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Head Lice Exposure

Will My Kids Get Lice if They Are Exposed to It?

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At some point throughout the day, you or a loved one has probably brushed against another person. For example, on a school bus, at the gym, or during a meeting. A lot of head lice salons will tell you that simply being around someone with head lice is enough to catch it from them. The reality is that head lice are mostly spread by direct head to head contact. That being said, what are the chances of catching head lice if you are exposed to someone who is infested?

What is Exposure?

You brushed against someone in public or you received a letter from your child’s school regarding a head lice infestation. There will always be a risk of head lice exposure. The good news is most of the time it requires hair-to-hair contact.

Contrary to popular belief, Head lice cannot jump. These parasites can only crawl on human hair and scalps – they are physically unable to hop around.

It is also uncommon to catch head lice from objects. The CDC says that contracting lice from exposure through clothes, hats and other attire worn by another person is rare. The same applies to combs, brushes, towels, even beds, and couches. Though the risk is low, it’s best not to share such items and disinfecting them is still recommended.

Steps to Take Being Exposed to Head Lice

There was hair-to-hair contact. Now what?

Most head lice cases aren’t diagnosed until several weeks after exposure, without professional help from head lice salons.

Some cases can be determined with the naked eye immediately upon exposure. If a female louse climbs from one head to another they are typically visible and can be diagnosed straight away. Lice tend to crawl from the hair shaft to the scalp quickly, where they are harder to spot. Once they reach the scalp they begin laying eggs, or nits. Later in the lice’s 30-day lifespan they will crawl back to the hair shaft and prepare to transfer to another person.

Diagnosing lice can take a few weeks without professional help. This is when a lot of nits in the hair are visible and begin hatching. Lice eggs are camouflaged in the hair and can be mistaken for dandruff or dirt. It takes experience, lighting, and tools to spot them early.

Finding the Right Local Head Lice Salon

Thankfully, you can get rid of lice quickly without bombarding your hair with powerful chemicals. At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, we use our revolutionary, FDA-cleared medical device, The AirAllé® Machine to remove head lice and their eggs using only warm air.

The Signature AirAllé treatment at Fresh Heads Lice Removal is a science-based treatment that is proven to work even on pesticide-resistant Super Lice! It eliminates lice and eggs by using a precise combination of heat, airflow, time and technique to dehydrate them. No chemicals, no toxins, and no scary side effects.

Do not settle for ineffective, chemically invasive products or messy in-home treatments when treating lice. Contact the professionals at Fresh Heads today for proven, effective head lice treatment.

Children Jumping

Can head lice jump?

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Everyone has probably asked the common question: “Can head lice jump?” Whether you are worried about catching head lice or a parent fretting that your kids might get an infestation from a schoolmate. Let’s put these concerns to rest through facts – and know when powerful lice removal is necessary.

Head Lice Contact

No, head lice do not jump from one person to another. Instead, they spread from head to head contact – this is the primary way lice spread to new hosts. So, these include vectors such as kids playing with lice-infested children, or an adult dozing off in a bus and brushing against someone else with head lice.

Contracting Lice from Objects

Wearing hats and clothing used by people who have lice is relatively low-risk.  According to the CDC, it’s uncommon to catch lice by wearing clothing, hats and other attire worn by someone with an infestation. The same goes for combs, brushes, and towels. Even beds, carpets, pillows and couches are also low-risk. It is best not to share such items, but it is not a major risk. These items can be disinfected to eliminate all risk. Combs and brushes can be soaked in hot water for 5-10 minutes. Clothing can also be machine washed with hot water and high heat drying cycle.

Popular Myths

Jumping head lice is a common myth. The very anatomy of head lice is optimized for crawling and sticking to hair, not leaping around and lunging over great distances like grasshoppers. So, in short:

  • Lice need to travel from one person’s hair to another.
  • They don’t care if someone’s hair is long or short, clean or dirty – It’s all fair game.
  • You cannot catch lice from animals.
  • When head lice detached from the hair and scalp, they can only live for up to 24 hours before they die.
  • Lice and their eggs can withstand strong dye treatments.
  • Home remedies may not be the most powerful lice removal methods or the most effective.

Hopefully, this information will help lessen unnecessary fears and help guide you towards more accurate assessments based on actual facts. After all, mistaken conclusions might lead to unnecessary treatments – which cost money and can result in unneeded exposure to powerful chemicals or medication. Unfortunately, this happens to a lot of children. When in doubt, consult a lice professional.

When Powerful Lice Removal is Necessary  

If you suspect you have an infestation or worried about someone you care for, then contact Fresh Heads Lice Removal. We have various powerful lice removal methods, which are highly effective yet don’t depend on potentially toxic chemicals. We guarantee a thorough job in detecting and eliminating the parasites. Schedule an appointment today so we can get your scalp and hair cleaned up in no time!

Savannah Morning News Logo

Savannah Morning News Interview

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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

Students Raising Hands in classroom

Preventing Head Lice at School – What You Need to Know

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The CDC reports that 6 million to 12 million children in the U.S., from ages 3 to 11, get head lice every year. Worse yet, chemical-based methods of lice removal are becoming less effective, as Scientific American’s article on the Revenge of the Super Lice says that: “Overexposure to insecticides has bred resistance in the parasites, making it harder than ever to treat infestation.” So the best way to beat the little critters is to prevent head lice in the first place.

In the case of children, school is where they are most often exposed to head lice. Kids and parents alike should take precautionary measures to minimize the risk. Here are some simple steps you can take to prevent head lice:

Avoid Head-to-Head Contact to Prevent Head Lice

Direct head to head contact with a lice-infested person is the primary way lice is spread. So warn kids to avoid that kind of contact while they’re playing, especially if they know that a friend has head lice or it has been found at their school. No one can tell at first glance who has lice, though, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Routine Head Checks

Check on your kid once a week or so to see if there are any signs of infestations. It can take up to 6 weeks for the itching to start, so don’t wait for that. Look for nits, lice eggs attached to strands of hair. Particles that are easily removed are probably dandruff or lint. Nits are glued to the hair shaft at the base and are not easily moved or removed. Lice especially favor the back hairline and behind the ears.

Early detection is essential for early treatment. It can help prevent head lice from spreading to other kids at school.

Click here for a video tutorial on how to check for head lice.

It’s Very Hard to Get Lice by Sharing Clothes, Hats, Etc.

It is actually uncommon for lice to transfer to another person by sharing clothing, hats and other attire with someone who has lice. It is also extremely rare for lice to be spread via combs, brushes, towels, bedding, carpets, pillows or couches.

With that said, it’s still a safe practice to avoid sharing such items like this with someone who has lice. It’s not a major risk, but it can happen. Items that have been in contact with lice-infested individuals can be disinfected simply. Combs and brushes can be soaked in hot water for 5-10 minutes. Clothing can be machine washed with hot water and high heat drying cycle.

Get in Touch

Worried about a head lice outbreak? Broach the subject with your Parent-Teacher Association, talk about it with teachers or nurses. Prevention is made much easier when others are in on it, especially if they can educate the other kids on how to avoid head lice. The risk of infestation can drastically go down when everyone’s involved.

Know That EVERYONE Can get Head Lice Regardless of Wealth or Cleanliness

Parents who know their kids have lice might be ashamed to bring it up or ask for help from the school nurse or other parents. Affected kids themselves might feel ashamed about it and hide their symptoms as long as possible. So it’s important, especially for children, not to look down on those affected with head lice or treat them badly. Those with infestations shouldn’t think less of themselves either, since it’s a treatable condition that nearly everyone goes through in their life.

Being open about the subject will help prevention and make it easier for those affected to ask for the treatment they need.

Contact a Professional Lice Treatment Clinic if You Find Lice

If you don’t detect any lice, then you’ve done a good job at prevention. But if you detect any lice or nits, call Fresh Heads today to schedule an appointment. We remove lice and their eggs in about 90 minutes, guaranteed, with our FDA-cleared, 100% chemical-free AirAllé machine!

How To Prevent and Treat Head Lice

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Our owner Mandy Ottesen was on News4Jax this morning in Jacksonville this morning to explain the best ways to prevent and treat head lice. With the new school year starting up, now is the time to be on the lookout for head lice!

Girls in halloween costumes

Preventing Head Lice this Halloween

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Imagine creepy, blood-sucking critters invading your home this Halloween. No, it’s not some scary movie plot. It’s head lice, and lice treatment centers around the country report seeing a spike in cases this time of year. Here are some professional tips on preventing head lice in your household this Halloween.

How Are Lice Spread?

Lice are almost always spread among children through head-to-head contact like when sharing a bed or playing in close proximity.

Contrary to popular belief, lice are not typically spread by sharing items. Head lice must feed on human blood in order to survive. An adult head louse will die within 24 to 48 hours of being off a human head, and nymphs can only live for several hours without feeding. Nits must be kept warm by the scalp, and are therefore not viable when off of a human head.

For all of these reasons, it is not very likely that lice will spread by way of inanimate objects. However, it is not impossible, and therefore basic cleaning of costumes, wigs, bedding, carpets, upholstered furniture, hairbrushes, stuffed animals, hair ties, and clothing should be done whenever head lice are found in the home.

Keeping Costumes Critter-Free

During Halloween, lice can spread as kids try on different costumes at stores and at friends’ houses. When you bring home a new or borrowed costume, try these methods to reduce the chance of spreading head lice:

  • Put costumes in a sealed bag for 48 hours before you wear them. Lice can’t survive longer than this without blood from the human scalp.
  • Alternatively, place new or borrowed costumes in a hot dryer for at least 45 minutes before they are worn. High heat for an extended period of time can kill head lice. Be sure to check the labels first to avoid damaging your costume.

Fright-Free Wigs

Halloween costumes with wigs, hats, masks, and headbands are all popular among children. Here are some ways of preventing head lice from spreading with these items.

  • Encourage your kids not to share items that are worn directly on the head such as wigs, hats, and headbands.
  • When purchasing items for the head that are not in a sealed package, avoid trying them on right away. Place them in a sealed bag for 48 hours, as suggested above.

Always Check for Creepy Crawlers

Another step in preventing head lice is doing frequent head checks. Check your child thoroughly for head lice if they’ve shared a costume or have gone to a sleepover. Here’s how to do it:

  • Start checking your child’s scalp by parting the hair in multiple places. Look especially closely at the nape of the neck and behind the ears.
  • Check for any movement in the hair, especially when shining a light on it.
  • Look for lice and their nits. Lice are the size of sesame seeds and white to grayish in color. Nits are tiny and hard to spot. They are white or beige in color and feel like a grain of sand.
  • If you can’t tell if it’s lice or dandruff, the biggest difference is that dandruff will easily brush off. Nits are glued to the hair shaft and harder to remove.

Steer Clear of Terrifying Treatments

If you do detect head lice on your child, step away from dangerous over the counter remedies. These pesticide-style treatments are not only proven to be highly toxic, but they have an extremely low efficacy rating. The active ingredients in many of these products are lindane and permethrin—both scientifically shown to be carcinogenic.

Treatment That’s a Treat

Instead of treating your child with tricky pesticides, visit Fresh Heads. We’re proud to offer strictly chemical-free treatments. Our signature AirAllé treatment is FDA-cleared and has one of the highest efficiency ratings of any lice treatment out there. It brilliantly utilizes heated air to dehydrate and kill lice and their eggs. The treatment can be completed in about an hour, so your kids can get back to having Halloween fun ASAP.

head lice closeup

Preventing Head Lice at Summer Camp

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It’s that time of year when you pack up your kids and ship them off to summer camp. They’ll spend their days swimming, playing games and sitting around the campfire. You may have thought about the chance of them getting sick or injured while they’re away. You probably haven’t thought much about preventing head lice, though.

Unfortunately, head lice at summer camp is frequent concern. According to the American Camp Association, one of the most common calls to their crisis hotline each year is from camps with questions about head lice. And a recent study from the University of Michigan Mott Children’s Hospital found that head lice was a significant burden that both campers and their counselors faced. Many camps have a no-nit policy, meaning your child will be sent home if they are found to have lice. Here are some tips to help prevent head lice for your camper this summer.

Talk to your child about head lice. Teach them how to identify head lice symptoms and remind them to avoid any direct head-to-head contact before they leave for camp.

Use preventative products. There are many non-toxic products available that help prevent head lice. Fresh Heads carries sprays, shampoos and conditioners that contain products like essential oils that help repel head lice. Pack these products along with sunscreen and other personal care items so your camper remembers to use them daily.

Hair matters. For boys, keeping hair short is best. For girls, keeping hair tied back in a braid or bun can help in preventing head lice from spreading from head to head.

Head checks. No one wants to be the one responsible for an outbreak, so it’s important to give your camper a thorough head check before sending them to camp. Some camps will also perform a head check on site as campers arrive. You will want to do another check when your child returns home to make sure he or she isn’t bringing head lice home with them.

Even when you do all that you can to try to prevent head lice, it can still happen to the best of us. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the camp’s head lice policy before sending your child. Be sure that your camper knows that head lice is nothing to be ashamed of and that anyone can get it.

If your camper does come home with head lice, the quickest solutions is the FDA-cleared AirAllé treatment available at Fresh Heads. For more information about head lice prevention and head lice treatment, visit our Facts and FAQ page.

kids splash adult with water at camp

Head Lice Don’t Take Summers Off!

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The days are getting longer, the temperatures are heating up and summer vacation is right around the corner. Everyone’s ready to take a break from the routine, and kids are looking forward to spending carefree days running around outdoors with their friends. The last thing on anyone’s mind is lice removal. But unfortunately, head lice don’t take a break for summer.

Even though kids are no longer around each other in school every day, cases of head lice tend to be more prevalent in the summer months. Kids go away to summer camp, have sleepovers more frequently and spend much more time in close contact with one another. Adding to that is the fact that head lice tend to thrive in summer’s warm and humid conditions. This all increases their chance of catching head lice.

We’ve put together a few tips to help you reduce the chances of having to deal with head lice removal this summer.

Avoid Head to Head Contact

Make sure your kids understand that the best way to prevent getting lice is to avoid head-to-head contact.

Be Prepared at Sleepovers and Camps.

Since head lice travel quickest by direct contact, sleepovers make it very easy for them to get passed around. The kids can take some simple precautions but still have fun.  Send them with their own pillows, PJs and hair care items.

Do Regular Checks for Head Lice.

Lice removal is easiest when the pesky bugs are caught early. It can save you a lot of time and hassle if you regularly check your child’s hair, especially when they return from sleepovers or camps. Use a fine-tooth comb to thoroughly go through your child’s hair to search for lice and nits. It’s easiest to spot lice in bright natural light, and a magnifying glass can be helpful.

If you do find that your child has head lice, stay calm and come up with a good treatment plan. Fresh Heads is a science and research-based lice treatment center that offers easy and effective treatment options. Trust us with your family’s lice removal needs, and you’ll be back to having summer fun before you know it!

To Selfie or Not To Selfie: That Is The Question

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The head-to-head/hair-to-hair contact that is touted as the most credible cause of the spread of head lice is a primary characteristic of a “selfie”.    Teens love to be in selfies.  The jury is still out, but it might be something worth considering… “Selfies” may be contributing to an increase in head lice infestations among teens.

Head lice infestations have, historically, not been a teen issue.  Usually, teens with head lice have most likely gotten them from a younger sibling.  Unfortunately, teens tend to be pretty closed-lip when they do have head lice.  Furthermore, teens with head lice who would otherwise opt out of being in someone else’s selfie, succumb to peer pressure to be part of the photo op.  It is possible for unsuspecting teens to be sharing more than just a memory.

Head lice experts are divided on the issue of selfies as lice spreaders.  Some say it makes sense; others say no data-no concern.  While it might not be a research-proven fact – yet – it might make sense to limit your selfies to yourself.

Contact Mandy Ottesen and her team of professionals by calling 904-517-4087 or by visiting www.freshheadsliceremoval.com.

 

screaming boy needs head lice removal

What are the Symptoms of Head Lice?

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Discovering that your child has Head Lice is can be shocking, there is no doubt about it.  Every day, Fresh Heads Lice Removal gets calls from distraught mothers who are asking, ‘How Did I Miss This???’  The simple truth is, for the first week or so, head lice can be difficult to detect.  In fact, the majority of the families who are treated in our Lice Treatment Center have had lice for at least 10 days before it is discovered.  Earlier detection is a huge advantage in the battle against head lice, and understanding the symptoms of head lice infestation is quite helpful.  Here is a list of the most common symptoms of head lice:

  1. A crawling sensation on your scalp—Many people will notice a crawling sensation before they begin itching.
  2. Itching—Although it usually doesn’t happen immediately, eventually your head will start to itch if you have head lice.  The bugs are biting your head every 4-6 hours (YIKES!), and the more bites you get, the more your skin will react.
  3. A Rash at the Nape of the Neck—Some people with head lice will develop a rash at the nape of the neck, and many will seek the advice of their dermatologist.  Usually, the dermatologist will make the head lice diagnosis, and send them on to Fresh Heads Lice Treatment Center.
  4. Irritability or Difficulty Sleeping—Left untreated, head lice infestations can become severe enough to disrupt your sleep.
  5. Sores on the scalp—Due to excessive scratching, a person with a more severe or untreated case of head lice may develop open sores on the head.  This secondary infection is the only recognized medical condition that can come from having head lice.

Of course, it is best to catch a lice infestation before it begins, and the best way to do that is to check your children’s heads frequently.  Fresh Heads Lice Removal recommends that you check heads once per week.  If you think you have found lice, or are unsure about what you are looking for, please call Fresh Heads for a professional lice check.  Taking care of the problem immediately at a professional lice treatment clinic will drastically reduce the chances of having it spread to the rest of the family.