Nitpicky about ousting lice

Panic (noun): A sudden overwhelming fear, with or without cause, that produces hysterical or irrational behavior, and that often spreads quickly through a group of persons or animals.

This definition is written on a chalkboard prominently positioned on a shelf in Lice Clinics of America in Birmingham.

Under the definition, it reads “Solution — AirAllé.” 

Panic is the No. 1 way families typically enter Lice Clinics of America in Birmingham, said owner Renae Byers. The clinic is in Cahaba Heights behind Starbucks, and Byers said the panic typically stems from parents using treatments which are becoming more and more ineffective against lice.

When a child comes home with lice, most parents reach for traditional over-the-counter treatments such as Rid or Nix. But these days, those don’t always work, Byers said.

“You can’t kill lice out there by yourself,” she said. “There is nothing on the market that will kill lice, except me.”

Lice are growing increasingly resistant to the active chemicals in go-to treatments, and people can end up spending hundreds or thousands of dollars trying to rid their child and family of lice. Rather than the typical shampoos, Lice Clinics of America uses the AirAllé machine, which uses hot air to dehydrate and kill lice and nits.

“Ours is one and done,” Byers said, who purchased the Lice Clinics of America Cahaba Heights location from a friend in April. “You miss one day of work, one day of school, and it’s over with. It’s eradicated. It’s done.”

A full treatment includes the AirAllé machine, a comb out and a rinse. The AirAllé is about 99.2 percent effective, Byers said, and the comb out and rinse make the treatment 100 percent effective.

Clients go home with the rinse on, a step that means they can clean their home without worrying lice will jump back on their head, she added.

In addition to the full treatment, which costs about $175, Byers said they also work with families on a budget.

“We do offer successful treatment within everyone’s budget,” she said. “That’s important because not everyone can afford $175.”

Cheaper treatments include oils and nit combs available at the clinic, and take longer to get rid of the lice, Byers said.

While these options can take up to three weeks to kill lice, Byers said she believes it is important to provide the options.

As a pediatric nurse, Byers said they work to provide a family- and child-friendly environment in the clinic.

“If we have to we sit on the floor, or we let children play with the equipment,” Byers said. “It is very family-friendly, very small-child friendly. We don’t really have any issues, they seem comfortable.”

The AirAllé machine and other equipment is also portable, meaning the clinic can travel if a patient needs to stay home, she said.

One of the important parts of lice prevention and treatment is education, Byers said. Most people do not know that lice are becoming resistant to traditional treatments, and they will end up spending money on ineffective treatments, she said.

“Don’t waste your money on products that don’t work,” she said. “You wouldn’t believe how much money people spend.”

For more information about Lice Clinics of America, go to lcabirmingham.com. The clinic is at 3118 Bellwood Drive, Suite 102, behind the Cahaba Heights Starbucks.