Greenville, South Carolina Head Lice Blog I Lice Clinic in Greenville, SC

Will Your Hair Dryer Kill Lice?

November 23, 2022/0 Comments/in Head Lice /by lcagreenville

There are many “at-home” lice treatments that have circulated the internet for years. One popular theory is that your hair dryer will kill lice. Is this true? The short answer is that heat can in fact kill lice, however, the temperature required to kill head lice may not be one that you would like aimed at your child’s head.

How hot is too hot?

The temperature to kill lice is around 130 degrees fahrenheit. A quick blow dry will not suffice to rid your hair of a lice infestation. The truth is that lice can withstand heat from a blow dryer and hot water, which is why you may have washed and dried your child’s hair a few times before realizing that a head lice infestation has even occurred.

Because the temperature to kill lice must be applied for at least 5 minutes, you or your child’s scalp and hair would likely become burned.

Should I try using a hair dryer at home?

It is not recommended to use lice shampoo and heat to rid hair of head lice as heat and the alcohol in the shampoo may ignite. As many adults are not properly trained on how to get rid of lice, certain remedies found online may not be effective in killing all lice and eggs.

There are some DIY options that can be purchased from professional clinics, such as Lice Clinics of America, to allow you freedom, privacy, and safety all from the comfort of your own home.

Book a Professional Treatment Options Near You!

So you have a lice breakout and you’re looking for some safer options. At Lice Clinics of America with convenient locations for lice removal in Anderson, Greenville, and Spartanburg SC, we offer safe and effective treatments that will give your family peace of mind- and hair.

Our AirAlle treatment option offers a 3-step process where the dead lice and eggs are combed out and an oil treatment is applied. In just one hour, you and your family can leave our clinic lice free. For other treatments and options that best fit your family and budget, consult our team of highly qualified experts today!

Can Adults Get Head Lice?

November 9, 2022/0 Comments/in Head Lice /by lcagreenville

For many families with young children, head lice can be a common issue as it is highly contagious and epidemics occur in schools, day-cares and nurseries. One popular myth about lice is that only children can get it. While it is more common for children to become infested, it is possible for adults to also get head lice.

How do you get lice as an adult?

Any person with hair can get lice, so it is possible to become infested even if you are not around children. However, it is much less common for adults who do not frequently spend time with children to have lice.

While uncommon, adults with head lice may have picked them up from traveling from air travel or public transportation. If you are sitting next to someone who has lice, it is best to avoid any sort of head-to-head contact. Crowded areas where there may be hair-to-hair contact put adults at risk of contracting lice, which is why catching lice is more common with children who spend more time in close quarters than adults.

How do I know if I have head lice?

Since head lice hide in the hair and are very small, it might not always be obvious that you have them. However, you may be able to spot nits or by finding lice bites on your scalp.

Children and adults with head lice may experience:

1. Intense itching on the scalp

2. Tickling feeling from movement of lice in the hair

3. Visible lice on your scalp

4. Presence of nits around the ears and base of the scalp near your neck

5. Sores on scalp, neck and shoulders

It is important to seek help from a lice specialist if you experience these symptoms.

Do you have lice? Book an appointment at LCA Upper State SC today!

If you or someone in your home has lice, it is important to seek out safe and effective treatment. Lice Clinics of America have convenient locations in Greenville, Anderson, and Spartanburg SC, where we allow patients to experience effective treatment and care, getting them back to their normal routine. Our advanced lice technology allows you or your children to leave lice-free in one hour. To learn more about our services and why we are the largest professional lice treatment network, contact us today!

Do I Have Lice Or Am I Just Paranoid?

October 26, 2022/0 Comments/in Head Lice /by lcagreenville

Head lice are small, parasitic insects that dwell on the human scalp and feed on the blood of their unfortunate hosts. They can breed rapidly, and are very difficult to get rid of without the proper treatment. To make matters worse, their presence and activity on the human scalp can cause sores and relentless itching, becoming a tremendous nuisance to your everyday life and happiness. So is the current itching in your scalp the early signs of a head lice problem, or are you just paranoid? In this article, we will discuss the signs of lice along with other possible explanations for your new levels of discomfort.

If It Is Head Lice

In spite of all the advances humanity has made in the fields of science and medicine, there is still only one way to confirm whether or not a person has head lice: physical inspection. Head lice are small, annoying, and stubborn, and they can spread as quickly as a bad smell, but fortunately for us, they are still large enough to see with the naked eye. If you are suspicious that your current itching could possibly be head lice, there is no harm in being proactive and scheduling a visit to a nearby head lice clinic for an evaluation. Head lice are visible, as well as the nits they create in your hair to lay eggs and their presence can be easily verified by a professional. What you should never do is presume you have head lice, without a professional inspection, and proceed to purchase harsh, over-the-counter chemicals to treat the potentially non-existing pests in your hair. If the itch you are experiencing is caused by something else, these harsh chemicals can make things significantly worse. Always speak to a professional first, then you can seek treatment as promptly as possible.

If It Is Not Head Lice

So, do I have lice or am I paranoid? The answer could very well be paranoia or phobia, but there could be reasonable explanations behind your new itch. Once you have consented to a professional inspection that discovers no evidence of head lice, you may begin racking your brain to discover the possible explanations for your itchy scalp, which include:

1. Allergies

2. New shampoo or a hair care product

3. Hot or Cold weather

4. Dandruff

5. Dermatitis or other skin conditions affecting your scalp

6. Psychosomatic Lice – or otherwise known as “Phantom Lice”

Psychosomatic lice is an emotional response that manifests in a physical way, similar to a nervous twitch. It is most commonly caused by a person becoming hyper-aware of the nerve endings in their scalp (like when you become aware of your breathing) so that the slightest sensation can create a signal of discomfort to their brain. It can be triggered by knowing that you were recently around someone with head lice, or even simply by hearing (or reading) about it. When this situation occurs, the simple motion of hair follicles being moved by air around you can trigger an itch, leading you to scratch the affected area as a response. Do this enough times and you will begin to damage the surface of your scalp and create a genuine physical cause for further itching by the presence of new bacteria introduced to your scalp by your hands and fingernails.

Lice Removal in Greenville, SC

Head lice can be a hassle to deal with. If you or someone you know has been exposed, it is important to check for lice before potentially spreading them to others. Here at Lice Clinics of America, we offer a chemical-free head lice treatment that guarantees a lice-free scalp in just one hour. If you are in need of lice removal in Greenville, SC or in Anderson, SC, visit our website and schedule an appointment at one of our clinics, today.

Hair Dye and Head Lice: Everything You Should Know

October 10, 2022/0 Comments/in Head Lice /by lcagreenville

There is a common myth circulating around society that people who dye their hair can’t get head lice. We will begin this discussion by simply stating that this is not true. Head lice are just as attracted to dyed hair as they are to untreated hair. Head lice only use a person’s hair as a means of climbing down to your scalp in order to get to the blood. The color or quality of your hair will not pose much of an obstacle to them in this effort. But what effects can hair dye have when it comes to head lice? Can hair dye kill lice once a person’s hair becomes infested, and is it a good idea to try? In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about the relationship between lice and hair dye, and what we recommend.

Will Hair Dye Kill Lice?

There are a variety of different hair dye products available with several active ingredients that are put to use with each treatment. What we have discovered is that if a person with head lice decides to use a permanent hair dye containing the ingredients ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, these harsh chemicals can have the potential to kill some lice but not in any way get rid of the lice. The same is true for hair bleach, the chemical treatment used to remove the color from your hair. A thorough application can do some significant damage to some species of lice, but not all of them. Temporary hair dyes or gentle, organic versions of the product without these two chemicals will have little to no effect on the bugs at all. However, the one thing that each of these approaches has in common is they will not have any effect on the lice eggs (or nits). Lice eggs have a tough exterior shell that hair dye chemicals are not strong enough to penetrate. So if you decide to pay good money to eradicate your lice bugs at a hair salon, understand that it may work temporarily, but they will be back once those eggs hatch. Hair dye will not be a permanent solution to this problem.

Will Proper Lice Removal Ruin Hair Color?

Head lice will not prevent you from dying your hair, and the proper lice removal procedure will not damage your hair color. There are some things to consider before doing either. If you were planning to go to dye your hair after you check yourself for lice, you may want to pause and reconsider this course of action. Head lice shampoo employs the use of other harsh chemicals in order to kill the bugs. These shampoos are not known to have any effect on your hair color, but combining such treatment with a hair dye application, before or after, could wreak havoc on your scalp, resulting in further itching, allergic reactions, or a rash. One other thing to consider is that head lice can often leave small sores on the scalp, and the itching that comes with their active presence in your hair can leave multiple scratches on the skin. If you’re thinking that this hair dye treatment will work like killing two birds with one stone, you may be partially right, but it might not be the best idea. Remember, the ingredients needed to kill most head lice are ammonia and peroxide. Applying these harsh chemicals to sores and scratched skin on the surface of your scalp will most likely cause a very uncomfortable experience. Professional, chemical-free lice removal should be your top priority.

Lice Clinics of America in Anderson, SC

Here at Lice Clinics of America, we offer a chemical-free head lice treatment that guarantees a lice-free scalp in just one hour. Head lice are a horrible intrusion on your quality of life, and our team of professionals is dedicated to providing the best professional lice removal available. If you are in need of lice treatment near you in Anderson, SC, or in Greenville, SC, please visit our website and schedule an appointment at one of our clinics, today.

Why Are Natural Remedies Not An Effective Lice Treatment?

September 29, 2022/0 Comments/in Lice Treatment /by lcagreenville

If you or one of your relatives have ever had head lice, then you have probably heard of some of the home remedies people come up with to treat them. With millions of head lice cases every year, it is no surprise that some have resorted to alternative methods for dealing with them. Unfortunately, not only are these remedies ineffective, but many of them can be dangerous. Here are a few popular, natural remedies for lice, and why they should not be used.

Mayonnaise

As perhaps the most infamous home remedy for head lice, it probably won’t come as a shock to you that this condiment does not provide any real threat to lice. The mayo method involves smearing mayonnaise onto the hair and relying on its viscosity to suffocate the head lice on the scalp. While this remedy does have the potential to suffocate a handful of parasites, it is not guaranteed. On top of that, the lice eggs, called nits, will remain unharmed, leading to more lice down the road.

Listerine

Though Listerine does contain chemicals that can kill bugs, it is not an effective way of treating head lice. The menthol, alcohol, and eucalyptol ingredients are toxic and can have adverse effects on the patient’s neurological health, not to mention being highly flammable. Lice bites are bad, but if something goes wrong with the Listerine, they might be the least of your problems. If you want to treat yourself or a family member safely, Listerine is not the way to go.

Olive Oil

One popular home remedy calls for drowning the head lice in olive oil. Just like the mayonnaise, this treatment does a poor job of killing the head lice and is ineffective against nits. After letting the oil soak and combing out all the hair, there is no guarantee that any of the head lice were removed. Even after repeating this process multiple times, you will be left where you started. Nits don’t need air to breathe, so depending on a method that relies on suffocation is out of the question.

Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly is used in the same manner as mayo and olive oil. Again, using products to suffocate the lice is not an effective method of head lice removal. On top of being ineffective, petroleum is extremely hard to remove from the hair, possibly even more difficult to remove than head lice. Using petroleum is more trouble than it is worth and will leave you with both lice and a huge mess.

Find a Head Lice Treatment in Anderson, SC

If you are looking for a natural head lice remedy that works, our lice clinics have the treatment you are looking for. The AirAlle works swiftly, removing 100% of the head lice and nits in just one hour. This device uses heat to detach the nits and lice from the hair shafts, so they can be easily dispatched. With over 800,000 successful treatments, our trained head lice technicians know the best way to get the head lice out. If you or someone you know is dealing with head lice, contact us today at one of our locations in Greenville and Anderson, SC.

Best Hairstyles To Keep Lice Away

September 15, 2022/0 Comments/in Head Lice /by lcagreenville

Head lice are a common problem here in the United States and can appear without warning. With millions of cases each year you might wonder, “how do you get lice?” The only way for lice to get from head to head is through direct contact with another person with lice. While there are a variety of ways that people attempt to prevent head lice, one of the simplest ways to keep them away is by adjusting your hairstyle. Hugging, cuddles, picture taking, and pillow sharing are just a few common ways that head lice get from person to person. Keeping your hair up and out of the way can go a long way when it comes to keeping these parasites at bay. Here are a few simple hairstyles to prevent lice.

Ponytails

Ponytails provide a quick and easy way to get your hair out of the way. When you are positioning the ponytail, keep in mind that the further out of the way, the better. Forming your ponytail at the top of the head is the most effective way to prevent head lice. While it may not be the most trendy way to wear your hair, there are a variety of ways to style them. A side ponytail, hightail, or even pigtails are all effective styling options.

Buns

Perhaps the most effective hairstyle at preventing head lice, buns provide the perfect way to get your hair as far out of reach as possible. Ballerina buns offer the most protection a hairstyle can provide. Pulled tight and placed at the top of the head, these buns can keep your hair looking neat, and as far out of harm’s way as possible. A looser or lower bun can provide adequate protection as well. Adding a twist or curl is a great option for adding your personal touch.

Braids

While braids may not be as effective as buns when it comes to preventing the spread of lice, they do offer plenty of styling options. It’s always important to look your best at family functions and group events. A common braid is both simple and sophisticated and takes a matter of seconds to form and tie. French and crown braids are great for more formal events. Whatever the occasion may be, braids are a great way to express your style while staying clear of head lice.

Find Lice Treatment In Greenville SC

Head lice can be a hassle to deal with. If you or someone you know has been exposed, it is important to check for lice before potentially spreading them to others. Here at Lice Clinics of America, we offer a chemical-free head lice treatment that guarantees a lice-free scalp in just one hour. Our lice removal clinics in Anderson and Greenville, SC has a variety of treatment options, and our technicians can help you choose what solution is best for you. Get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment.

Lice Prevention 101: Tips and Tricks

August 25, 2022/0 Comments/in Head Lice /by lcagreenville

Head lice are a common issue. While these parasites are typically spread in elementary schools and summer camps, you are never too old to catch a case of head lice. With over 6 million cases in elementary-age citizens alone, you and your family must know about the dangers of head lice and the best ways to avoid them. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you and your family stay lice-free.

Keep Your Hair Up

Head lice have a reputation for hiding in the corners of stores and the backs of hats, but the truth is that head lice only reside in the hair of other individuals. Because head lice cannot survive outside of the hair for very long, the chances of getting lice from a hat or comb are next to none. To avoid getting head lice from other people, the best thing you can do is be mindful of head-to-head contact. One great tip for reducing contact is to put your hair up. A braid, bun, or ponytail can go a long way when it comes to keeping your hair up and out of the way.

Check Regularly For Lice

It may seem simple but checking for lice regularly is a great way to reduce their spread. If you have family in grade school, getting into the habit of checking for head lice is a good idea. Many summer camps now require a head lice check before the beginning of camp, and school should be no different. The earlier you can catch a case of lice the better. As a case progresses, it can become more aggravating to the patient, the risk of infection increases, and there is an increasing chance that the lice will spread to another.

Educate Your Family

Being able to identify a case of lice is the first step in preventing them from spreading to others. Before your kids start school or go camping, you should answer some of the basic questions they might have regarding lice such as;

How do you get lice?

How do you prevent lice?

How do you identify a case of head lice?

These small off-white bugs are known for the itching they cause, and the tingling sensation felt as the lice in the hair move across the scalp. If you or someone you know starts to experience symptoms of head lice, don’t panic! Do a quick self-check with a flashlight and a mirror, and then contact a professional. Though there are several at-home remedies and over-the-counter treatments, these options usually contain dangerous chemicals that can have serious toxic effects.

Lice Treatment in Anderson, South Carolina

Here at Lice Clinics of America, we specialize in a chemical-free head lice treatment that is guaranteed to leave you lice-free after just one appointment. We can have you lice-free and ready to go in under two hours. If you would like to learn more about LCA and the treatment options we provide, either visit us in Anderson, SC., Greenville, SC., or schedule an appointment today!

What Are Super Lice? And Are They Real?

August 12, 2022/0 Comments/in Head Lice /by lcagreenville

Head lice are a common problem here in the United States, especially among children and young adults. With an estimated 6-12 million cases of head lice among children ages 3-11 each year, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if you or someone you know has encountered them before. If you have ever had head lice, you know how uncomfortable the experience can be, but not all cases of head lice are created equal. Recently there has been an upswing in treatment-resistant head lice, leaving both the treatment providers and head lice patients scratching their heads. These ‘super lice’ are usually caused by prolonged treatment, but there are still ways to battle these superbugs. Here is everything you need to know about super lice and how to avoid them.

What are Super Lice?

Super lice are head lice that have been genetically mutated to become resistant to the active ingredients in most traditional head lice treatment products. The longer it takes for an infestation to be dealt with, the more chances head lice get to adapt to the treatment product you are using. Super lice are real and growing in number as humans continue to use chemical treatments. The only way to tell if a louse is super is by testing its ability to endure treatment. The symptoms of super lice are the same as any normal case of lice. Symptoms include itchy scalps and lice bites. If you notice that they are not reacting to treatment, it may be best to seek professional help. If you do have a case of super lice on your hands, continuing to use the same products on them only makes future lice more resistant to that treatment.

How Can Super Lice Be Prevented?

Preventing super lice, the biggest head lice, is all about the treatment method. While it may be difficult to prevent these insects from getting into your hair, the best way to prevent lice from becoming super lice is by seeking a non-chemical treatment as soon as possible. If these bugs are never exposed to the pesticides used in lice shampoos, then they will never have a chance to form a resistance to these chemicals. Instead of seeking prescriptions and over-the-counter remedies, go to a professional to have the lice removed without the use of chemicals. Not only does this prevent super lice, but you can avoid all of the dangerous pesticides and toxins found in over-the-counter treatments.

Chemical Free Treatment In Greenville, SC You Can Rely On

Head Lice are a pain and a hassle. If you or someone you know is dealing with a case of lice, visit Lice Clinics of America located in Greenville, SC, and Anderson, SC. Here at LCA, we offer a same-day chemical-free treatment guaranteed to get the lice out in just one visit. The AirAlle is a special device that blows warm air, forcing the head lice to lose their grip on the hair shaft so that they can be combed out easily. This chemical-free treatment takes less than 2 hours and can have you ready to go in one appointment. If you want to learn more about LCA and our services, schedule an appointment or give us a call today!

A Guide to Take Care of Your Scalp After Lice Treatment

July 21, 2022/0 Comments/in Lice Treatment /by lcagreenville

Even though it might get you out of school or work for a few days, there is nothing fun about getting a case of head lice. Thankfully, a handful of effective treatments can get these pesky parasites out. An understandable concern could be what do you do if you get a treatment and your head still itches? Don’t panic! It is very common to experience these symptoms after a lice treatment. Depending on the method of treatment used to remove the lice, the scalp could be left dry or irritated, there may be louse bites that are still healing, or the itching can even be psychosomatic. Very rarely is an incomplete treatment the culprit for post-treatment irritation. If you have just undergone head lice treatment, here are a few tips to help you care for your scalp post-treatment.

Dry Scalp Can Be the Root of Your Problem

When it comes to an itchy or irritated scalp after a lice treatment, a dry scalp is almost always the root of the problem. Many over-the-counter lice protection or treatment products have a wide variety of potential skin irritants. From salt to chemicals, these products are known for leaving your hair and your head feeling dry. Many lice shampoos contain toxins that can cause serious health issues if misused or accidentally ingested. For a safe treatment that you can be sure will work, air treatment or the comb-out method are both much safer and more reliable. To help with an irritated scalp, moisturizing and dandruff shampoos are great for returning moisture to the scalp. Natural oils and deep conditioning treatments after your office visit are great options as well.

Psychosomatic Itching

If you have ever watched a video about insects and immediately felt like you could hear a bug flying around you or perhaps imagined a bug bite, then you know exactly what psychosomatic itching is. These types of symptoms are usually triggered by some form of anxiety or stress-induced condition. When you are anxious, your brain can play tricks on you. One of the best ways to deal with psychosomatic itching is by performing a quick lice check and focusing on self-awareness. If you can realize that you didn’t start itching until you started thinking about lice, then you can start to prevent these kinds of intrusive thoughts. If that doesn’t help, just checking again to make sure that all of the lice are gone can give you the peace of mind you need to stop the irritation.

Healing Louse Bites

Just like a mosquito bite, a louse bite can leave the skin feeling super itchy. In this case, it is best to treat it just like you would a mosquito bite; by leaving it alone. Though this is definitely easier said than done, it is the best way to get the itching to stop. Low-dose antihistamines and ice can help reduce the itching so you can give the bites time to heal.

Lice Treatment in Anderson, SC. Find Relief Today!

Whether you are dealing with an irritated scalp or are looking to get rid of head lice, our lice professionals have an answer for you. Our lice removal clinics in Anderson and Greenville, SC, have a variety of treatment options, such as our Airalle treatment which uses heated air to kill the lice. If you would like to learn more or schedule an appointment, give us a call at 864-548-4265.

Where Do Lice Come From?

July 6, 2022/0 Comments/in Head Lice /by lcagreenville

Lice are parasites that have been around for a very long time. These critters cling onto human hairs and feed on the blood of their hosts. Though head lice cannot fly and don’t live anywhere outside of hair, they still manage to spread from head-to-head with ease, which begs the question; where do lice come from?

Lice and Human Evolution

Lice have been plaguing humans for thousands of years. The genetic separation between head lice and body lice occurred around 100 thousand years ago, about the time that humans are thought to have started wearing clothes. While head lice remained on the head, other lice developed claws that could latch on to the smoother fibers of clothing rather than the thin strands of hair. Though there are a handful of lice variations, the ones that we are most familiar with originated in North America and migrated to eventually inhabit Australia and Europe as well.

How Do They Spread?

In order for head lice to spread from person to person, direct head-to-head contact has to be made with someone that has head lice. One of the most popular misconceptions surrounding head lice is that they can live away from the host for long enough to crawl into someone else’s hair. As it turns out, it would be nearly impossible to contract a case of head lice by borrowing a hat or hairbrush. Head lice are most successful in places like elementary schools and summer camps because they are full of kids that are interacting within head-to-head proximity almost all year round.

How To Protect Yourself From Lice

One of the simplest and most effective ways that you can prevent head lice is by keeping your hair up and out of the way of others. If you have children that are in grade school, it is important to teach them the basic signs of head lice and prevention techniques. Putting your hair up in a bun, braid or ponytail can go a long way when it comes to reducing the risk of lice. Having loose hair only increases the odds of accidentally coming into direct contact with others.

Lice Treatment in Greenville, SC

If you or one of your family members have come into contact with lice, seeking a lice doctor is the best course of action. Here at LCA Upstate South Carolina, we are dedicated to the treatment and removal of head lice. If you have any questions concerning head lice, or you would like to find out more about the head lice treatment options we offer at our Greenville and Anderson locations, don’t hesitate to call!