Broaching the Subject: Dealing with Lice Stigma

As if having a head lice infestation in itself isn’t bad enough, young children and adults alike also have to deal with the stigma attached to it. Getting head lice can be quite the troubling time, what with the incessant itching and the struggle to eliminate them from the scalp. These pesky parasites cause more trouble than they’re worth, and what’s worse is that most people don’t hold a very high opinion of those who are inflicted by them. This means that the children and adults who do end up having head lice tend to hide their problem, creating feelings of alienation, particularly within kids of school-going age. This is not a pleasant situation to be in—the tiny bugs in your head are frustrating enough without adding a social stigma into the mix!

Why the Stigma?

While a fairly common occurrence, most individuals have certain misconceptions about these blood-sucking parasites. The one that mainly contributes to this lice stigma is the fact that a lot of people believe that such infestations are a result of poor personal hygiene. While this is not the case, it certainly serves to alter their attitude toward someone who is suffering from the affliction. Of course, head lice are essentially tiny insects crawling around in one’s head—the disgust factor is to be expected. However, it’s important to register the fact that head lice are a fairly common occurrence, and can happen to literally anyone. The core of the issue is that the stigma against people with head lice is grounded in misinformation and a lack of education on the topic, leading to vastly skewed perspectives that shape a negative demeanor towards people with head lice.

How Can This Problem Be Addressed?

If there is a gap in information that is resulting in unwarranted stigma, then this gap must be bridged in order to address the issue on a basic level. It’s important to help people understand that head lice, while unseemly and disgusting, are a regular occurrence, and have no bearings on a person’s sense of personal hygiene. Head lice do not discriminate—they can happen to any individual, regardless of gender, hygiene, or socioeconomic status. The poor get lice, as do the rich—if you’re in the right environment, there’s really no escaping it. It’s important to support kids and adults suffering from head lice, rather than ridicule and stigmatize them. If you or a loved one is suffering from head lice, invest in a professional lice removal service as the answer to any lice problems! At Lice Troopers, we provide residents of Weston and Plantation with centrally located lice treatment centers which offer affordable and effective organic lice removal services. Give us a call at 800-403-5423 to book an appointment!