Fighting Lice in Paradise
Hawaii may be paradise, but that doesn’t mean its residents are immune from head lice. Barrie Desmond of Kihei on the island of Maui found out about the limitations of conventional lice treatment the way most mainland parents do—by trying and failing to rid her children of head lice.
“My first experience with ukus [term for head lice in Hawaii] was when I got the dreaded call from day camp that my daughter had lice,” Barrie said. “When I left work to get her, she was sitting outside in the line of shame with seven other kids.”
She took immediate action. “I went straight to the drugstore, did the treatment, used the cheap plastic comb, and thought I was done,” Barrie said. “The next day I took her back to day camp, and was sent home again—they found nits! Day two was the same, and so was day three.”
Finding a Better Solution for Fighting Lice in Paradise
“It was that moment that I felt I needed to find a better solution for myself and for other families fighting lice in Hawaii,” Barrie said. “I scoured the Internet and came across Lice Clinics of America. I was so excited about the AirAllé FDA-cleared medical device for getting rid of ukus.”
Then came a surprise. “I called my cousin Lori for advice. As I started to explain what Lice Clinics of America is all about, while trying to convince her that we should do this business together,” Barrie said, “my cousin politely interrupted me and said ‘Barrie, I know all about Lice Clinics of America. I met with some of their top people this April, and I think it’s an amazing idea.’”
A Match Made in Paradise for Fighting Lice
Barrie and her cousin opened Lice Clinics of America Hawaii in 2016. The clinic uses the AirAllé, an FDA-cleared medical device clinically proven to kill live lice and 99.2 percent of eggs in a single treatment. The device uses carefully controlled warm air to dehydrate lice and eggs, uses no chemicals, and the service is guaranteed.
Lice Clinics of America
Lice Clinics of America has quickly become the largest network of lice clinics in the world, with some 230 clinics across the United States and around the world. Part of this growth can be attributed to the fact that most head lice in the United States and many other countries are now resistant to over-the-counter treatments commonly recommended. A 2016 study in the Journal of Medical Entomology found that most lice in the United States are now resistant to the chemicals used in these products.
“Our community has been dealing with ukus for decades,” Barrie said. “It is very common and choices for treatment are limited. Parents are thrilled to find a fast, safe, effective solution.”
Treatment using the AirAllé medical device is available exclusively at a Lice Clinics of America treatment center. Certified operators of the AirAllé device staff all clinics, and most treatments take about 60-90 minutes depending on the length of the person’s hair and the extent of the infestation.
“I’m so excited to bring Lice Clinics of America and the AirAllé device to our islands,” Barrie said. “It’s a great way to help families through a difficult experience and a wonderful business to be involved with.”
Find one of our professional lice clinics near you using the clinic locator.
