New clinic in El Paso treats lice

A new business has popped up in central El Paso that may be a good resource for parents dealing with children who have lice.

Lice Clinics of America recently opened its first El Paso location to help parents get rid of the parasitic insect that causes itching and scratching.

A head louse can be found on the head, eyebrows and eyelashes and feeds on human blood.

Pedro Gonzalez, a lice educator and operations manager of the El Paso business said the itching doesn’t begin until four to six weeks after lice ends up in one’s head.

“If a parent is checking their kid’s head weekly, they’re going to be able to catch it,” Gonzalez said.

The Centers for Disease Control reports six to twelve million infestations happen every year in the U.S. among children 3 to 11 years of age, but Gonzalez said they see clients of all ages.

A lice nit can lay five to ten eggs a day. Gonzalez said nits like to gather near the nape of the neck or behind the ears.

Treatments vary from $20 to $170 at the clinic.

Parents can opt for an at-home treatment or take their child for a treatment with the clinic’s AirAlle device. Gonzalez said it’s FDA approved and dehydrates the lice in one treatment.

The device lets out hot air to kill the lice, but it has to be done in sections, then the hair is combed out. The treatment takes about an hour and a half.

Gonzalez said in some cases, lice can not be killed with over-the-counter medications because it has evolved and built a resistance.

Lice Clinics of America is located at 6590 Montana Avenue. Click here for more information.

The clinic offered this tip has a preventative measure:

– Combine 10-20 drops of tea tree oil with 8oz. of water

– Put in spray bottle

– Spray on child’s head, hair, shoulders