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Tag Archive for: lice treatment

Will Lice Go Away On Their Own?

Will Lice Go Away On Their Own?

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Lice are a common problem but they can be very difficult to get rid of. The tiny creatures latch on tightly to the roots of the hair and lay eggs multiple times a day, making them hard to eliminate. The unrelenting itch and the bumpy scalp are usually enough to have anyone seeking lice treatment as soon as possible, but what would happen if they were left alone altogether? 

Would the head lice eventually pack up and leave? After all, lice don’t live forever. Unfortunately, lice are a problem that will not go away with time. Though head lice only live for about 30 days, that is more than enough time for them to multiply. In fact, the longer you wait to seek treatment, the more likely you are to end up with a head lice infestation, in both your hair and your home, not to mention the possibility of a serious bacterial infection. Here are a few of the issues that may arise from delaying treatment. 

Spreading lice to others

As soon as head lice latch onto the hair of a host, their main priority becomes making more head lice. Unless this process is stopped as soon as possible, what once was a minor case of head lice can quickly turn into a serious infestation. Once an egg is planted in the hair, it’s only 7 days before a new louse is born, and a single louse can lay up to 8 eggs a day. This leaves plenty of lice available to spread to others by direct head to head contact.

Bacterial infection from lice

Another big problem that can arise from waiting for lice to go away on their own is the risk of a bacterial infection. If you’ve ever had lice before, chances are you were told not to scratch, but no one ever mentioned why. As you scratch the scalp, you create tiny cuts, allowing the bacteria from the saliva of the head lice to enter your bloodstream. This results in a rash which can lead to a serious bacterial infection if left untreated. If the case of head lice continues untreated, the infection can reach the lymph nodes and become a life-threatening situation. Either way, the only cure is a course of strong antibacterial medication.

Lice Clinics of America South Carolina 

If someone you know thinks they might be dealing with head lice, they must seek treatment as soon as possible. Lice don’t go away with time. Here at  Lice Clinics of America in Greenville and Anderson, SC, we provide the largest professional lice removal service, with over 850,000 successful treatments. If you want to know how to check for lice, or you are interested in booking an appointment for lice removal contact us today.

Where Do Lice Live?

Where Do Lice Live?

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Unfortunately, head lice are a problem that many of us have to deal with at some point in our lives. When dealing with them, like all problems, the best place to start is by identifying the source. With head lice, we can begin from the top down. Below are answers to the questions: “Where do lice live? Where do lice come from? And What do the symptoms look like? 

Head Lice Begin at the Scalp

Head lice can be found anywhere on the human head, but they’re commonly found on the hair near the back of the neck and around the ears. These are the warmest places on the head. Sometimes, lice will be visible in these areas as well. 

When lice infest the scalp area, the female louse produces a sticky substance that adheres each egg to the base of a hair shaft. These eggs hatch usually in six to nine days. 

Where Do Lice Come from? 

Lice come from the larger louse family. Head lice specifically have evolved to only affect human hosts. Transmission of these parasites occurs when people come into contact with lice or their eggs. A common misconception is that lice jump or fly. This simply isn’t true. They only can pass through head-to-head contact or contact with shared and infected items. Common items that carry lice are combs and brushes, or hats and scarves. 

These transmission events can and do happen at school. However, school is not the only place that children or adults can catch head lice. It can also happen anywhere where people are in close proximity and may have direct head-to-head contact with each other.

What do the symptoms look like?

The most common symptoms of lice involve itching on the scalp. This is caused by the saliva of the lice which irritates the skin on the scalp, neck, or ears. The itching can sometimes become severe enough to cause people to lose sleep.

The scratching of lice bites can cause additional skin infections if not treated properly. These infections usually lead to large red rashes present on the scalp. In some cases, swollen lymph glands under the arms. Other signs include blue-black marks on the skin where the lice have been feeding. 

With this information in mind, you can see how large of a problem these tiny lice could present. Children aren’t any more likely to contract lice than adults, but schools and shared areas like locker rooms are hot spots for these pests. Always make sure you instruct school children not to share personal items if you suspect there to be a lice infestation event.

Do You Think You Have Lice?

For most all of us, head lice are a nuisance that we are far too familiar with. If you suspect that you or a loved one are dealing with some lice symptoms or are looking for a lice clinic near you, visit the experts at Lice Clinics of America- Upstate SC in Anderson and Greenville or start by giving us a call at (864) 548-4265. 

Common Signs and Symptoms of Lice

Common Signs and Symptoms of Lice

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Head Lice are contagious microscopic parasites that live in your hair, close to your scalp. Unlike Body Lice, Head lice are not capable of carrying illnesses or diseases. Head lice have to feed off of another living thing in order to survive. Their source of food and nutrition is human blood that they get from biting your scalp. However, they can’t fly, aren’t airborne, and can’t survive for long when separated from their host. We know this might be frightening, but there’s a variety of treatments that can be used to take care of these parasites. The first part of checking for lice is to identify the issue.  Here’s a list of common signs and symptoms to look out for if you or someone you know may be carrying lice. 

  • Intense itching: This occurs on the scalp for head lice, the insects cause irritation and inflammation when they bite the scalp for sustenance. 
  • The tickling feeling from the movement of hair: This is caused by the lice repositioning themselves and ambulating on your scalp
  • Lice on our scalp: Adult lice are typically about the size of sesame seeds or slightly larger, at this stage they can begin to lay lice eggs or nits on hair shafts
  • The presence of nits: Given that the adult lice are so small, their eggs are even smaller, they may be difficult to perceive because they’re so tiny. They’re usually easiest to spot near the ears or the base of the scalp near the neck. They are easily mistaken for dandruff, but unlike dandruff, they cannot be brushed out of hair easily
  • Sores on the scalp, neck, and shoulders: Due to the irritation caused by lice, and the natural inclination to scratch the affected area, scratching can lead to small red bumps that can occasionally be infected with the presence of bacteria. 
  • Bite Marks: These precede the sores, but come after the intense itching feeling and can be spotted with an examination of the scalp. 

See a lice specialist like Lice Clinics of America in Greenville & Anderson, if you suspect a lice infestation or need lice treatment. Things that can be mistaken for nits often include:

  • Dandruff
  • Residue from hair products
  • Bead of dead hair tissue on a hair shaft (aka hair cast)
  • Scabs, dirt, or other debris and detritus
  • Other small insects found in the hair. 

When lice infest the human scalp area, the female louse produces a sticky substance that adheres each egg to the base of a hair shaft. These eggs hatch usually in six to nine days. 

Transmission of these parasites occurs when people come into contact with lice or their eggs. A common misconception is that lice jump or fly. This is untrue. Head lice spread through: 

  • Head to head contact

For effective and safe treatment of lice head over to the Lice Clinics of America in Greenville & Anderson, South Carolina. Our expert staff will allow patients (children and parents alike) to get back to living an uninfested life. Don’t we have enough on our plates right now without having to scratch our heads more than necessary? 

American Academy of Pediatrics Updates Head Lice Guidance

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American Academy of Pediatricians Updates Head Lice Guidance

 

In 2015 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated its guidance on head lice treatment as new products were introduced after the academy’s 2010 report.  The new report was published in the journal Pediatrics, and it highlights some exciting new developments in the battle against head lice.

“Head lice infestation is associated with limited morbidity but causes a high level of anxiety among parents of school-aged children,” the report says. “Since the 2010 clinical report on head lice was published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, newer medications have been approved for the treatment of head lice. This revised clinical report clarifies current diagnosis and treatment protocols and provides guidance for the management of children with head lice in the school setting.”

The AAP recognizes that head lice in the United States have developed resistance to the most popular over-the-counter lice products (pediculicides). As a by-product of this resistance, some parents have over-applied the medications, hoping that using more of the products would make them more successful. The AAP warns against this, saying, “the potential for misdiagnosis and the resulting improper use of pediculicides and the emergence of resistance to both available and newer products, many without proof of efficacy or safety, call for increased physician involvement in the diagnosis and treatment.”

“The prevalence of resistance has not been systematically studied but seems to be highly variable from community to community and country to country.” In fact, the most recent study released shows 100 percent of lice in 42 states are resistant to the active ingredients in over-the-counter lice products.

“The ideal treatment of lice should be safe, free of toxic chemicals, readily available without a prescription, easy to use, effective, and inexpensive,” the report says.  The article notes that the overall spending on lice treatment has risen to nearly $1 billion annually, with as many as 12 million children contracting head lice each year.

AAP lists the AirAllé® as effective lice treatment device

For the first time, the AAP lists the AirAllé® medical device as an effective lice treatment device. “The AirAllé® (Larada Sciences, Salt Lake City, UT) device is a custom-built machine that uses one 30-minute application of hot air in an attempt to desiccate the lice. One study showed that subjects had nearly 100% mortality of eggs and 80% mortality of hatched lice.”

The AirAllé® device is the only treatment option listed in the AAP report that uses heated air. A clinical trial showed that the FDA-cleared medical device killed live lice and 99.2 percent of eggs. It uses nothing but heated air, carefully controlled and applied, to dehydrate lice and eggs. There are no chemicals involved and no nitpicking is required.

Lice treatment using the AirAllé® medical device is available exclusively at Lice Clinics of America treatment centers, where certified staff use the device to remove live lice and eggs. The process takes from 30-90 minutes, depending on the extent of the infestation and the length of the hair. Most clinics guarantee success as long as all household members are checked for head lice prior to treatment.

Lice Clinics of America has quickly become the largest network of professional lice treatment centers in the world. Some 180 clinics have opened in the United States to date with approximately 300 clinics worldwide.

Lice Clinics of America – Greenville

1 Creekview Ct. Suite C, Greenville, SC 29615

Call today for an appointment!
(864) 484-7087

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To learn more or to find a clinic near you, visit www.liceclinicsofamerica.com.