Prevention Tips

For decades, the standard of care for head lice has focused on reactive treatment using pesticide-based products. “Head lice has been associated with poor hygiene or dirty homes and has had mortified parents treating the nuisance in secret, often to no avail,” said George Macoubray, owner of Lice Clinics of America.

“That’s changing as the medical and educational communities have taken steps to bring head lice out of the darkness of fear and ignorance,” George said. “Now we focus on education, prevention, and pesticide-free solutions when head lice are found.”

Indeed, the internet is full of homespun advice on how to treat head lice, urging parents to use everything from mayonnaise to kerosene to kill the bugs. Home remedies people recommend range from laughable to downright dangerous.  Lice Clinics of America are bringing the latest science and medicine to the forefront of the battle against head lice.

When you visit Lice Clinics of America, you’ll find bright, clean, kid-friendly environments with a high-tech head lice solution—the FDA-cleared AirAllé medical device. The AirAllé device uses carefully controlled heated air to dehydrate lice and eggs (nits). It’s been clinically shown to kill live lice and 99 percent of eggs on the spot in a single hour-long treatment.

Lice Clinics of America are part of more than 350 clinics worldwide in 36 countries. Lice Clinics of America is the largest network of professional head lice treatment centers in the world. The AirAllé device has effectively performed more than 850,000 head lice treatments with a success rate better than 99 percent.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that one in five children under 12 years old has head lice,” George said, “and that it has nothing to do with cleanliness or hygiene. We can also tell you from experience that head lice don’t discriminate, and that people from all walks of life and ages come to our clinic and leave lice-free.”

“We are also adamant about not using pesticide-based products that don’t work—products that can be worse than the condition they are trying to treat,” George said. “Studies published in medical journals have found that 98 percent of head lice in much of the world are now resistant to the pesticides used in traditional lice products, and these pesticides have been linked to behavioral and developmental problems in children.”

In addition to the AirAllé device, Lice Clinics of America also carry a complete home line of pesticide-free lice-prevention products as well as educational materials for parents and schools. “We’re much more aware of how lice spread, and how to reduce the risk of contracting head lice,” George said. “We work with schools, daycare centers, pediatric practices, and families to prevent head lice infestations, which is the best treatment of all.”

Preventive products include sprays, conditioners, and shampoos that can be used daily or weekly at bath time and act as a lice repellent. All the products use essential oils and inert gels that contain no harmful chemicals.

Lice Clinics of America – Northwest has five locations – Bend, Portland, Clackamas, Salem, OR and Vancouver, WA. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, visit https://liceclinicsnorthwest.com, email info@liceclinicsnorthwest.com or call Portland (503) 404-0475, Clackamas (503) 714-7722, Vancouver (360) 334-6360, Salem (971) 273-5900 or Bend (541) 640-5335.