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!

Lice-Happens-fresh-heads-lice-removal

Lice Happens; How You Can Get Rid of It and Move On

/in /by

If you have a young child, then unfortunately you’re probably more than familiar with head lice. Head lice for school-age children is as common as the common cold. While there are no life threatening diseases that come from head lice, there are significant emotional and mental stresses that impact both the child and parent. Also, if left untreated, severe scratching can lead to open sores that can lead to infection. Head lice are more than just a headache to deal with, and if you take your child to a head lice removal center, it’s a significant life disruption you won’t have to deal with for long, thankfully. Here are some quick and easy steps you can take to rid your child of head lice and move on with your life.

Check and Confirm

The first thing you should do is check your child’s head and confirm they have head lice. Oftentimes dandruff or leftover hairspray can be confused with head lice. However, if your child is reaching to itch their head quite a bit and if you also see any creepy crawlers near the scalp, then it checks all the boxes and it’s more than likely head lice.

Let the Experts Check

Pull up Google and type in “professional head lice treatment near me.” Give us a call and book an appointment at our head lice treatment center in Orlando, FL, Jacksonville, FL or Savannah, GA. Our expert staff will confirm whether or not they do have head lice and the best treatment option for you.

Time for the Lice to be Removed

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal your child will walk in the door with head lice but will walk out completely head lice free. We have a variety of treatment options to remove head lice including a Traditional Comb Out and our AirAlle Treatment. With our FDA-cleared AirAlle Treatment it will only take up to 90 minutes to remove all head lice and nits. The greatest part is the AirAlle Treatment takes away all human error so no follow-up is required!

Go Home and Relax

When you search up “lice removal near me,” you’re doing yourself a giant favor. Your child will be rid of head lice, and you won’t have to worry about missing any eggs and having to redo the whole head lice removal process over again. Just bring your child into any one of our three locations: Orlando, FL, Jacksonville, FL, and Savannah, GA. Once you walk out of our head lice treatment center you can go home, kick your feet up, and relax knowing head lice is a problem of the past.

Does shaving these boys' heads get rid of their lice?

Does Shaving Your Head Get Rid of Lice?

/0 Comments/in /by

Whoa there, Mama—let’s not jump to extremes. We know how stressed you are with the breaking news that your kid has lice, but do you really want to shave their head? Children can feel an attachment to their hair, and the moment you shave it off could make the situation worse. If you think shaving your head can get rid of lice, you’ll be left with shorter hair and no fewer lice than you did before. Haven’t convinced you yet? Let’s take a look at what to consider before making the cut, and we’ll give you some alternative and more effective treatment options.

Before Shaving

Before you jump to the chase of grabbing the razor to chop it all off, consider these points first:

  • Hair Salons Will Not Shave Your Child’s Head. If you think taking your child to the hair salon to get it shaved off is the easiest solution, you might want to put the keys down first. Hair salons will not treat or service those who have an active lice outbreak because it violates their health code.
  • Shaving Your Child’s Head Could Be Traumatizing. When there’s a lice outbreak, emotions are flying everywhere. You’re stressed, your kid is stressed, and you’re trying not to get lice yourself. One way to make it that much worse? Shaving their head! Your child could get upset and feel extremely embarrassed.
  • Shaving Will Not Get Rid of Lice. If you’re still ready to take the plunge to find out if shaving your head gets rid of lice, we’ve got news for you. It is not a solution to treating lice. Sorry to break it to you, but a buzz cut with clippers will definitely not get rid of lice. The reason shaving will not work is because lice live on the base of the hair, and on the scalp.  The nits are laid right at the base of the hair often times against the scalp.  A shaving will not get close enough to make an impact on the lice and nits.

Fast and Safe Lice Treatment

The good news is that you don’t have to go to extremes when there is such a fast, easy, and safe option available—our revolutionary AirAllé device at Fresh Heads. The AirAllé uses warm air to dehydrate both lice and eggs in just 30 minutes. The rest of your 1-hour treatment appointment is spent ensuring every louse and egg has been removed from the head.

Head Lice Clinics in Jacksonville, Orlando, and Savannah

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, we offer all the lice treatment options above with the utmost care. We take you with us every step of the way, so you know exactly what’s happening on you or your child’s head. Your nerves will be put to ease the moment you step into our clinic, and you’ll leave lice-free. Don’t waste your time trying countless lice treatment options or, even worse, trying to shave your head to get rid of lice. Get rid of lice the right way, the first time. Schedule your appointment now for the safest and most effective lice removal treatment.

Schools Without Lice.

Schools Without Lice

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, our mission is to get rid of lice in schools across the country. That’s why we’ve partnered with Lice Clinics of America to create our  Schools Without Lice program. We give nurses and teachers free screenings, resources, and treatments. Together, we can have schools without lice!

How to Get Lice Out of Your House.

How to Get Lice Out of Your House

/0 Comments/in /by

Few things in the life of a parent are as stressful as a lice infestation. Exhausted parents often clean their house from top to bottom and wonder why they can’t seem to rid their child of lice, and why the infestation seems to continue. Spending lots of time or money on deep housecleaning in order to avoid re-infestation is generally unnecessary because the secret to effective lice removal lies in the head, not the house.

Life Span of Lice on Bedding, Couches, and Pillows

According to The Centers for Disease Control, although it is technically possible to contract lice from bedding, couches, or pillows, it is highly unlikely. The person infested with lice would have to have been recently been in contact with those surfaces. Lice depend on blood and warmth from a human host to survive. Once they fall off of a child or household member, lice are unable to feed and live for only 1-2 days. Without the source of blood and warmth from a human scalp, survival is cut short as nits cannot hatch and usually die within a week.

Focus Your Efforts on the Affected Family Member

This means that once a louse leaves your child’s head, it’s timeline for survival decreases exponentially. So, while washing every single pillowcase and sheet in the house will certainly make you feel better, it’s important to narrow your cleaning efforts to the items that actually had contact with your child or other household members. The greater focus should be on treating your child’s scalp, as seeking treatment for lice removal means that all bugs and eggs (nits) are eliminated from the hair—eliminating the chances of re-infestation.

Beware Only Partially Treating the Problem

In order to effectively treat your child or household member, it’s also important to choose a treatment that will be effective. Some lice treatment medications may not have an ovicidal effect—meaning they might not kill the lice eggs. If you’re using medicines that are only slightly- or non-ovicidal, that means you’ll end up retreating. To be most effective, the CDC recommends that all lice and eggs are killed or removed.

Trust the Fresh Heads Team for Treatment of Head Lice and Lice Eggs

At Fresh Heads, we are committed to safely removing head lice and lice eggs so your child can return to normal life as quickly as possible. We are an exclusive provider of the innovative AirAlle Head Lice Machine, an FDA-cleared medical device that dehydrates and kills both eggs and lice in one treatment. If you are looking for a safe, chemical-free way to treat head lice, contact us today.

head lice and the holidays

Preventing Head Lice Over the Holidays

/0 Comments/in /by

Head lice in children is an issue that doesn’t take a break for the holidays. In fact, the holiday season is prime time for family gatherings, meaning there’s a real risk of coming into contact with affected individuals and catching head lice. This is one “gift” that nobody wants! So here is some information on just how naughty lice can be, and why getting them is definitely not nice:

How Head Lice is Contracted

Lice require head to head contact in order to spread. So the critters can’t jump from one person to another, and even wearing hats and clothes used by those who had lice isn’t a major risk.

For kids, head to head contact can involve playing with lice-infested peers, huddling together, or dozing off in close proximity with them during sleepovers or afternoon naps.

How to Check for Head Lice

Louses (adult lice) are quite small and fast-moving. They tend to avoid light and don’t stay on the outer layers of one’s hair. This can make them especially difficult to spot. Common symptoms of head lice in children and adults include itchy scalps (though this is shared with dandruff, eczema and other conditions). If you want to find out for certain, you’ll have to:

  • Sit the child in a brightly lit room.
  • Spread his or her hair apart and look at the scalp to find lice and nits.
  • Lice eggs, called nits, are tiny white or cream-colored and oval-shaped, like beads, and are attached to the hair at their base, near the scalp. They can be mistaken for dandruff or dirt. If it’s easily removable then it’s probably not a nit.
  • Comb through the hair in small sections, systematically, to find and remove lice or nits.

If you find lice and nits, check everyone else in the house to be sure the infestation hasn’t spread.

How to Get Rid of Head Lice

Over the counter medications usually involve harsh chemicals that have alarming side effects. Moreover, we now have Super Lice, which are drug-resistant and can’t be killed by OTC head lice treatments.

This is why Fresh Heads Lice Removal stands by AirAllé— The Best Way to Get Rid of Head Lice. It is a completely non-toxic, FDA-cleared and science-based method that kills lice and eggs using heat, air flow, time and technique – dehydrating lice and ending infestations. No more wasting time and money on ineffective OTC treatments or messy in-home mobile lice services.

What about Natural Treatments and Home Remedies?

The herbal route avoids the dangers of pesticides, but these concoctions mainly repel lice and don’t do much when the buggers are already on the scalp. They’re not very good at killing them and do nothing to kill nits.

 

Home remedies, on the other hand, are unproven and unreliable. Hair dyes are ineffective. As are hair straightening treatments.

Other Advice to Limit Lice

If someone has an infestation, wash their clothing, towels, linens, hats, etc. in hot water and dry them in high heat. It is very unlikely that lice will be spread by bedding, clothing or linens, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Unwashable items can be stored in sealed plastic bags for a couple of weeks, which will starve lice to death.

Happy Lice-Free Holidays

Finding head lice doesn’t mean the holiday festivities have to stop! At Fresh Heads Lice Removal Clinics, we can take get rid head lice and their eggs in a single, chemical-free treatment with no follow up necessary. Don’t waste your time with over the counter treatments or sit around waiting and hoping a mobile lice treatment service will actually show up on time just so they can take over your kitchen or living room for hours. If you find lice call Fresh Heads today and we’ll have you back sipping eggnog and eating gingerbread cookies in no time.

So may you and your family have a very merry and lice-free holiday season!

Savannah Morning News Logo

Savannah Morning News Interview

/0 Comments/in /by

We had a great time sitting down with the Savannah Morning News to talk about what local parents can do to get rid of head lice. Check out the interview below!

Hart to Heart: What to do when your kids get head lice

I reached out to Mandy Ottesen, owner of Fresh Heads Lice Removal, for expert advice on whether you can prevent lice and how to remove it.

Since opening in September 2017, Ottesen’s lice removal treatment center, located on U.S. 80 West in Pooler, has become a salvation for head-scratching parents who have kids with lice….. Click here to read the rest of this interview on www.savannahnow.com

hair dye being applied to kill head lice

Does Hair Dye Kill Head Lice?

/0 Comments/in /by

Does getting your hair dyed count as head lice treatment? We get this question from a lot of people who come our lice treatment centers. After all, when you’re getting your hair dyed, you can smell the strong scent of the hair-coloring chemicals and even feel it on your scalp. It’s powerful stuff. Could lice survive that kind of bombardment? It seems like just the thing that’d wipe them out, but is it actually effective?

Can Hair Dye Kill lice?

There have been no tests on hair dyes to check their effectiveness in killing head lice. One thing that’s certain is that they cannot treat or prevent a head lice infestation for one very simple reason…

Hair Dyes Don’t Kill Lice Eggs (Nits)

Even if head lice were proven to be able to kill head lice, their eggs are another thing entirely. Laid at the base of hair shafts against the scalp, there is a protective encasing around lice eggs. They are incredibly resilient and hard to kill, even with chemical head lice treatments.

Even if all the adult lice are gone, the eggs will just hatch and spawn a new generation of crawlers. Female lice lay up to six eggs every day for about 30 days. If you kill one after four days, that’s 24 eggs waiting to hatch that the hair dye has no effect on. Not even medicated shampoos that kill adult lice can kill eggs. They require more thorough treatments.

Strong Hair Dyes Are Dangerous for Kids

Another important thing to consider is that, while kids are prone to having head lice, they’re also too young for hair dyes with powerful chemicals. In an article for Today, pediatric dermatologist Dr. Tace Rico says the strong chemicals found in some hair dyes, such as ammonia, bleach and hydrogen peroxide can damage kids hair which tends to be very fine. Parents should also be wary of allergic skin reactions and have the kids undergo spot tests before treatment. Save the stronger dyes until the kids are at least 16, Rico added.

Come to Fresh Heads for the Most Effective Head Lice Treatment

Hair dyes won’t kill eggs and prevent head lice reinfestation. Not only that, but the harshest dyes are not suitable for kids who are most at risk of head lice infestations in the first place!

For adults who want a new look, go ahead – lice or no lice! But in order to actually eliminate head lice and their eggs, and for all cases of lice involving children, it’s best to seek a specialized treatment that’s thorough, safe, non-toxic and effective. That’s what we’re here for. Contact Fresh Heads Head Lice Removal Center today to schedule an appointment for our completely natural, chemical-free head lice treatment. It’s proven effective at killing lice and their eggs in a single treatment.

a girl receives the AirAllé head lice treatment

What is the Best Lice Treatment?

/0 Comments/in /by

There are all sorts of lice treatments floating around out there, but which is the best? It can be difficult to choose between pesticide products, herbal products, or even physical treatments. The best lice treatment has to be both safe and effective. Something that you and your child can confidently use without worrying about repeat infestation or nasty side effects. So out of all of the options available, which is the best lice treatment?

Common but Dangerous Pesticide Products

Insecticides were first introduced in the 20th century as an alternative way to treat head lice. Unfortunately, lice are very quick to adapt. This has led to pesticide resistant lice, also called super lice. These super lice have spread to 48 states, including Georgia and Florida! They have at least three genetic mutations making them resistant to most over the counter treatments.

Besides the growing ineffectiveness of pesticides, these products are also potentially dangerous. Many contain pyrethrin and pyrethroids, which are commonly used in bug sprays like Raid. Extracted from chrysanthemum flowers, these chemicals are potentially dangerous. They have been proven to be carcinogenic and even neurologically damaging when absorbed by the skin!

The Efficacy of Herbal Lice Treatments

With all the dangers of pesticides, it might seem much more appealing to go the herbal route. The problem is that herbal treatments function mainly by repelling lice. They aren’t the best lice treatment because they are less effective at killing lice. Not only that, but they leave the nits, or eggs, intact.

Herbal remedies are most effective when combined with other methods. They can be used to help prevent future infestations, but they are not effective at killing lice and their eggs if you have an infestation.

Is AirAllé the Best Lice Treatment?

The AirAllé treatment is a completely chemical free, all-natural head lice treatment that has proven to be the most effective. Not only does it kill head lice, it dries out and destroys their eggs to prevent the infestation from continuing. The process is simple. Heated air is used to dehydrate both lice and their eggs. The efficacy rate of this method is almost 100%. Usually taking about an hour, it is much quicker than most other treatments. This is especially true when you consider the fact that most other methods require follow-up treatments! The AirAlle treatment is the best lice treatment available to parents.

Get in Touch with the Pros for the Best Lice Treatment in Savannah

You don’t need to resort to dangerous chemicals or ineffective home remedies to get rid of lice. At Fresh Heads Head Lice Treatment Centers, we have trained professionals that can help you. If you are looking for the best lice treatment in Savannah, Orlando, Jacksonville, or Jacksonville beach, Call us today to schedule your appointment!

risky chemical head lice removal products

The Real Risks of Head Lice

/0 Comments/in /by

It’s natural for parents to be concerned when their child has head lice. They are itchy, bothersome and can be difficult to get rid of. However, the bugs themselves don’t pose too much of a health risk. Chemicals found in common head lice removal treatments are the real risk of lice, sold at your local drug store. Here’s what you need to know about toxic over-the-counter treatments before you treat your child for head lice.

OTC Head Lice Treatments Pose Real Health Risk

Research has been clear—pesticide style head lice treatments of yesterday are hazardous to your child’s health. They typically contain dangerous synthetic chemicals called pyrethroids. One recent study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that exposure to certain pyrethroids at environmental levels may negatively affect neurobehavioral development by the age of six.

The chemicals most commonly found in OTC lice treatment products are permethrin and lindane. Both chemicals have been proven to be toxic. Here’s more information about these two disturbing ingredients and some of their alarming side effects.

Permethrin is a neurotoxin that is found in many insecticides, including Raid. It’s also the key ingredient in numerous head lice removal treatments. It’s known to be carcinogenic and can cause serious side effects such as:

  • Wheezing or coughing
  • Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Skin irritation burning
  • Scalp irritation or burning
  • May affect the reproductive system
  • Nervous system symptoms such as excitability and convulsions
  • Allergic reaction

Lindane is a dangerous chemical that attacks the nervous system. Known to cause cancer. And it’s found in OTC head lice removal products. The FDA has recommended using extreme caution when using lindane on anyone under 110 pounds—which would include most school-aged children.

When used to treat lice, it’s easily absorbed through the scalp, which makes it even more troubling. The World Health Organization has even reclassified lindane from being a “possible carcinogenic” to “known to cause human cancer.” Lindane can cause serious side effects such as:

  • Stinging, burning and itching of the skin
  • Rashes
  • Dizziness
  • Drowsiness
  • Vomiting
  • Seizures
  • Uncontrollable bodily shaking
  • Allergic reaction

Don’t Risk It. Choose Fresh Heads Lice Treatment Centers.

When the risk of head lice removal is worse than the head lice itself, what’s a parent to do? Simple. Choose a nontoxic treatment option like those offered at Fresh Heads. Not only are our treatments safe, they’re also far more effective since head lice have built up a resistance to old-school pesticide-based treatments.

Our signature treatment—AirAllé—was specifically designed to dehydrate lice and their eggs with warm, heated air. It’s FDA-cleared and has been proven to be safe and effective at killing lice and their eggs—it’s rate of efficacy is 99.2%! That’s a much higher rate than OTC head lice removal products. With AirAllé, we can safely and comfortably treat your child for head lice in about an hour. It’s fast, easy and so effective. It’s backed by our 45-day retreatment policy.

If your child comes home with head lice, call Fresh Heads for no-risk treatment you can trust.

frowning girl needs Lice Treatment

Five Reasons Head Lice Keep Coming Back

/0 Comments/in /by

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that anywhere from 6-12 million people per year contract head lice. And while there are many forms of lice treatment available, not all are effective. Many people end up dealing with lice outbreaks that last weeks, months or even years. Here are five reasons why it might seem like head lice keep coming back.

1. Head Lice are Seriously Stubborn Pests

Head lice are difficult to get rid of because they’re extremely hardy critters. They hold a strong grip on the hair shaft with their claws, so they can’t easily be brushed off. Killing them is no easy feat, either. Hot water, chlorinated water, shampoo and even some lice treatments won’t do the trick.

2. Step Away from the OTC Lice Treatment

If you’re using hazardous over-the-counter lice remedies, you’ll probably find your lice doesn’t go away or makes a swift return. That’s because OTC products don’t work. Lice have adapted and become resistant to the chemicals—called pyrethroids—found in most of these pesticide-based products. A recent study found that pyrethroid-resistant head lice exist in at least 42 states. There are many other reasons to avoid these toxic products.

3. Nitpicking is Like Searching for a Needle in a Haystack

Nit combing is another common head lice treatment option that’s not very effective. That’s because it’s quite tedious and is subject to human error. Live lice must first be removed, then each and every nit must be picked out. Nits are tiny and are essentially glued to the hair shaft. Locating all of them can be extremely tedious. And if you miss a single nit, the lice life cycle will begin all over again.

4. Home Remedies Aren’t Great Either

Home remedies are ineffective, and some are downright dangerous. A search on the internet might bring you remedies that suggest “smothering” the lice by using items like mayonnaise, olive oil, chlorine and even kerosene. These are all extremely dangerous ideas and can lead to serious injuries or suffocation.

5. Oops. You Didn’t Get Every Household Member Checked

Since lice spread so rapidly, don’t assume that it will remain only on the child who came home with it. Be sure to get every family member thoroughly checked for head lice, even if only one child seems to have it. Lice spread primarily from close head-to-head contact, and it’s very common for other family members to contract lice—even parents! You could find your family in a vicious life cycle if only one person is checked and treated.

Lice Treatment that Works

Lice treatments that aren’t effective can leave you in a frustrating cycle where head lice just keep coming back. To get rid of head lice once and for all, it’s time to call the professionals at Fresh Heads Lice Treatment Centers.

Our signature AirAllé treatment is the most effective treatment available today—with an up to 99% efficacy rating. AirAllé is FDA-cleared and completely safe and comfortable for children. It’s so successful at getting rid of lice, we back it up with a 45-day retreatment policy. Schedule an appointment at one of our locations today.