Lice Clinics of America® – Northwest Warns Consumers Against Ineffective Lice Treatments

“I can’t tell you how many times people come to our clinic after trying some kooky home remedy for head lice,” said co-owners George Macoubray and Mark Meyer of Lice Clinic of America – Northwest. “Olive oil, butter, even kerosene! Maybe this story will help people avoid wasting time and money on treatments that don’t work.”

Macoubray and Meyer are referring to a story by Verify, a consumer protection program of WUSA Channel 9 in Washington, D.C., that is “… on a mission to separate fact from fiction in news and social media. We respect truth above all and believe in transparency.”

The program took on the issue of head lice to answer the question, “Does coconut oil and vinegar treat head lice?”

“A viewer read on Facebook that coconut oil and apple cider vinegar can help kill and remove head lice,” according to the program’s website. “She asked us to verify whether it’s true.”

The short answer: “Nope.”

The Verify team dug into scientific research and interviewed authorities on head lice treatment. The team also found research from scientists at the University of California that studied at-home remedies including vinegar, isopropyl alcohol, olive oil, mayonnaise, melted butter, and petroleum jelly for their efficacy at controlling head lice. After the study, the researchers concluded, “None of the home remedy products we surveyed was an effective means of louse control.”

“People spend weeks trying to treat head lice based on advice they get on the internet, while we have an FDA-cleared, scientifically proven solution that cures head lice in an hour,” Macoubray said. “I just wish more people would find us before they waste time trying these baseless home solutions.”

Home lice treatment has gotten more difficult in recent years because lice have developed immunity to the pesticides used by the most popular lice treatment products. A 2016 study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology found that 98 percent of head lice in most U.S. states now carry a genetic resistance to pyrethroids, the class of pesticides used in the most popular lice treatment products. Pyrethroids have also been linked to behavioral and developmental problems in children, especially boys.

“The good news is that at Lice Clinics of America Northwest we have the FDA-cleared AirAllé® medical device that is clinically shown to kill live lice and more than 99 percent of eggs in a single hour-long session,” Meyer said.  “AirAllé® uses carefully controlled heated air to dehydrate lice and eggs. Best of all it’s completely pesticide free.”

The AirAllé® device was developed by scientists at the University of Utah and is now used in more than 350 clinics in 36 countries. The device has treated some half million cases of head lice with a success rate better than 99 percent.

“When people find out they can be lice-free in an hour, they are overjoyed,” Macoubray said. “They almost always say, ‘I wish I’d found you sooner,’ so we’re trying to get the word out.”

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.