When confronted with head lice, parents often panic. They don’t know how to solve the problem, primarily because people don’t like to talk about head lice until they have to.
The best defense against head lice, however, is a good offense. Since 12 million children under 13 years-old get head lice each year—there are 48 million children in the United States in that age group—one in four will get head lice. It pays to have a plan in advance.
What can you do to prepare for head lice?
- Use lice prevention products. Products are available in the form of sprays, rinses and shampoos that serve as a lice repellent. Lice Clinics of America offers a complete line of non-toxic products guaranteed to be effective. Our latest, Preventive Hair Bands, are infused with 100% natural essential oils that are perfect for keeping lice away. These reusable hair bands last up to two weeks with our proprietary long-lasting repellant while also serving to hold the hair up and away from contacting other heads that may have head lice.
- Get a professional screening. Head lice are notoriously tricky to diagnose. Children can be symptom-free for weeks before itching begins. Lice Clinics of America offers screenings for a modest fee that is waived if lice are found and treatment is purchased.
- Know what works, and what doesn’t. Traditional lice products are increasingly ineffective because lice have become resistant to the pesticides they use. A 2016 study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology found that 98 percent of head lice carry a genetic resistance to pyrethroids, the class of pesticides used in the most popular lice shampoos. On the other hand, Lice Clinics of America’s AirAllé® medical device has been clinically shown to kill live lice and more than 99 percent of eggs (nits) using carefully controlled heated air to dehydrate lice and bugs. The entire treatment takes about an hour and is guaranteed to be effective. Find a clinic near you and make sure you have the phone number handy when lice strike!
- Stock up on lice prevention supplies. It’s common to detect head lice at night, at bath or shower time, when many stores are closed. A home version of the AirAllé, the OneCureTM, is available so parents can treat head lice on the spot. Like the AirAllé, OneCure uses heated air and treatment takes about an hour in the comfort and privacy of your home.
- Talk to your friends about head lice. Silence is a significant contributor to head lice outbreaks. If your child comes home with head lice, gets treated, and you send them back to school or day care, odds are they will get lice again if other parents aren’t alerted and their children checked. No one likes to talk about head lice, but you really should. No one is to blame—lice afflict all social and economic groups. Watch actress Jennifer Garner’s story about meeting George Clooney when her children had lice!
Lice happen. They don’t have to happen to you if you spring into action and take steps to prevent them from marching into your household. For more information or to find a clinic near you, visit www.liceclinicsofamerica.com.
