Jason Biggs’ wife among rising numbers of head lice victims as $1.3 billion treatment market soars

Head lice infestations have exploded worldwide, with the treatment market expected to reach $1.3 billion in the next five years, according to experts.

ResearchAndMarkets.com’s Lice Treatment Global Market Report 2024 shows that there is a ‘global increase in lice infestations’.

In the US, the CDC notes that there is “no reliable data” on how many people get head lice each year, but an estimated six to twelve million children between the ages of three and 11 are affected by the tiny insects.

The report suggests numbers could rise as lice have become ‘resistant’ to older chemical-based treatments. And no one is immune.

Most recently, Jason Biggs’ actress Jenny Mollen brought the topic of head lice into the spotlight after discovering an infestation midway through a commercial flight.

This means there is an increased demand for new environmentally friendly formulations and ‘methods that can tackle resistant lice strains’.

Eliana Ortega, the founder of Bigger than lice – a New York-based home head lice removal service – told DailyMail.com that it has seen a “significant increase” in lice infestation cases over the past two years.

Looking at possible reasons for this spike, she says: “I think this increase is related to recent population growth and immigration.”

Recently, Jason Biggs actress Jenny Mollen brought the topic of head lice back into the spotlight after discovering an infestation midway through a commercial flight

Ms Ortega added: “Public schools are now overcrowded, with approximately 35 percent more students in each class compared to previous years.

‘This situation makes sense because head lice are transmitted through head-to-head contact and young children often do not maintain personal space.’

In a recent Instagram video, Jenny Mollen put the topic of head lice in the spotlight after discovering an infestation midway through a commercial flight.

In an apparent attempt to prevent the spread of lice, the Crazy, Stupid Love actress revealed in a post that she opted for a questionable solution: a plastic bag over her head.

Responding to critics who criticized her for boarding a plane with lice, Ms. Mollen explained in a second video that she was unaware of the infestation until she was already on the plane.

“I thought I was going through perimenopause,” she explained.

She has since undergone treatment, along with her family and several others who were exposed.

ResearchAndMarkets.com’s report on the head lice treatment market notes that there is an “influx of breakthrough solutions and techniques, including advanced lice combs with innovative features designed to make lice elimination easier and more effective.”

Manufacturers have also embraced natural remedies in response to increasing demand for safer, chemical-free treatment options for families.

The TikTok account, whatifshow, recently revealed that as many as 20,000 tiny insects can live on your head after a month, many of which can resist treatment

In terms of geographic insights, the researchers found that North America is the largest market, while Asia Pacific is considered the fastest growing region.

The TikTok account, whatifshow, recently revealed that as many as 20,000 tiny insects can live on your head after a month, many of which can resist treatment.

These blood-sucking parasites are eliminated within nine to 10 days with the FDA-approved permethrin lotion and a fine-toothed comb that catches the lice and eggs.

However, by ignoring the bugs, they can turn your scalp into their new home, which can lead to infections.

You can contract lice by sharing tools such as brushes, combs or towels with someone who has an infestation.

And they are most common among primary school children who pass the insects to each other while playing.

These little critters can fly and jump from person to person, so if a child is infested with lice, the rest of the family is likely to be too.

Symptoms include extreme itching of the scalp, a crawling sensation on the scalp, and sores or scabs on the scalp from scratching.

You may also see strands of hair covered in small white eggs, known as nits, that appear yellow.

A week later, adult lice will appear and crawl throughout your scalp.

Extreme infestations left untreated for long periods of time can lead to toxic shock syndrome.

The fully grown and developed adult insect is the size of a sesame seed.

It has six legs and is yellow-brown to grayish-white in color. They can live on your scalp for up to 30 days.

‘Now it’s starting to itch. You would scratch to try to rid yourself of that horrible itch, but this would only leave you with painful stitches that would put you at risk of getting infected,” the TikToker said in the video.

Adult lice can lay about six to 10 nits per day if they find a host, and the eggs take about nine days to hatch.

If left untreated, these nits can multiply by the tens of thousands.

“You could end up transporting as many as 20,000 of these unwanted hitchhikers, including treatment-resistant super lice,” the narrator said.

Lice droppings are another nightmare of this parasitic pest.

Your scalp starts to smell because of the bacteria that accumulate on the lice, on their eggs and in and on their feces.

At this point, the person’s sleep is disturbed by itching and the bad smell coming from his head.

Australian infant and child resuscitation experts recently debunked the biggest myths and misconceptions about head lice, including how they cannot live anywhere other than in the human head and are not transmitted by jumping or flying from person to person.

Keeping your locks clean and shiny will not deter head lice as they ‘do not discriminate’ and are not the result of dirty hair or poor hygiene.

CPR Kids does not recommend insecticides for treating head lice.

“Insecticides can have even more serious health consequences than lice themselves because they can cause skin irritation,” the report said.

Finally, keeping your children away from school or daycare will not cause a head lice infestation and CPR Kids says eradication is more effective.

“Eradicating head lice is most effective when schools and the community work together to treat an infestation, for example by implementing a Nitbuster program,” they said.