Posts

What Are Different Head Lice Screening Options?

What Are Different Head Lice Screening Options?

/in /by

An itch here and a scratch there can seem like nothing at first. But after a while you notice your scratching becomes more frequent. Head lice might not be your first thought, but if you are prone to the condition it might be the cause of your scratching. Head lice are extremely contagious and can quickly spread to an entire household in a short amount of time. 

There are many different ways to screen for head lice. Fresh Heads offers the best lice removal services in Jacksonville, FL and there are two ways we can screen for head lice. Below we will discuss those options and additional treatments that go into each one. 

Professional Head Check

When you walk into our facility the first step in treating head lice is conducting a head check. This procedure involves using a microscope to determine whether or not a client has lice. How? We search for eggs, or nits, because they are almost impossible to remove without professional help. Nits appear to look like small sesame seeds and can be found along the hair shaft. They are very difficult to spot on your own. 

We then use a special comb and divide the hair into sections and see if any eggs or bugs get caught. If there are in fact eggs, that is a positive case for head lice and you would then undergo a treatment of your choice. At our head lice clinic, the checks are around $14.99 per person. 

Head checks are essential in the treatment process. The earlier you catch the condition the easier it’ll be to treat and the less likely other people in your household will need to be treated as well. At Fresh Heads we pride ourselves on providing the finest services in the head lice industry, starting with offering the best head lice screenings in Jacksonville, FL.

At Home Head Check

Although we don’t mind and encourage clients to visit our facility for a head check, they can actually be done at home. It’s easy and there are a few key points you should look for when conducting your own. 

The first thing you’ll want to do is purchase a nit comb. This is vital because it is specifically made to catch lice eggs that other tools cannot. You’ll then want to ensure that our hair is dry and free of any knots and tangles. There are four hotspots you’re going to want to check: the crown of the head, over and behind each ear, and the nape of the neck. When you run the comb through your hair, make sure it is lying flat against the scalp as nits are laid within a quarter of an inch of the scalp’s surface. 

Once you have sectioned your hair, take the comb and hold the section perpendicular to the scalp. You’ll then start at the nape of the neck and pull the comb up and through the length of the hair. You’ll then shake the comb over a cup with a white interior that is filled ¾ of the way with water. Repeat this process until all of the remaining hotspots have been checked. Then you’ll evaluate your cup. Nits are able to float and are not translucent in water. 

If you do find lice and nits, you will not be able to effectively eliminate the infestation at home on your own. Harsh chemicals and toxins simply do not work and can be highly dangerous for your child. The only way to ensure you rid your family of lice is to seek professional treatment at one of our locations! Our advanced lice removal technology ensures that the lice and their nits are removed entirely in less than 45 minutes. 

Fresh Heads: The Best Option For Head Lice Screenings In Jacksonville, FL

Head lice are a menace to deal with if not treated properly. People can suffer severe cases and even recurring ones if the proper professional treatment isn’t sought out. Fresh Heads believes in treating the problem once and for all. We are confident in our expert ability and technology to provide a majority of our clientele with only one treatment. Each of our treatment options offer either a 45-day guarantee in which clients can revisit for a recheck within their policy period. 

If someone within that time frame is re-exposed, they and all family members will be retreated for free after a head check is conducted. This, as well as our other services and technology is what makes Fresh Heads the best head lice clinic in Jacksonville, FL. 

To schedule a head check or to view treatment options, visit our website or give us a call today 904-257-0473.

Schools Without Lice.

Schools Without Lice

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, our mission is to get rid of lice in schools across the United States. We’ve partnered with the Lice Clinics of America to create the Schools Without Lice program. Through this program, we provide school nurses and teachers with free screenings, resources, and treatments. Together, we can have schools without lice!

Washing this load of laundry in the normal wash won't get rid of the lice.

Understanding Why Lice Can’t Be Killed with Normal Washing

/0 Comments/in /by

Lice are resilient insects that survive most processes humans perform on scalps and hair. A head lice infestation can withstand washing, blow-drying, hair curling, or straightening. One of the reasons is that lice stay close to the scalp, where hot styling tools can’t reach them.

Furthermore, plain water and ordinary soap or shampoo will not wash them away. Lice have pinchers that help them cling to hair strands. A female louse can lay ten lice eggs per day, which she attaches to a shaft of hair using a water-resistant substance.

In the U.S., head lice infestations are common among pre-school and elementary children and household members of children infected with lice. There are about six to 12 million people who get lice outbreaks every year. Since each insect lives up to a month, a person’s scalp can take weeks to clear.

How Do You Get Rid of a Lice Infestation?

Fortunately, there are many ways you can get rid of lice, although some are more effective than others.

At-Home Treatments

While it may be tempting to try to deal with a lice infestation yourself at home, this method can have its drawbacks. For at-home treatments, your options are to try a comb-out or to try an OTC shampoo. The traditional comb-out method can take a considerable length of time if you’re not experienced at it, and you may miss some lice or nits. OTC shampoos, on the other hand, are full of harsh chemicals that aren’t even effective against the current strains of super lice. Conclusion: although it might seem convenient for you to not have to leave your home, unfortunately, the lice aren’t going to leave either.

Professional Treatments

With professional lice treatment, you can rest assured that your lice are going to be dealt with swiftly and thoroughly. We offer a traditional comb-out and our signature AirAllé treatment.

• Traditional Comb-Out

Our traditional comb-out services are performed by professionals who are trained to quickly and thoroughly rid your hair of lice and nits. This way, you can leave the brushing and shampooing to specialists.

• Signature AirAllé Treatment

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, we also offer our signature treatment using an AirAllé® machine, an FDA-cleared device proven to dehydrate and kill both adult lice and eggs in minutes.

How Do You Prevent an Infestation?

Instead of letting your guard down to the point of requiring head lice removal, you can take preventive measures. It’s not that easy to contract lice—in fact, head-to-head contact is practically the only way for an infestation to spread. However, since kids are more likely to come in close contact with each other, it puts them at a higher risk of catching lice.

If you know someone who has contracted lice, avoid coming in close contact with them. Live lice can only live for up to 24-48 hours without a human host, and eggs do not hatch once they have fallen off a scalp. If you suspect you’ve contracted head lice, focus your screening efforts on yourself and your family rather than on your home.

If you detect the outbreak early on, using insect and nit neutralizers can be an effective way to stop the spread. When choosing products, opt for those that are non-toxic and made of natural enzymes, such as the ones included in our Treatment Bundle. These break down the glue that holds the eggs in place, letting them fall from the scalp.

Get Professional Treatment for Infestations

Outdoor weather brings with it plenty of opportunities for kids to enjoy outdoor activities. Unfortunately, these activities bring kids in close and potentially head-to-head contact, meaning it carries a real chance of them contracting head lice. Prevent this by taking your child to a treatment center specializing in lice removal if you see signs of an infestation.

Head Lice Clinics in Orlando, Jacksonville, and Savannah

Be free from nits and head lice at Fresh Heads Lice Removal. We have a range of lice prevention treatments and products in Orlando and Jacksonville, FL, and Savannah, GA. Our treatments are guaranteed to eliminate infestations—our Fresh Heads Signature AirAllé Treatment even comes with a 45-day re-treatment policy. Get in touch today for more details!

Schools Without Lice.

Schools Without Lice

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, our mission is to get rid of lice in schools across the United States. We’ve partnered with the Lice Clinics of America to create the Schools Without Lice program. Through this program, we provide school nurses and teachers with free screenings, resources, and treatments. Together, we can have schools without lice!

Super Lice: What Are They and Do They Really Exist?

Super Lice: What Are They and Do They Really Exist?

/0 Comments/in /by

Lice are small, soft-bodied insects that are generally harmless, but the pesky critters can take hold of one’s head and warrant plenty of fear among children to adults alike. Some parents try to take matters into their own hands—starting out picking lice off one by one, and then resorting to strong over-the-counter insecticides to try to finish the job.

The problem with these chemicals is that they can trigger a serious upgrade—almost like the transition from frail Steve Rogers to Captain America—only it’s a more dreadful level-up from lice to super lice. OTC drug overexposure has made super lice resistant to medication, giving its victims a harder time to treat the invasion.

What Are Super Lice?

Super lice are not here to save the day, and while they don’t look or act any different from regular lice, they are a different strain with an uncanny resistance to traditional treatments like permethrin and pyrethrin.

This anomaly happens when the pesticide-based head lice treatments only kill 50% of the infestation. The remaining 50% survive and start a more robust colony that has grown impervious to conventional treatment.

The coined term “super” lice was rooted in a 2016 study done by the University of Massachusetts, wherein 48 states have shown 98% of the collected lice were immune to pesticides.

How Does Super Lice Spread?

Super lice can’t fly despite its moniker and are still a strain of your head lice, so they spread the same way—direct head-to-head contact. Once you start to feel itching behind the ears or neck, a tickling sensation in your locks, see signs of red bumps scattered throughout your neck or shoulders, then these are red flags that indicate you have a problem.

Fortunately, some companies like Fresh Heads Lice Removal offer natural solutions that can put an end to the super lice line. However, prevention always helps, so if you want your children free from the creepy crawlies, then the saying “once a week, sneak a peek” should keep your vigilance up.

The Bottom Line: Do You Still Have a Head Full of Lice After OTC Treatment?

Many people who are not aware of super lice still try to use OTC lice shampoos to try to get rid of the pervasive parasites. While it seems like a cost-effective fix, super lice will easily survive these treatments, and OTC shampoo overuse will continue to build-up their resistance.

If you find yourself developing a growing itch and still seeing live lice and eggs in your locks, it’s best to seek proper treatment from professional lice removal companies. Companies like Fresh Heads Lice Removal, for instance, offer an FDA-cleared medical device called AirAllé, which uses a focused stream of warm air to dehydrate and kill lice and eggs naturally.

Professional Lice Removal

If you’re looking for professional lice removal in Jacksonville, FL, Orlando, FL, or Savannah, GA, get in touch with us at Fresh Heads Lice Removal to see how we can help you get rid of lice. We offer an FDA-cleared medical tool that can effectively eliminate lice safely!

Schools Without Lice.

Schools Without Lice

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, our mission is to get rid of lice in schools across the United States. We’ve partnered with the Lice Clinics of America to create the Schools Without Lice program. Through this program, we provide school nurses and teachers with free screenings, resources, and treatments. Together, we can have schools without lice!

what parents need to understand about head lice

What Parents Need to Understand About Head Lice

/0 Comments/in /by

If you are a parent of young children, it is all too familiar to hear that lice are spreading amongst your child’s classroom. Although lice are pests, there are misconceptions about how they spread. They can absolutely spread from person to person, but they do not spread the way you think they would. Before panicking, consider these facts about lice and why you should not be afraid for your child:

1. Lice Do Not Spread Easily

Although they multiply fast once they lay eggs, once they get knocked off of a human scalp, they die within 24 hours.

2. Lice Do Not Jump From Scalp to Scalp That Easily

Despite the invasive nature of lice, they do not jump at all. They are crawlers and can only be transmitted through direct contacts, such as during playtime, when kids experience head-to-head contact with each other.

3. Do Not Prevent Your Children from Going to School Despite Lice Infestations

Pediatricians suggest that lice are not easily spread through classrooms, so preventing your children from attending school is not necessary. The school’s administration should be responsible for handling the case in the event of an outbreak, so it is completely fine to continue sending your child to school as long as he or she refrains from having head-to-head contact with other students.

4. Lice Are a Problem That Transcends Socioeconomic Classes

Despite the social stigma that getting lice reflects the cleanliness or living conditions of a family, this notion is untrue. Anyone can get lice, which is why excluding children from their school environment perpetuates the age-old beliefs.

5. Lice are Easily Diagnosed

When peeking around your child’s scalp or head, you may notice the presence of live insects. Use a fine comb to check hair, as well as the areas behind the ear and at the base of the neck. If there is a lice infestation, you will find both bugs and their eggs.

Eggs are easily confused for dandruff, hair products, glitter, and dried up shampoo, so be sure to check if the objects are stuck strongly to hairs. If these are indeed eggs and lice, the following point is how to get rid of lice.

6. Catch and Treat Infestations Early

When a family member is diagnosed with lice, it is best to run through all people in the house for head checks, and get treated as a family to avoid further infestation. The best way to go about it is to have professional lice treatment.

7. A Cleaning Spree is Not Always Needed After a Lice Outbreak

Since lice only live around 24 hours off of a scalp, a simple change of sheets, pillowcases, and washing clothes is a good enough precaution to take after lice have been treated. If the item affected cannot be washed easily, place it in a plastic bag for two whole days to ensure that the louse has died out.

Lice Removal Services in Jacksonville, Orlando, and Savannah

Lice infestations are not as menacing as people have made it out to be. They are easily treated if you let the professionals handle them. At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, we offer top-quality lice removal services in Jacksonville, Orlando, FL, and Savannah, GA. If you or a family member is suffering from an infestation, contact us now!

Schools Without Lice.

Schools Without Lice

Our mission at Fresh Heads is to get rid of lice in schools across the country. That’s why we’ve partnered with the Lice Clinics of America to create the Schools Without Lice program. Through this program, we’re able to provide teachers and nurses with free head lice screenings, resources, and treatments. Together, we can have schools without lice!

Can My Kids Get Lice from Our Pets?

Can My Kids Get Lice from Our Pets?

/0 Comments/in /by

Most parents are all too familiar with the anxiety that discovering head lice in your household can cause. Especially if you’re not sure where the pesky critters originated, you wait in dreaded anticipation of where they may strike next.

You may even ask yourself: How safe is the dog? Did the kids catch lice from the cat? The last thing you need while treating your child is for your pets to continue spreading it back to them. After all, they are best friends, and best friends are known to share.

Lice Are Species-Specific

Parents, you’re in luck! The probability of your child catching lice from the family pets is slim to none. Lice are species-specific; meaning there are lice that only infest dogs (Trichodectes canis and Linognathus setosus), lice that only infest cats (Felicola subrostrata), and yes, lice that only infest humans (Pediculus humanus capitis). These insects are species-specific to the extent that they literally cannot survive on the blood of a different host species. It also means that dogs and cats are unable to carry or distribute eggs of human lice. So, if your child has been sent home with an infestation, there is no need to scold the family pets.

About Human Lice

Lice are an unwelcome, social nuisance but, are no indication of lack of hygiene or neglect. Although lice are not a serious medical threat to children, it’s embarrassing and carries a shameful stigma. Do not attempt to remove any attached eggs from your clothing, bedding, or furniture, yourself. This could lead to further spreading throughout your home.

Risk of Dog or Cat Lice for Your Pets

Since lice are species-specific, your pets are not at risk of catching lice from your children. As for their risk of dog or cat lice, although pets are susceptible, it is uncommon for household pets to get lice. It is mainly found in pets without proper shelter. Animals that are either very young or very old, or in poor health, are most at risk of infestation.

Lice Treatment Options

A lice infestation is an annoyance every parent wishes to avoid.  At the first symptoms or sightings of lice, call Fresh Heads Lice Removal, for the safest most lice treatment options. Our goal is to rid your child from irritating lice and offer ways to prevent future outbreaks. Visit our website to learn more about our environmentally-friendly products. Fresh Heads provides consultations for removing lice from your home during an infestation.