The Science Behind the World’s Only One-Hour Head Lice Treatment
It took a biologist researching the evolution of parasites to discover that head lice can be completely eradicated with desiccation, or “drying them out.” Dr. Dale Clayton, a biology professor at the University of Utah, found that lice on birds in more arid climates had a harder time surviving than those on birds in more humid climates. When his own children suffered from a bout of head lice and lice shampoos had little effect, he decided to test a theory and see if drying the head lice with heated air would eradicate them.
Dr. Clayton and his team of student scientists created the AirAllé® (pronounced ‘air-uh-LAY’), a device that concentrates heated air near the scalp—without burning it—where head lice prefer to hang out and lay their eggs. After about 30 minutes, the device can completely eliminate all head lice and their eggs (nits), with less than a one percent chance of recurrence. “It’s the only head lice treatment available that is guaranteed to get rid of everything—lice and their eggs—in just one visit,” says Mark Meyer, co-owner of Lice Clinics of America – Northwest, which has clinics in Oregon and Vancouver, WA.
Lice Clinics of America (LCA) has exclusive rights to use the FDA-cleared medical device to treat head lice. No chemicals or pesticides are necessary, which is good news for parents. “Head lice, known as ‘super lice,’ have been found to have developed a resistance to most over-the-counter products, making those products less effective,” says Meyer. “Using the AirAllé, we can have clients out the door, lice and nit-free, in about an hour.”
After trying everything from blow dryers to heated rice bag caps, Dr. Clayton and his team discovered that heated air, if applied at the correct temperature at the right location for a specific amount of time, quickly kills head lice and kills their eggs over 99 percent of the time.
“It’s so rewarding to be able to offer such an effective treatment to parents who are stressed out and frustrated in their unsuccessful attempts to eliminate head lice. They’re always so relieved when they see their ‘lice nightmare’ has come to an end,” says Meyer.
About Lice Clinics of America – Northwest
Lice Clinics of America has successfully treated more than 675,000 cases of head lice. The company has more than 265 clinics in 20 countries, making it the world’s largest network of professional lice treatment centers. 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@liceclinicsnorthwests.com or call Portland (503) 404-0475, Clackamas (503) 714-7722, Vancouver (360) 334-6360, Salem (971) 273-5900 or Bend (541) 640-5335.
