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Body Lice vs Head Lice: What’s The Difference?

Body Lice vs Head Lice: What’s The Difference?

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Head lice affect around 6 to 12 million people in the United States with the most targeted demographic being children ages 3-11. With that number of cases, the term is one many are familiar with, whether they contract the condition directly or through someone else. Although it doesn’t cause any severe disease itself, head lice can still be a nuisance and in some cases lead to serious bacterial infections. 

Body lice, however, is a term that not many are familiar with and affects fewer people than head lice. There are many differences between body and head lice, and it’s vital to understand those differences. At Lice Clinics of America in Anderson, Greenville, or Spartanburg, we pride ourselves on not only offering the best treatment services in South Carolina but also ensuring our patients understand the conditions we treat and why.

Body Lice vs Head Lice: The Facts

Wait a minute. There’s more than one type of lice? Yes, it’s called body lice and it is vastly different from the condition we all know as head lice. 

Firstly, body lice lay their nits and thrive in environments that your body comes into close contact with. Bedding, clothing, and blankets are all examples of objects in which body lice live and lay their nits. 

Secondly, head lice are more common than body lice because it’s easier to spread the condition through direct contact with an infected person. Body lice do not impact your scalp and head lice do not impact your body. Although they are similar insects, they do not spread to other areas of your body. 

What Are Head Lice?

As briefly discussed above, head lice live on a person’s scalp. They are tiny bugs, about the size of a sesame seed, and have six legs in total. They usually are light in color however, they tend to be darker in persons with darker hair. They normally reside in the four hotspots on the scalp: behind the ears, at the crown of the head, around the hairline, and at the base of the neck. 

Head lice start off as nits or lice eggs. They rest on the hair strands about ¼ of an inch above the scalp. Because of their physical attributes, they cannot be removed by a regular comb and are attached to the hair shaft. They are also incredibly small in size so identifying them with the naked eye is difficult and can often be confused with dandruff or hair spray droplets. It takes about 8-9 days before it hatches into a nymph. 

A nymph is very similar to an adult head louse but it is smaller in size. For 9-12 days it feeds on the blood from the scalp before it fully matures. Once it reaches that stage a female head louse can lay about six nits a day and complete a full life cycle in 30 days. What makes these insects difficult to remove without the proper tools is that they have these hooks attached to the ends of their legs that allow them to firmly grip the hair shaft. The teeth of most combs are too large in size and therefore would glide right over the lice and their nits. 

Knowing how difficult this condition is to treat on its own, Lice Clinics of America in Anderson, Greenville, and Spartanburg have all the treatment options at affordable prices for families that visit us. 

The AirAllé

The AirAllé is the only FDA-cleared medical device that uses heated air for the treatment of head lice. It is safe and completely pesticide free and even has the ability to kill super lice. Even though the name sounds intimidating, super lice are physically the same as regular lice. They are given their name because of their resistance to regular lice treatments. 

The AirAllé treatment is a 3-step process to ensure that every head louse and nit is completely removed from the hair. The first step starts with a clinician using the AirAllé to dehydrate the lice and their nits. The next step is using a special comb to remove the dead lice and nits, followed by an oil application. The technology behind the AirAllé is at the top of its class in the world of head lice removal and we are confident enough in its effectiveness that we can guarantee a follow-up service is not required. 

In the rare case that the AirAllé is ineffective, we offer a 30-day retreatment service to anyone who was seen at our clinic, given other conditions are met. This is free of charge. 

Additional Head Lice Treatments: The Express AirAllé, Comb-Out, and Kit

If you have short hair, our clinic offers the Express AirAllé treatment starting at $175. This is similar to the original AirAllé, except there’s a 10-minute comb out instead. There is also a 30-day retreatment policy included for this service. 

Although incredible and effective, the AirAllé is unfortunately not for everyone. Because of the technology, there are certain individuals who might be at risk and therefore we recommend a comb-out service instead. This is a traditional strand-by-strand treatment where we use a specialized comb to remove the lice and their nits. The purchase of an at-home-comb-out kit is required for this treatment. At least 30 minutes of combing every day for 10 days is required as well as an oil application on days 1, 5, and 10. On day 11 we will conduct a recheck and there isn’t a retreatment plan offered for this service. 

The last head lice treatment we offer is a do-it-yourself kit. All of the tools and products you will need are included as well as detailed instructions on how to perform the technique. However, consistency is key to ensuring the complete removal of head lice. This treatment will need to be done every day for 10 days. 

Lice Clinics Of America 

Lice Clinics of America located in Anderson, Greenville, and Spartanburg have the tools and highly trained professionals your family can trust when it comes to treating head lice. Our technique is thorough and our services are vast to ensure every person who walks into any of our locations will find the right treatment option for them. We are highly specific and detailed in our efforts to treat our patients and their families. Our dedication to them and our top-notch services make Lice Clinics of America the best in South Carolina. For more information on treatment services and packages, visit our website or give us a call today at any of our locations.

What Are Nits?

What Are Nits?

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Head lice are tiny bugs that cause itching and irritation on the scalp. Children make up the majority of patients seen at lice clinics across the country, as the levels of transmission are significantly higher in their age group. At Lice Clinics of America located in Anderson, Spartanburg, and Greenville South Carolina, we are the leaders in treating head lice infestations. Our FDA-Approved technology has revolutionized the world of treating head lice, with a 99% effective rate and guaranteed one treatment appointment. 

While treating head lice is important, understanding what they are and how they spread, as well as noting the common misconceptions surrounding treatment and transmission, are equally as important. At Lice Clinics of America in Anderson we believe that treatment isn’t just physical but also mental because having the correct information about head lice can prevent future infestations from occurring.

What Are Nits In The Hair?

Nits are another word for lice eggs. They are laid by the adult female head louse, often at the base of the hair shaft closest to the scalp, about 1/4 inch above it. What makes them difficult to remove using a traditional comb is due to their small size but also how they are attached to the hair shaft. They are about the size of a knot in a piece of thread and are therefore incredibly difficult to see as well. 

Nits have a yellow or white appearance, although in some cases they can be the same color as the hair of the infected individual. Another factor that makes nits challenging to treat is because they are often confused with dandruff, hair spray droplets, or scabs from open wounds on the scalp. The average amount of time it takes for lice to hatch from its nit is around 8-9 days.

Nymph and Adult: The Next Life Cycle Stages of a Louse

After a nit catches, it turns into a nymph. It looks like an adult head louse but is smaller in size. In order for it to live, it must feed on blood. After about 9-12 days Nymphs fully mature into adults. 

A sesame seed. That’s the average size of a fully-grown head louse. It’s tan/grey in color, although just like nits they can be darker in persons with darker hair. On a different note, adult head lice share similar characteristics to Nymphs in that they must feed on blood constantly in order to survive. They can live for about 30 days on the head and female head lice lay on average about six eggs a day. If head lice fall off the scalp they die shortly after, about one or two days and female head lice are typically larger than males. 

Where Are Lice and Nits In The Hair Found?

Head lice are almost exclusively located on the scalp in what is commonly known as hot spots: behind the ears, at the base of the neck, around the hairline, and on the crown of the head. Lice removal requires a specific and unique treatment technique because of the physical traits of the lice. They have little claws on the end of each of their six legs shaped like hooks, attaching themselves tightly to the hair strands. Because of this, it makes them incredibly challenging to treat and remove without the proper tools.

Symptoms and Common Causes of Transmission 

Some common symptoms of a head lice infestation are a tickling feeling of something moving in the hair, intense itching, irritability sleeping, and sores on the head caused by scratching.

The easiest way for head lice to spread is through direct contact with a positive case through sharing hair tools or headwear. Even sharing pillows or lying in the bed of an infested individual. 

Common Myths Debunked

Mayonnaise does not “suffocate” head lice or nits. The best way to treat an infestation is to seek professional help from a licensed clinician at either our Greenville, Anderson, or Spartanburg locations. 

Swimming cannot spread lice. Despite head lice proving to survive underwater for several hours, their hook-like claws allow them to hold firm to the hair shaft. Meaning they are unlikely to leave the head of an affected individual. Chlorine levels found in pool water do not kill head lice. 

Lice cannot be spread through hats, hair pieces, hair brushes, or anything other than direct head-to-head contact. Have your child take warning when sharing hugs, taking pictures, playing, and sleepovers. 

Head lice do not spread diseases. However, constant head scratching can lead to scalp irritation, which might then lead to a secondary bacterial infection. But an individual will not get sick from head lice directly. 

One Time, One Treatment: The AirAllé

At each of our head lice clinics in Spartanburg, Anderson, or Greenville, we use a special device called the AirAllé. It is the only FDA-cleared medical device in South Carolina that uses heated air for the treatment of head lice. This treatment is completely pesticide free and even kills super lice. 

The AirAllé is a $199 3-step process that begins with a 30-minute treatment from the device that uses heat to dehydrate the lice and their eggs. Next, there’s a 30-minute comb-out to remove the dead lice and eggs from the hair, and finally an oil application. We are so confident in this treatment that we guarantee 99% effectiveness without a follow-up service. We offer a 30-day service re-treatment policy for those very few cases in which the treatment was not 100% effective. This re-treatment service is free of charge and will be provided to all family members that were checked and treated in our clinic. 

Other Lice Removal Treatments

The Express AirAllé treatment is $175 and consists of a 30-minute AirAllé treatment and a 10-minute comb-out to remove some of the dead lice and dehydrated eggs. This option is best for those who have short hair. This treatment also includes a 30-day service re-treatment policy. 

A comb-out is for those patients who are under the age of four or whom the AirAllé poses a risk to them or their health. Meaning that the AirAllé cannot be used on individuals who cannot sense pain or temperature, who have open wounds on their scalp, who cannot communicate discomfort, who have received radiation treatment of the head within the last six months, who have cranial or facial implants, or who have hair that cannot be combed through with a standard comb. 

Instead, we offer a comb-out service which is a traditional strand-by-strand treatment where we use a specialized comb to remove the lice and their eggs by hand. We will use only non-toxic products. This specific treatment option requires the purchase of an at-home comb-out kit, 30 minutes of combing every day for 10 days, an oil application on days 5 and 10, and lastly a clinic recheck on day 11. A re-treatment policy is not offered for this service. 

Lastly, we offer a do-it-yourself lice removal kit. We will provide all the topical treatment products needed, a professional lice comb, and detailed instructions on how to properly perform the comb-out procedure. The individual performing this treatment will need to conduct several follow-up sessions during the next 10 days.

The Lice Clinics of America Difference

Our company is the largest professional lice treatment network with more than 850,000 successful treatments. Our head lice clinics in Spartanburg, Greenville, or Anderson have the best-licensed professionals in South Carolina. We offer screenings and multiple treatment options with affordability in mind to ensure the best course of action for each of our patients. For more information on our services, visit our website!

What Are Different Head Lice Screening Options?

What Are Different Head Lice Screening Options?

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If you have been experiencing a persistent itchiness in your scalp, and have ruled out dryness or allergies as potential causes, then you may be in need of lice removal. Head lice are highly durable, persistent little parasites that live in the hair and scalp of humans and animals. They reproduce rapidly and can easily spread to other unsuspecting members of a household or classroom, and can be very difficult to get rid of. For these reasons, it is highly recommended you get checked and treated by a professional, but we will discuss a few different screening options you can take to avoid misdiagnosing the cause of your itch. 

Dont: Try An At-Home Inspection

As we mentioned, head lice are very small, parasitic insects that live in the hair of humans and animals and the only way to truly confirm their presence is by physical inspection. They require a living host to survive, and feed on the blood of their host several times a day by penetrating the scalp. This act, along with the small swelling from the bites is what causes the itching. While this itching is one of the leading signs of head lice being present in your hair, it is very easy to misdiagnose. To conduct an inspection at home, you should purchase a specialized head lice comb and begin running it through your hair, or have someone do it for you (preferred). Then, you take a small cup filled halfway with water or vinegar and set it close to the side. Each time you run the comb through a section of hair, submerge the comb into the liquid for a few seconds, and scrape off anything that could be holding on to, or stuck in the comb. If head lice are present, you should eventually encounter a nymph or adult louse floating in that liquid. Keep in mind that lice can move very quickly and they actively avoid exposure to light, so you will need to be diligent with this inspection. This is why at-home inspections are not recommended, visit a professional. 

Do: Get A Professional Inspection

Due to the size and nature of head lice, they can be very difficult to detect for the untrained eye. Head lice can be as small as a pinhead or a sesame seed, and the nits they lay in your hair are even smaller and can be mistaken for dandruff. They range in color from light gray to brown, which can sometimes match the color of the hair they’re hiding in. Therefore, even if your at-home inspection does not produce any results, a professional inspection at a head lice clinic may still be necessary in order to address the issue before it spreads to someone else in the house. With the industry standard of specialized tools, training, and magnification equipment needed to accurately locate and diagnose a head lice infestation, you can rest assured that if any head lice are present in your hair, they will be discovered and treated same-day with 100% lice removal guaranteed in one hour.

Visit Lice Clinics of America For A Screening Today!

Head lice are a horrible nuisance and can be a significant disruptor to your everyday life. If you or someone you know are experiencing a sudden onset of itchiness, or suspect exposure to someone with head lice, do not hesitate to get checked by a professional before they multiply and spread to others. Lice Clinics of America use chemical-free treatments to remove all head lice and nits from each patient with 100% efficiency. If you are in need of a head lice clinic in Spartanburg, Greenville, or Anderson South Carolina, please visit our website and schedule your first appointment today.

What Do Lice Eat?

What Do Lice Eat?

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You may be familiar with head lice, or you may have had the unfortunate experience of hosting them in your hair for a period of time, but do you understand how they live and function in relation to humans and other animals? Questions like, “what do lice eat” or “what can I use to kill lice” come to mind whenever we have the misfortune to encounter them, and there are many common myths circulating the web and social circles that provide misleading information, or only partial answers. In this article, we will discuss some of the basics of head lice and what you can do to avoid or eliminate them.

What Are Head Lice?

Head lice are very small, parasitic insects that require a living host to provide them a suitable environment in order to survive, feed, and reproduce. They dwell in the hair and scalps of humans, as well as animals with fur or feathers, and they feed on the blood of their host several times a day by penetrating the surface of the scalp. Contrary to popular belief, head lice do not jump or fly, and they cannot survive on other surfaces for very long. In order to spread to a new host, they crawl along the hair follicles and make their way down to the scalp and lay their eggs in tiny little sacs called nits. These nits are attached to the base of the hair follicle, close to the scalp, making them very difficult to detect with the naked eye, and lice can lay these eggs up to eight times a day. 

Common Head Lice Myths 

As mentioned earlier, there are many common myths in circulation regarding head lice. To name a few, here is a short list of myths accompanied by the facts:

Head lice can jump onto surfaces and other people’s heads. This is not true. Head lice do not have the ability to jump, fly, slide, or free-fall from the head of the current host. They get around simply by crawling up and down the hair follicles and spread through head-to-head contact. While they can make their way onto surfaces such as pillows, hats, and furniture it is not as common as you’d think. Without a living host, head lice would only survive for a couple of hours, so it is not in their nature to behave this way frequently. Therefore, lice are only spread through head-to-head contact.

You can get rid of head lice with home remedies. You may have heard or read about popular home remedies for killing head lice such as excessive combing, blow-drying, using harsh chemicals, or spreading mayonnaise through your hair. Your heart may be in the right place, but unfortunately none of these tricks will eliminate the problem. While mayonnaise can smother the lice, and blow dryers can roast them alive, neither will have any effect on the eggs. So while you diligently exterminate each creepy-crawler on the scalp, those eggs will hatch shortly after and you will be back to square one.

Head lice can spread disease. There are many parasitic creatures in the world, and some species of louse that have been known to spread disease, such as ticks. However, this specific breed that we know as “head lice”, Pediculus humanus capitis, are not on that list. So you can rest easy knowing that even though they are a huge annoyance and can be difficult to get rid of, there is no cause for concern in regards to your health and safety.

Book An Appointment With Lice Clinics of America Today!

Head lice can be a hassle to deal with. If you or someone you know is currently dealing with head lice, it is important to get checked and treated as quickly as possible. 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 a lice clinic in Anderson, Greenville, or Spartanburg, South Carolina, please visit our website and schedule your first appointment today.

What Does Lice Look Like

What Does Lice Look Like

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If you or your child have been experiencing an irritated scalp, it is important to check for lice. Head lice are a common problem, especially among school-aged children. Though head lice do not pose much immediate danger, they can be highly irritating and spread to others. Left untreated, head lice can lead to serious bacterial infections. Due to their small size and off-white color, they can be easy to mistake for other conditions such as dandruff or eczema. If you think you might be dealing with a case of lice, use these tips to help you identify them. 

How to Spot a Nit

Nits are another word for lice eggs. These eggs are found routed at the base of the hair shaft, close to the scalp. Nits appear off-white or yellow and live inside small oval-shaped eggs. Before the nits hatch from their eggs, the color of their shell can closely resemble the hair color of their host. After the lice find a good spot to lay their egg, it takes about 6-9 days before they are born. Once the eggs hatch, the shell that remains can appear white and flaky, making it easy to mistake for dandruff. The best way to tell them apart is by brushing through your hair. Dandruff will fall out and the nits will hold fast. 

Nymphs, or Baby Lice

After the eggs incubate for about 12 days, the offspring will emerge as nymphs or baby lice. These newborns are about as big as a pinhead but will reach maturity in just 7 days. Nymphs have the same body shape as their more developed counterparts. With six legs and a large abdomen, these parasites look like small tics but are slightly more translucent. 

What Does Lice Look Like 

Once a nymph has reached maturity, it becomes a full-fledged louse. Fully developed lice are approximately the size of a sesame seed and appear off-white or gray. Their six legs get slightly longer and have tiny claws for gripping hair. The female lice are larger. Once the nymphs become lice, they are ready to start feeding and reproducing. Under normal conditions, head lice will live for close to 30 days before they fall out. 

How to Check For Lice

Now that you know what to look for, find a source of good light to help you check for lice. Start by sectioning the hair into several equal parts. Take the first section and begin to comb through it, looking for any signs of lice. For an easier combing process, add a detangler or conditioner to help the comb glide through the hair. As you are combing, make sure to comb in several directions to help you get any clingy nits or lice. Remember to take your time and be thorough. Once the first section is done, just move on to the next one until the whole head has been checked. 

Visit Lice Clinics Of America for Lice Treatment in Spartanburg SC

If you want to learn more about head lice, what they look like, and how you can deal with them, visit Lice Clinics of America at one of our locations in Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson. If you are still unsure of whether or not you have lice, come in for a screening and consultation. Our team of head lice technicians are experts at both finding and removing lice. If head lice are found, we can help you pick the treatment plan that works best for you and your family. 

Can Lice Jump?

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Head lice spread like wildfire across schools, summer camps, and within families, leaving many of us wondering, how do these tiny insects get around so fast? Despite their small size and short legs, these sesame seed-sized parasites infest between six and eleven million heads every year in America. So how do lice spread? Though these insects seem to get around with ease, they do not travel from head to head as one might expect. If you have encountered someone with head lice recently, don’t panic! There is a low chance that they were spread to you. 

Do Lice Jump?

There are many bugs capable of jumping, but thankfully lice are not among them. Despite popular belief, head lice are incapable of hopping, jumping, or flying in the way that fleas and froghoppers do. The only way for head lice to travel is on their six legs. If you have recently spoken with a friend before finding out they had lice, the good news is you are at low risk. But if they don’t jump, how do lice spread? Lice can only travel by ground. They can crawl at a pace of about 23 cm/min, which is not too shabby considering they are only 3 millimeters in size, but this is still less than a foot of distance every minute. 

How Do Lice Get From Head to Head?

The only way for head lice to find new hosts is via direct contact with an existing host. Head lice have evolved to live in hair. Once head lice have left the hair, they have a very short time to find a new host before dying. This makes it almost impossible for head lice to be spread by hat sharing and other indirect methods. The most common cause for head lice spreading is direct head-to-head contact. Group photos, hugs, and pillow sharing are just a few of the ways that head lice can get the direct contact they need to acquire a new host. 

How To Prevent Head Lice

The best way to prevent head lice is through proactivity. Regular lice checks in schools and at home are a great way to help catch lice before they can spread. One simple trick that can help you reduce your risk of head lice is keeping your hair up and out of the way. Head lice need direct contact to spread, so you can reduce your risk by bunning, braiding, or putting your hair in a ponytail. If you have a family, educate them on the basics of head lice and how they spread. The first step in preventing head lice from spreading to others is being able to identify them. 

Find Same Day Head Lice Treatment in Anderson SC

If you start to see signs of lice on yourself or a family member, it is important to go to a lice clinic immediately. At Lice Clinics of America, we offer a chemical-free head lice treatment that guarantees a lice-free scalp in just one hour. Our advanced lice-removing device, the AirAlle, kills the lice by using warm air on the scalp, dehydrating the lice and their eggs. Our lice removal clinics in Anderson and Greenville, SC have a variety of treatment options, and our technicians can help you choose what solution is best for you. If you would like to learn more about head lice or the treatment options we provide, get in contact with us today!

Will Your Hair Dryer Kill Lice?

Will Your Hair Dryer Kill Lice?

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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?

Can Adults Get Head Lice?

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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?

Do I Have Lice Or Am I Just Paranoid?

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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

Hair Dye and Head Lice: Everything You Should Know

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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.