Nothing sets off a parent’s anxiety quite like when their children come home with head lice—the bugs are creepy. For centuries, head lice have been associated with (incorrectly, we might add) poor hygiene, which can embarrass parents and heighten their anxiety.

It’s been pointed out many times that head lice pose no real health threat to humans. Yes, the scalp itches, and yes, treating head lice can be frustrating, but as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says: “Head lice should not be considered as a medical or public health hazard. Head lice are not known to spread disease. Head lice can be an annoyance because their presence may cause itching and loss of sleep. Sometimes the itching can lead to excessive scratching that can sometimes increase the chance of a secondary skin infection.”

The most physical damage head lice can cause to a child is a secondary skin infection, and this is relatively rare. But that’s not the end of the story. There are health risks associated with head lice, but not from what you might think.

Is the Cure Worse than the Problem?

According to pest control experts at IdentifyUS, “The greatest harm associated with head lice results from the well-intentioned but misguided use of caustic or toxic substances to eliminate the lice.”

In other words, the retail products and home remedies for head lice can cause more health problems than the lice alone might cause. A 2017 study in Occupational and Environmental Medicine reports that “exposure to certain pyrethroids, at environmental levels, may negatively affect neurobehavioral development by 6 years of age.”

Pyrethroids are the chemicals used in over-the-counter lice products. A 2015 study in Environmental Health found that, “Pyrethroid pesticides cause abnormalities in the dopamine system and produce an ADHD phenotype in animal models, with effects accentuated in males versus females. However, data regarding behavioral effects of pyrethroid exposure in children is limited.”

Then there are home remedies—mayonnaise, petroleum jelly, even kerosene—recommended by well-meaning parents as fool-proof lice treatments. The idea is to smother the lice with some gooey substance that will suffocate them. Unfortunately, these “cures” usually involve wrapping a child’s head in plastic overnight to keep the substance in place. This practice has had tragic results.

A Different Approach

It doesn’t have to be this way. The FDA-cleared medical device AirAllé from Lice Clinics of America removes lice quickly and effectively without the risks of pesticides and home treatments. The AirAllé device uses microprocessor-controlled warm air, applied by trained technicians to dehydrate live lice and eggs in a matter of minutes. It has been clinically proven to kill lice and more than 99 percent of eggs.

Treatment using the AirAllé medical device is available exclusively at Lice Clinics of America treatment centers. With more than 150 clinics in the U.S. and another 100 in 20 other countries, Lice Clinics of America is the largest and fastest-growing network of lice treatment centers in the world. Collectively, there have been over 850,000 successful AirAllé treatments to date. Treatment using the AirAllé device takes about 60 to 90 minutes and is guaranteed to be effective.

Lice Clinics of America has successfully treated more than 850,000 cases of head lice. The company has more than 265 clinics in 20 countries, making it the world’s largest network of professional lice treatment centers. Lice Clinics of America – Sugar Land is located at 1531 FM-359, Suite 800, Richmond, TX, 77406 and is open 7 days a week by appointment. Call 281-801-4634 or visit https://liceclinicssugarland.com for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Your head has been itchy, you’ve checked yourself for head lice and your screening came back negative. What else could it be??

There are many other scalp conditions that may cause itching and can mimic the symptoms and some of the physical findings experienced with a head lice infestation. Below, we’ll get into what else could cause an itchy head!

Tinea Capitis

Tinea Capitis is a common fungal infection that causes irritation and inflammation of the scalp. It is more common in children than adults but may affect anyone.

Seborrheic Scalp Dermatitis

Seborrheic Scalp Dermatitis is a common scalp condition affecting infants, adolescents, and adults. It causes irritation and inflammation of the scalp. In infants, it is usually called “Cradle Cap”. This skin condition causes redness and scaly patches. Milder forms may result in stubborn dandruff. More severe cases cause thick, scaly areas and scalp irritation.

Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic Dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. It is most frequent in children but can occur at any age. It causes the skin to be red and itchy. Sometimes the itchiness can be severe.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune disease affecting skin cells. It can involve the scalp. Psoriasis causes redness, irritation, and thick scaly areas of the skin. It tends to go through cycles. It may flare up for weeks or months and then subside for a time before flaring up again.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Allergic Contact Dermatitis is the result of an allergy or sensitivity to something. It can cause redness, flaking, and itchiness. In more severe cases, it may cause blisters. The most common cause of allergic contact dermatitis on the scalp is a hair product.

As you can see, there are many different conditions, skin disorders, and infestations that can affect the scalp and may mimic some of the symptoms of a head lice infestation. We have only listed a few of the most common ones. There are many more.

Lice Clinics of America – Sugar Land is a member of the world’s largest network of lice clinics and all technicians have been trained and certified to operate our exclusive AirAllé device. This revolutionary FDA-cleared medical device kills head lice and over 99% of lice eggs using specially controlled heated air.

Lice Clinics of America has successfully treated more than 850,000 cases of head lice. The company has more than 265 clinics in 20 countries, making it the world’s largest network of professional lice treatment centers. Lice Clinics of America – Sugar Land is located at 1531 FM-359, Suite 800, Richmond, TX, 77406 and is open 7 days a week by appointment. Call 281-801-4634 or visit https://liceclinicssugarland.com for more information or to schedule an appointment.

One of the most harmful things about head lice is the wealth of misinformation that surrounds them. Parents are scared of them, kids are bullied because of them, and frankly, lice are a big nuisance. Here are some myths and facts to clear up any confusion you may have about pesky head lice.

MYTHS – BUSTED

Myth: Head lice jump from one head to another.

Fact: Lice cannot jump or fly. They crawl from one head to another, which is why they spread through head-to-head contact.

Myth: Only kids get lice

Fact: Anyone can get lice. Cuddly children can spread lice to their parents, grandparents, caregivers, and other adults they hug.

Myth: Kids get lice primarily at school

Fact: Kids can get lice whenever they are in close contact with other infested children, such as when they are at sleepovers, camps or sporting events.

Myth: If you have lice, your head will itch.

Fact: Itching is an allergic reaction to lice secretions. But not everyone has this allergy. You can have lice and have no itching. Itching can also take weeks to develop.

Myth: If you have lice you need to bag your stuffed animals for 2 weeks

Fact: Lice cannot live off a human head for longer than 48 hours. For peace of mind, just throw the stuffed animals into the dryer on high heat for a cycle.

Myth: You can get lice from your pets.

Fact: Human head lice do not live on animals. They are human parasites and live off human blood. Your pets cannot spread it to you and vice versa.

Myth: You can get lice from your couches, carpets, etc.

Fact: Again, head lice cannot live off a human head for longer than 48 hours. Most are dead within 15 hours. The risk of getting infested by a louse that has fallen onto a rug or carpet or furniture is extremely low.

Myth: You can treat lice using household products like mayo

Fact: While mayo could possibly clog up the airways on a louse’s body, it is not an effective method for getting rid of lice. Mayo also has no effect on the lice eggs, which will continue to hatch.

Myth: Head lice carry diseases.

Fact: Fact: Human head lice do not carry disease. They are a nuisance parasite, but not dangerous.

Myth:  You get lice because you are dirty

Fact: As long as there is a scalp that a louse can feed on, it doesn’t care whether the hair is dirty or clean.

Lice Clinics of America has successfully treated more than 850,000 cases of head lice. The company has more than 265 clinics in 20 countries, making it the world’s largest network of professional lice treatment centers. Lice Clinics of America – Sugar Land is located at 1531 FM-359, Suite 800, Richmond, TX, 77406 and is open 7 days a week by appointment. Call 281-801-4634 or visit https://liceclinicssugarland.com for more information or to schedule an appointment.

As head-lice treatment professionals, we at Lice Clinics of America – Sugar Land receive several questions from our customers about head lice and how to treat them. One frequent question we hear is “How do I treat my home for lice?”

It’s a common misconception that head lice, like other pests in the home, can live on clothing, bedding, and furniture. This belief leads well-meaning parents to consider using fumigation and pesticide products such as bug bombs, or foggers, to control their lice infestation.

“This is probably the most popular myth about head lice that people believe,” says Ally Anthon, owner of the Lice Clinics of America – Sugar Land clinic. “I would say most, or a large portion, of our clients, assume that having lice in the home means having to treat the home itself when that’s actually not the case.”

Why Pest Control Tactics Don’t Help a Lice Infestation

The consistent warm temperature and protective cover of hair make the scalp the louse’s ideal home. As parasites, head lice feed solely on human blood, which means that they need to remain on their host’s scalp for their entire lives. If a louse happens to come off of its host, its chances of survival are slim to none. The louse’s specially evolved legs make it difficult to move around any surface that’s not a human head. Once it leaves the head, it cannot feed, will become dehydrated, and die—usually within 15 hours.

This occurrence is far less common than you think. In addition to being optimized for movement through hair, the head louse’s legs are also good at helping them hold on tight—so good, in fact, that lice will remain on the scalp through swimming, brushing, and bathing. Their eggs (also called nits) are even harder to remove; the glue-like substance that attaches them to the hair keeps them in place until they hatch. A nit will not come off of the hair unless it is pulled off the end of the hair shaft.

Now that you know an infestation of head lice has nothing to do with the home but everything to do with the hair on your head, you can see why sprays, foggers, and professional fumigation are not only ineffective, they also add unneeded risk to family members. Those types of treatments use toxic chemicals that require household members to stay far away to prevent inhalation.

Safe Solutions that Work

Rather than spending hundreds of dollars on unhelpful and potentially dangerous pest-control methods, visit Lice Clinics of America – Sugar Land for effective head lice treatments and gentle prevention products. Using the FDA-cleared AirAllé device, our professionally trained technicians will have you and your family members lice-free in just one hour. We will also help you select the best prevention products for you from our Prevent line, which uses pleasant-smelling essential oils to repel lice from the hair. All of our products and treatments are pesticide-free, so you can leave the bug bombs and exterminators behind!

About Lice Clinics of America – West Houston

Lice Clinics of America has successfully treated more than 850,000 cases of head lice. The company has more than 265 clinics in 20 countries, making it the world’s largest network of professional lice treatment centers. Lice Clinics of America – Sugar Land is located at 1531 FM-359, Suite 800, Richmond, TX, 77406 and is open 7 days a week by appointment. Call 281-801-4634 or visit https://liceclinicssugarland.com for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Recently, an article was published as a “What are they up to now?” piece on a teenage girl in England who was severely burned four years ago after using a local brand of lice shampoo. The shampoo contained a highly flammable ingredient and her hair caught fire as she walked past the stovetop, resulting in severe burns all over her body. While this tragic outcome is rare, it does underscore that lice shampoos are not always as safe or effective as consumers might assume.

“At our clinic, we often have clients say they tried home remedies, sometimes mildly dangerous home remedies, in their attempt to treat head lice on their own,” says Ally Anthon, owner of Lice Clinics of America – Sugar Land. “Traditional over-the-counter treatments are also proving to be less and less effective as lice continue to develop resistance to the chemicals used in them.”

“As head lice professionals at Lice Clinics of America, we have an effective and safe head lice treatment at our fingertips,” says Dr. Krista Lauer, National Medical Director of Lice Clinics of America. “Sometimes, something that seems safe turns out to be dangerous.”

Lice Clinics of America doesn’t use chemicals in its treatment – instead, we use the AirAllé device, an FDA-cleared medical device that uses precision-controlled heated-air that desiccates head lice and their nits (also known as lice eggs). The heated air kills lice and nits in about 30 seconds and it takes, on average, an hour for a whole head of hair to be treated in one of the franchise’s 265 clinics.

“The stigma associated with an infestation may lead people to desperate measures. Despite our best efforts, misinformation continues to abound. Recently, when looking at educational materials available to teachers, we found an article on an official site suggesting the use of mayonnaise. We know this doesn’t work – mayonnaise doesn’t kill nits, and because it is left on the head in a plastic bag for hours it creates a real suffocation hazard.” says Ally.

Lice Clinics of America has successfully treated more than 675,000 cases of head lice. The company has more than 265 clinics in 20 countries, making it the world’s largest network of professional lice treatment centers. Lice Clinics of America – Sugar Land is located at 1531 FM-359, Suite 800, Richmond, TX, 77406 and is open 7 days a week by appointment. Call 281-801-4634 or visit https://liceclinicssugarland.com for more information or to schedule an appointment.