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Happy, lice-free kids posing in a park.

Pesticides Are for Plants, Mayo Is for Sandwiches

Traditionally there have been three options when it comes to head lice treatment: drugstore DIY lice products; nit-picking, or home remedies recommended by other parents.

There are challenges with all three of these lice treatments. First, many drugstore head lice products use pyrethroids to kill live lice which is a class of pesticides. Head lice in 48 states in the United States, as well as some other countries, have developed resistance to pyrethroids. Since pyrethroids have been linked to behavior problems in children, do you really want to be washing your child’s hair with a pesticide?

“Many parents have come to us after weeks of battling lice with over the counter DIY lice treatments, some have spent hundreds of dollars on treatments that don’t work and have spent countless hours cleaning their house and washing bedding,” says Dwight Ottesen, owner of Fresh Heads Lice Removal.

Home remedies are completely unproven. Common recommendations include smothering a child’s head with mayonnaise or petroleum jelly overnight. Mayonnaise? Petroleum jelly?  These approaches are meant to suffocate live lice. “Natural” treatments recommended, like tea tree oil, can actually prove toxic if over-applied.

These methods, even if they were to be effective with killing live lice, do not kill lice eggs. Killing lice eggs (nits) is the most difficult part of a lice treatment. Nits are extremely hard to see and remove, and if you miss just one, the egg will hatch, and you’ll have a fresh case of head lice on your hands. Countless parents have come in after trying to treat lice at home with these home remedies, but all they’ve gotten is more frustration.

This brings us to combing and nit-picking. This is a long and tedious process. As Health.com points out, “It’s best to approach lice as a war on many fronts: You need to use a variety of techniques to kill not only adult lice but also their tiny eggs called nits, which are glued to the hair shaft. The nits can survive treatments that kill the adults and vice versa. These bugs have evolved over a millennium to live in hair, so they’re tricky.”

Fortunately, scientists at the University of Utah have come to the rescue with a revolutionary medical device called the AirAllé that kills lice by applying carefully controlled heated air to the hair and scalp, dehydrating live lice and eggs in a single treatment that takes 60-90 minutes.

AirAllé® Lice Treatment

The AirAllé® has been through the lengthy FDA-clearance process where it was found to kill live lice and 99.2 percent of eggs.

The FDA-cleared medical device, the AirAllé® is operated in clinics by certified technicians who deliver treatments that last 60-90 minutes in most cases, and results are guaranteed when all family members are checked for lice and treated in the case of an active infestation.

Because the AirAllé® device only uses heated air to kill lice and eggs, there are no harmful pesticides involved, and no lengthy nit-picking process is required. This sounds a lot more pleasant than pesticides or sleeping with a head full of mayonnaise.

“It’s amazing to see the relief on a happy mom who is able to leave our clinic lice-free after having tried everything to get rid of lice,” says Dwight Ottesen.

Let’s leave pesticides in farms but keep them out of our hair. Let’s leave mayonnaise on sandwiches, which can be quite delicious. Let’s use science and medicine to treat head lice.

Putting an End to Lice

Fresh Heads Lice Removal has created locations in Jacksonville and Orlando, FL, and Savannah, GA, to help families to find relief from lice. Using our FDA-cleared technology, our team can eradicate any lice outbreak within minutes. Book an appointment to receive our fast and effective lice treatment today.

 


 

Schools Without Lice.

Putting an End to Lice in Schools

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, our goal is to completely eradicate lice in schools from California to Florida, and everywhere in between. This is why we have partnered with the Lice Clinics of America to create our Schools Without Lice program. We want to keep our children safe in schools across the country, and by supporting our educators, we can take another step toward creating schools without lice!

airalle head lice treatment

Modern Lice Treatment and the AirAllé

With more than 500,000 successful treatments and having its technology and treatment methods featured on prominent television shows such as “The Doctors,” Fresh Heads Lice Removal is without a doubt leading the way in today’s modern approach to lice treatment. Rather than try a variety of old-fashioned treatment methods that only lead to frustration and failure, let Fresh Heads Lice Removal do it right the first time. With a variety of treatment methods that can be customized to fit a patient’s needs and budget, removing lice is now easier than ever.

Revolutionary Technology

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, we take advantage of the latest technology available today by using our revolutionary AirAllé device. An FDA-cleared medical device that is safe and effective, AirAllé is able to kill head lice and eggs in only a single treatment, all without the use of pesticides.

Treatment Options

While in years past there were only limited options for lice treatment, modern medicine and technology have changed all that, and Fresh Heads Lice Removal has been at the forefront of making sure children and their families are lice-free. Because of our dedication to this area of medicine, we are known around the world as the leading authority on killing lice and their eggs. To help our patients even more, we offer a variety of treatment options. One of our most popular is booking an appointment at one of our conveniently-located clinics, where our patients receive an easy and effective treatment using our signature AirAllé device. However, for others who prefer to conduct their treatment at home, we offer in-home treatment kits which can be purchased.

As per clinic owner Dwight Ottesen, “No matter your budget or your infestation level, one of our certified technicians can help you determine your best treatment options to fit your needs.”

Years of Proven Science

While the Fresh Heads Lice Removal has been around since 2012, the science behind what we use today was years in the making. Thanks to Dr. Dale Clayton, who made his revolutionary discoveries while a professor at the University of Utah, he was able to form Larada Sciences in 2006, which enabled this state-of-the-art technology to go to market. As they say, the rest is history.

Since the most frequently used over-the-counter lice treatments have been shown to be effective less than 50% of the time, it makes no sense to waste your time and money on these products. Instead, contact us here at Fresh Heads Lice Removal, where you can be assured of getting the effective and efficient lice treatment you and your family deserve.

Let us take care of the lice in your life. Fresh Heads Lice Removal has locations in Jacksonville and Orlando, FL, and Savannah, GA. We are open seven days a week by appointment. Contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.

 


Schools Without Lice.

Fresh Heads Lice Removal, Together with Lice Clinics of America, for Schools Without Lice!

We at Fresh Heads Lice Removal want to keep our children safe in schools across the country, which is why we have partnered together with Lice Clinics of America, to create the Schools Without Lice program. Our goal is to eradicate lice in schools from California to Florida, and everywhere in between. By supporting our teachers, administrators, school nurses, and other personnel, we can take another step toward creating schools that are lice-free!

Hidden Costs of At-Home Lice Treatments

The Hidden Costs of At-Home Lice Treatments

At first glance, it may seem less expensive to purchase an at-home over the counter lice medication or shampoo for your child, rather than spending money on professional treatments from lice treatment services. However, many parents are surprised when they realize that OTC bottles of lice treatments often come with hidden expenses of their own. Below, we’ll examine two factors you may not have considered about at-home lice treatment costs.

The “Re-purchase Factor”

Many parents choose to use at home OTC lice treatments for their child. They are often under the impression that they are more convenient and less expensive to use when compared to professional lice treatment cost. However, many at-home lice treatments, such as homeopathic solutions, are not as effective as professional services. They often require re-treatment, which means re-purchasing the product, and more money spent.

Lost Wages from Missing Work

Another expense that parents seldom factor into lice treatment cost is the potential lost income from missing work. Parents will miss more work when treating their child at-home because non-professional treatments require more time for the eradication of the lice. This is especially problematic for parents without sick leave. If a parent can attend work, they may have to factor added child-care expenses into the lice treatment cost as well.

Fresh Heads Lice Removal, A Cost-Effective Solution

Our professional technicians and experts take a safe, effective, and affordable approach to lice treatment. We stop lice in their tracks using AirAllé®, a completely safe FDA cleared medical device, so that we can help your child return to life as normal as quickly as possible. AirAllé® kills lice and lice eggs through dehydration, and a single one-hour treatment kills head lice and 99.2% of lice eggs. Because the AirAllé® device is so effective at killing lice eggs, the chances of your child needing a follow-up treatment nearly zero.

At Fresh Heads, we believe that effective lice treatment doesn’t have to be expensive. We offer a flat rate and a 45-day re-treatment guarantee so that you can be confident that you are receiving the best value. We pride ourselves on being a lice service that your family can rely on for the safe diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of lice. To learn more about our list of services and featured products, contact one of our Jacksonville, FL, Orlando, FL, or Savannah, GA Fresh Heads locations today!

 


Schools Without Lice.

Fresh Heads Lice Removal Partners with Lice Clinics of America for Schools Without Lice!

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, we want to keep our children safe in schools across the country, which is why we have partnered with Lice Clinics of America, on the Schools Without Lice program. Our goal is to completely eradicate lice in schools from Florida to California, and everywhere in between. By supporting our educators, we can take another step toward creating schools without lice.

 

 

risky chemical head lice removal products

The Real Risks of Head Lice

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

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.

young boy in airplane seat

Up in the Air: Head Lice on Airplanes

Dealing with head lice can be a major headache for the entire family. According to Savannah head lice removal company Fresh Heads, head lice are relatively harmless. But they can be a hassle to get rid of and may even put a kink in your plans.

One family found this out the hard way. Clay Travis, his wife and their three children were returning home from Paris on a Delta Air Lines flight. Instead of making it home to Nashville as planned, they were in for quite a rude awakening. The crew suspected that their six-year-old son had head lice, and they made a rather extreme decision.

The Delta staff decided to abruptly reroute the flight, landing in Minneapolis. They then had the entire Travis family quarantined on the plane by airline staff. The family was examined and it was confirmed that their son had lice. They were prohibited from boarding another Delta flight until he received head lice treatment.

The airline’s response to this situation has been widely criticized, and it does seem a bit extreme. It’s also troubling that Delta Air Lines doesn’t appear to have a clear policy on passengers with head lice to have guided their decision. They say they were looking out for the safety of their passengers and crew. (Here’s where it’s good to remember that head lice are pesky critters, but they are generally harmless.) While it is technically possible to contract head lice from an airline seat, the risk is overall quite low.

One thing the family may have learned is that they shouldn’t have depended on over-the-counter head lice treatments. Travis admitted that since his sister’s children had recently had lice, he treated his kids with “all of the over-the-counter remedies out there” before departing for their vacation. Unfortunately, that didn’t quite do the trick.

Natural Head Lice Removal

Natural, chemical-free head lice treatment is always the best option. Not only are over-the-counter head lice remedies less effective, they are also extremely toxic and hazardous to your family’s health. Savannah head lice removal center Fresh Heads prides itself on offering strictly non-toxic head lice treatments.

Fresh Heads is the exclusive provider of the revolutionary AirAllé Head Lice Machine. The AirAllé offers lice treatment in a single, comfortable session. It’s far safer and has the highest efficacy rating of any lice treatment on the market. The 3-step process includes:

  • 30 minutes treatment with FDA-cleared AirAllé® machine, a heated-air device used to immediately dehydrate and kill lice and their eggs (nits)
  • A full comb-out to remove all dead head lice and eggs
  • A soothing topical rinse application

Fresh Heads also offers traditional comb-outs and a complete range of all-natural products, including DIY treatment kits and preventative care. For safe and effective head lice removal in the Savannah, Jacksonville or Orlando areas, you can count on Fresh Heads to keep the hardship out of head lice. Call us today schedule an appointment or to learn more about our treatments and products.

Boy with head lice gets a buzz cut

Will a Buzz Cut Get Rid of Head Lice?

It’s not uncommon for parents to reach for the clippers when their child comes home with head lice. But is a buzz cut truly an effective way to get rid of lice? The answer might surprise you! A buzz cut may help with prevention and it might even make the treatment process easier, but it is not an effective treatment for head lice. While the dreaded buzz cut can’t get the job done, using a natural head lice treatment like the FDA-cleared AirAllé machine, however, is clinically proven to be effective.

Buzz Cuts and Head Lice Prevention

Getting a buzz cut will not eliminate lice, but having very short hair is a good preventative measure. Head lice move easier from person to person when there’s something to grab onto, such as long hair. So, having shorter hair or a buzz cut does make the transfer of lice more difficult.

Buzz Cuts and Head Lice Treatment

When an active case of head lice is found on a child, natural head lice treatment is the best option. A buzz cut is not going to solve the problem. Head lice can live and lay nits in even ¼” of hair, so a buzz cut isn’t an effective lice treatment. In fact, a buzz cut can actually make the head lice removal process more difficult. That’s because with a buzz cut, the short hairs stand straight up. This makes it difficult to separate the hair when searching for lice and nits. It also makes it harder to comb for nits, as the comb has little traction with buzzed hair. Unless the hair is completely shaved off, head lice can still survive.

Natural Head Lice Treatment

Buzz cuts and over-the-counter products don’t effectively get rid of head lice. A chemical-free option such as the AirAllé treatment is the most effective tool for removing lice. The AirAllé is an FDA-cleared device that uses heated air to kill lice and nits rather than harsh chemicals. It has been used around the world to provide safe, fast and effective treatment for head lice – even the dreaded “super lice!”

The AirAllé Treatment

The 3-step AirAllé treatment offered at Fresh Heads can be done in about an hour. Our treatment is so effective, we stand behind it with a 45-day re-treatment policy. Here’s what to expect.

STEP 1: Working in sections, one of our trained technicians will begin by gently positioning the AirAllé applicator tip against the client’s scalp. It will be placed underneath the hair, blowing heated air along the scalp and hair shaft. The air flow is a bit higher than that of a hairdryer but at a cooler temperature. The device will be repositioned every 30 seconds until the entire head has been treated.

STEP 2: Once the AirAllé device has effectively killed the lice and eggs through dehydration, our technician will do a post-treatment comb-out. This is necessary to remove the dead lice and eggs that remain on the hair after treatment.

STEP 3: The final step of our signature AirAllé treatment is a post-treatment rinse with dimethicone oil. This step ensures that every last louse and nit has been effectively killed and removed.

To learn more about the treatments offered at Fresh Heads Lice Treatment Centers and to find the nearest location, click here.

young girl hugs kittens and dog

Can My Pet Get Head Lice?

The first thing on parents’ minds when a child comes home with lice is head lice removal. The second is probably containment. It’s natural to worry about head lice spreading to other family members. But what about the family pet? You might be wondering if your dog or cat can get head lice from your child or vice versa.

Can My Pet Get Head Lice?

We are happy to report that, no, your furry friend can’t catch lice from your child and won’t need head lice removal. That’s because lice do not spread from one species to another. Lice happen to be a species-specific ectoparasite.

The lice that humans can carry are called Pediculus humanus capitis. The lice found on dogs is called Trichodected canis or Linognathus Setosus. On cats, the lice found is called Felicola subrostrata. Each of these is a completely different pest that requires the specific blood and body temperatures of the species they survive on.

Even though there are animal-specific lice, they are not commonly found on household pets. They are far more likely to catch fleas than lice. In the rare case that your pet did contract lice, they would not be able to pass it on to any humans in the family. It’s also very unlikely that your pet would be able to transfer human head lice from one family member to another. Head lice simply don’t live very long once they can’t feed off human blood.

Fortunately, all of this means that if your child comes home with lice, head lice removal for your four-legged friend won’t be necessary.

Lice Symptoms for Pets

If you think that your pet contracted species-specific lice, you should contact your veterinarian for a screening. They will be able to check for lice, fleas, ticks, and other ectoparasites. Signs that your pet may have lice include itchiness, scratching, rubbing or biting skin, hair loss and a dry coat.

If your pet is found to have lice, there’s no need to panic that it will spread through your home. Your vet will prescribe the most effective lice removal treatment. Most importantly, don’t try to treat your pet with over the counter medications or pesticides that could harm them.

Head Lice Removal

Now that you know you don’t have to worry about Fido, just check your children periodically for lice. If they or another family member may have head lice, have them screened as soon as possible. Fresh Heads lice treatment centers offer head checks for the entire family. Our technicians will carefully inspect for any signs of head lice. If head lice removal is necessary, we offer a range of treatment options to suit your needs. For an appointment or for more information, please contact us at any of our Jacksonville, Orlando, or Savannah locations!

Jacksonville & Jacksonville Beach: (904) 517-4087
Orlando: (407) 618-1175
Savannah: (912) 988-4099

 

Sources:
https://www.capcvet.org/guidelines/lice/
http://www.aavp.org/wiki/arthropods/insects/hemiptera-bugs/phthiraptera-lice/felicola-subrostratus/

mom and daughter use laptop

4 Reasons Your Child’s Lice Won’t Go Away

Dealing with head lice that just won’t budge? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6-12 million people a year battle head lice. It can be a persistent problem that causes stress and lost time at school and work. It can also become quite costly when multiple treatments are required. If the treatments you’re using haven’t been successful, a visit to a lice removal salon like Fresh Heads can help. But first, here are 4 reasons your head lice problem isn’t going away.

  1. Over the counter treatments don’t work.

The chemical treatments found at drug stores are not only toxic, but they’ve also become ineffective. Most strains of head lice have become resistant to Pyrethroids—the active ingredient found in over the counter lice removal products.

  1. You’re missing some of the nits.

Nitpicking is the process of combing out live lice and then removing each and every egg, or nit. Many lice removal salons offer this service because it’s so tedious for parents to do on their own. The nits can be difficult to spot due to their size, so it’s a hard task to accomplish. If even one tiny nit gets left behind, your infestation can start all over again.

  1. You didn’t check everyone in the house.

All too often, parents assume that only the child who contracted head lice needs to be treated. That’s unlikely because head lice spread rapidly from head to head contact. It’s very common for the entire family to contract head lice, including parents. That’s why it’s important for everyone in the house to be checked and treated as necessary.

  1. Home remedies don’t work.

Many people search online for home remedies, which are not effective and some are downright dangerous. You’ll find remedies that include olive oil, mayonnaise, petroleum jelly and even kerosene. Methods typically involve covering your child’s head with any of these substances and covering with plastic wrap, which is extremely hazardous.

Now that you know what you’ve been doing wrong, what’s the right answer to getting rid of head lice? It’s an FDA-cleared device called AirAllé that is clinically proven to kill lice and 99.2% of nits in a single session. This process uses heated air to dehydrate and kill lice and their eggs—an amazing approach that avoids the risks and hassles of traditional treatments. You can find the AirAllé treatment at Fresh Heads, a lice removal salon serving the Jacksonville and Orlando areas. Call them today to schedule an appointment.

As Seen on The Doctors!

The treatment for super lice was revealed on Sept 21, 2016 on the popular TV show “The Doctors”. Watch and see how Lice Clinics of America’s highly effective 3-step process, including the only FDA-cleared medical device, dehydrates lice and their eggs in a single treatment.