinics are spreading almost as fast as head lice themselves—with nearly 300 clinics in 33 countries at last count. AirAllé has successfully treated more than 1 million cases of head lice, according to the company.
Lice Clinics of America has also developed a new generation of home lice treatment products that don’t use toxic chemicals and that are guaranteed to be effective. The company’s Lice Remover Kit and Lice Preventer Kit can be found at most major retailers and provide non-toxic gel and applicators developed to making lice prevention and removal simple, fast, and effective.
To learn more about the AirAllé medical device, Lice Clinics of America, to find a clinic, or to find an unusual job of your own, visit www.liceclinicsofamerica.com.
By the way, “lice fighter” isn’t the only insect-related “unusual” job listed in the article. There’s also a beekeeper that rescues homeowners from bee infestations. Don’t worry, he finds safe homes for the bees.
