Local mom is sharing her expertise as managing director of the all-new Lice Clinics of America in Doylestown
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
We’re all familiar with the dreaded “L” word. No, we don’t mean “love” when it gets tossed around on the second date. We’re talking about “lice,” those pesky, miniscule creatures that wreak havoc on hair, homes and lives. More than 12 million cases of head lice are reported in the United States each year, and as children prepare for a summer of camping and sleepovers galore, there’s unfortunately no concrete way to prevent these critters from setting up shop in even the cleanest of heads.
Thankfully, one local mom is showing these little guys who’s boss. As the manager of the all-new Lice Clinics of America location in Doylestown, Croydon’s Lori Schleinkofer is using her years of bug battling expertise to help rid her Bucks County community of the tiny terrors.
“I have three kids, so I dealt with lice many times,” she said.
It’s hard to believe, but Schleinkofer wasn’t always the cool, calm and collected expert she is today. The first time her kids came home with lice, she didn’t know where to begin.
“I couldn’t figure out where they were coming from,” she reflected.
In true mom fashion, Schleinkofer successfully rid her kids of the lice before immersing herself in extensive research. Soon, she had her lice care regimen down to such a science, fellow moms began requesting her help in treating their own kids.
“I charged them a cup or pot of coffee depending on how bad it was,” she laughed. “I was the lice lady.”
Without meaning to, Schleinkofer had found her life’s calling. For her, there was just something rewarding about being the solution to a problem that continues to plague families nationwide. So when the opportunity came along to serve as managing director of the new Lice Clinics of America in Doylestown, it was a no brainer to take advantage of it.
The largest network of urgent care lice treatment clinics in the country, Lice Clinics of America has treated 350,000 cases of head lice both nationwide and around the globe.
According to Schleinkofer, the clinic prides itself on its AirAllé treatment, a “one and done” process that uses heated air to dehydrate lice and their eggs, also known as nits. After the FDA-cleared device is used, dead lice and eggs are combed out before a soothing topical rinse is applied. The three-step process, which usually takes an hour, is designed to rid the hair of all debris so parents don’t need to worry about over-the-counter shampoos once home.
Throughout the treatment, which can be stressful for an already nervous child, games, IPads and movies are provided to help them feel more at home.
A Do-It-Yourself Kit is also available, which includes all treatment products required to kill head lice and remove nits. Though this option is conducted over a 10-day period that includes a two-hour comb-out procedure every other day, it may be more cost effective than the AirAllé for some families. Still, Schleinkofer explained this process also rids the hair of all debris, alleviating the stress of dealing with not-always-effective drugstore options.
In addition to lice removal, the clinic offers prevention tips for kids such as not sharing hats, as well as parents, whom Schleinkofer encourages to conduct regular hair and clothes checks. But after years of firsthand experience, she understands lice can latch onto the heads of the most diligent families. When kids spend ample time with peers in close quarters, whether it’s at a sleepover or in the classroom, sometimes there’s simply no way around it.
To help ensure a single case doesn’t evolve into a community-wide infestation, Schleinkofer stressed the clinic often takes same-day appointments. The goal is to remove these highly contagious bugs quickly and painlessly to help families return to normal life as soon as possible.
Lice Clinics of America is located at 275 S. Main St., Doylestown. Visit liceclinicsofamerica.com/landing/bucks-county or call 267–930–5423. ••
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
