About Head Lice
Lice Facts:
- Lice can't jump or fly from person to person
- Head lice can affect anyone, no matter how clean they may be
- Head lice receives their nutrients from the blood of their human host at least once per day
- Head lice cannot survive for more than a day or so at room temperature without feeding on blood
- Head lice cannot burrow into the scalp
- It is possible to get rid of lice
If your child has come home with lice, they have crawled from one infested head to another or, hitched a ride with a hat, comb or hair accessory. Nap time at day care or nursery school is a very common place for lice transmission, but so is the rough and tumble world of recess. Lice don't move fast, but do move on a 24-hour schedule, taking advantage of any situation to spread. Lice bite and can leave small, red welts on the scalp, behind the ears and on the nape of the neck. Head lice live and lay their eggs (nits) about 1/4-inch (0.64cm) from the scalp, on individual hairs. Nits are resistant to most types of chemical attack and are firmly stuck to the hair to avoid being dislodged with anything but firm force.
Working with Biology to Treat Lice
Making decisions about treating head lice is best approached with an understanding of the biology of the louse. When exploring lice treatment options, consider the life-cycle of the head louse and when they're most vulnerable. Adult head lice are able to lay eggs as soon as they reach full size and continue doing so for their entire 30-day life span, resulting in as many as 100 nits per louse. This means that even if you get rid of all the adult lice, there will be plenty of viable nits and immature nymphs to take their place and repeat the cycle if they are not removed or killed during the initial lice treatment process.
However, the news isn't all bad. Head lice feed on human blood and will quickly die without their food source. Because of this, you can get rid of lice that have infected stuffed animals, clothes and bedding by tightly enclosing them in a plastic bag for two weeks. This ensures all the nits will hatch and subsequently starve.
In short, the most effective head lice treatment is diligent killing and/or removal of all louse life stages as soon as possible.
Does the LouseBuster treatment really kill head lice and their eggs?
No treatment that we know of kills 100% of head lice and eggs in a single treatment, but the LouseBuster kills 95% of head lice and 99% live eggs in a single treatment. It is especially effective with live eggs, where the kill rate achieved by experienced LouseBuster users averages over 99%. The fact that the LouseBuster kills eggs as well as hatched lice is critically important. We know of no other treatment method on the market that approaches this level of overall effectiveness with one single treatment application. Feel free to look up effectiveness of other head lice treatments as you will find most do not publish their data.
How is it different than a regular hair dryer and/or flat iron?
Good question. The idea behind it is the same: heated air; but there are 3 important differences with the LB device and those differences are KEY to being highly effective:
A regular hair dryer:
- Is often too hot (the lice and their eggs need to be exposed to 30 seconds of heated air in each area. If you hold a regular hair dryer against the head for that long, it will most likely burn you. The LB device temperature is very carefully controlled at 58 degrees C and 138 degrees F
- Has an airflow that is too low, the LB has a controlled airflow of about 3 times as high as a regular hair dryer (analogy of hand dryers in public restrooms)
- Mats the hair down, the LB applicator tip is specifically designed to direct the airflow under the mass of hair, towards the roots and the scalp where lice feed and lay their eggs.
What happens to the lice and eggs?
They either drop off or remain in the hair. That is one of the reasons we provide a thorough combing after treatment.
What about combing?
Effective combing remains an important component in the battle against head lice.
Up until now, combing has been the most effective and safe treatment against head lice. It still is an effective and safe method - that doesn't change however, it requires hours of combing and often second and third follow-up sessions are required. The LouseBuster shortens this process: one treatment followed by a comb-out on the same day is all you need to get rid of head lice.
Combing is part of our LouseBuster treatment, can be used to diagnose lice and can be used as a safe, alternative lice removal method.
Who provides the treatment?
Because the LouseBuster device is an FDA-cleared medical device, those who will be operating it must be trained and certified in its safe and effective operation.
Will the LouseBuster finally end head lice?
That would be nice! The treatment will effectively end a current case of head lice. But lice are a common condition especially for school-age children. Wherever children are in close contact, lice can be present and can be spread. Direct head-to-head contact is the primary way to contract a case of lice and so we continue to recommend regular screening, avoiding direct contact with someone known to have lice, not sharing hats, hair brushes and other personal items, and keeping long hair tied up in ponytails or braids.
Are there contraindications?
Very few! The LouseBuster device cannot be used to treat people who cannot sense temperature or pain; who cannot communicate physical discomfort; who have open head wounds, sores, or visible signs of skin or scalp abnormalities or who have received radiation treatment of the head within the last 6 months; or those who have cranial or facial implants.
Can the unit burn your head?
There were no incidences of burns in the clinical studies. The heated air can feel hot to people with heat sensitivities. The device will only be used on children over the age of 4 and on people who can communicate effectively with the operator in terms of how they are sensing the warm air on their scalps. Operators must be trained and certified in the use of the LouseBuster in order to ensure its safe and effective operation.
What are the risks?
Larada Sciences has focused on maximizing the safety and effectiveness of the LouseBuster treatments while minimizing the possibility of any risks. To date, no adverse effects have been reported; no one has been hurt by this treatment. However, as is the case with all medical devices, there are some risks which although they have been reduced to levels that are as low as reasonably practicable are still possible when the LouseBuster is used but this will only happen with negligence just like anything else.
It is for use only on clients with dry, untangled hair that can be easily combed or picked and whose scalp and hair are clean and free of hair and scalp treatment products, including conditioners, creams, gels, dressings, or oil-containing products.
Hair Whisperers Makes Treating Lice Simple and Affordable
Hair Whisperers realizes treating lice is only one step when a family is invaded by a head lice infestation. Our site offers tips on how to treat and clean your home after a lice outbreak, simple tips to help prevent head lice, and a checklist on what families should do after a child or family member has been diagnosed with an active case of head lice.
Call (310) 990-1654 for details about our lice treatment, and let us help you get rid of lice with our safe, natural and professional head lice removal service.
In addition to in-home lice treatment appointments, we offer professional on-site lice screenings at schools in and around Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties.