Think twice before you get up close and cosy for a selfie because that head-rubbing contact could allow lice to jump into your hair.
Marcy McQuillan of Nitless Noggins, a lice removal service, says, “I’ve seen a huge increase of lice in teens this year. Typically it’s younger children I treat, because they’re at higher risk for head-to-head contact. But now, teens are sticking their heads together every day to take cell phone pics.”
Naturally, the foreboding selfie PSA got some jeering reactions from the public. But let’s just not get too carried away.
Nancy Gordon, one of the founders of the National Association of Lice Treatment Professionals and CEO Lice Knowing You Inc., says she has also seen a significant increase in lice among older children in the past three to four years – something she says surprises many parents who have heard lice mainly affects children ages 3-12.
“I often say to them, ‘Have you seen the way teenagers greet each other lately? Teenage girls can barely say hi to each other without hugging,’” she said, adding that she couldn’t confirm whether the selfie phenomenon was a direct cause of the lice, but it was definitely possible.
Additionally, Vanessa Mor of Oakland’s Lice Control said she’s also seen an uptick in lice in teens and young adults. She didn’t blame selfies, but didn’t dismiss the idea either.
“That makes a lot of sense. In order to get it, you have to be direct contact – sitting on the same towel, sharing headphones together or using someone else’s hair curler, sharing hats, sweaters and scarves,” Mor mentioned.
On the other hand, there are those who aren’t buying the claim.
Deborah Altschuler of The National Pediculosis Association, an organization that advocates against pesticide treatments for lice, said there has been no data collected on infestations in different age groups, but that it should not be a concern.
“We’ve always heard of older kids getting it, particularly when there are younger siblings bringing it home or outbreaks in college dorms,” she said. “It’s not new and it’s not alarming. It just happens.”
One expert even suggested that this lice issue is a clear sign of someone selling something.
“Wherever these louse salons open a new branch, there always seems to be an epidemic. It’s good for business,” Dr. Richard J. Pollack of the Harvard School of Public Health told NBC News.
Pollack said he’s never heard of evidence that lice is spreading among selfie-snapping teens, or anyone for that matter. Teens almost never have lice, he said.
So … maybe we should start skipping the group selfies just to be safe.
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