Lice Spread Through Selfies
In today’s social media-driven world, snapping selfies is commonplace. But did you know while you’re perfecting that angle or capturing a memory, lice may be spreading from head to head?
You might think lice are a childhood problem or something only spread through shared hats or hairbrushes. But we have personally seen many cases of lice that has spread from head-to-head contact that seemed innocent. We especially see this among teens and young adults who love to snap selfies.
How Selfies Contribute to Lice Spreading
Head lice don’t jump or fly, they crawl onto your hair shaft to get to your scalp. That means they need direct contact to move from one head to another. When you squeeze in close for a selfie? Heads touch. Hair touches. That’s all lice need to transfer to someone else.
It doesn’t take long either. If someone in the group unknowingly has lice, those few seconds of close contact are enough time for a louse to make its way onto your head.
Why This Is a Growing Problem
Selfies Are Not Going Away
Social media is here to stay and with that our phones are designed with selfies in mind. Teens and young adults take more photos than ever, often multiple selfies a day, sometimes with different people. This poses a problem for lice spreading.
Lack of Awareness
Most people don’t realize lice can spread this way, so there’s little precaution. By spreading awareness about selfies being correlated with lice the hope is that less people get exposed.
Social Norms
Asking someone to stay back during a group selfie might seem awkward, even if you’re concerned about lice. So what should you do?
- Avoid head-to-head contact: Try to keep a bit of space between heads, or tilt toward the camera instead of each other.
- Stay aware during outbreaks: If there’s a lice outbreak at your school, camp, or among your circle, be extra cautious when taking selfies.
- Check your hair regularly: Early detection makes lice easier to treat and prevents spreading.
- Educate your group: No need to panic, but it helps if everyone knows lice can spread this way, so you can take simple precautions together.
If you end up with lice, don’t panic! Our Hair Fairies have been removing lice for over 25 years, and they are here to provide you with all of the resources to keep taking selfies, lice-free!
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