This month we’re interviewing Marnie Murray, Co-Founder and Owner of Lice Clinics Upstate NY (formerly known as Naughty Nits)!
Can you tell us a bit about Naughty Nits and what inspired you to start it?
I started the business in 2013 when my kids got head lice. I quickly learned that the over the counter products were highly ineffective so I came up with an organic, alternate treatment using an FDA cleared medical device that works by dehydration. The topical products such as Rid, Nix, Fairy Tales, Listerine, and Spinosad (to name a few), do not kill lice eggs and many adult lice survive those treatments due to high resistance rates. Our medical device, the AirAlle, delivers controlled, heated air that kills 99.2% of all stages — including the eggs. This treatment is fast, safe and effective!
We have grown since 2013. We are now part of Lice Clinics of America with clinics in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany — collectively known as Lice Clinics Upstate NY. You can find us on the web at liceclinicsupstateny.com.
What’s one of the biggest myths about head lice you wish you could bust for good?
Most infestations come from the environment. Wrong! Over 98% are from direct head-to-head contact! People waste a lot of misguided energy cleaning the house while missing eggs in their child’s hair or a louse on grandma. Lice do not live off the head. They are not an environmental bug. They need the warmth from your head and blood from your veins to survive. They can’t jump, hop, or fly so they would not carelessly go off the head as that would end their life. They are not careless — in fact, they have thrived for millions of years.
How do you approach teaching children and parents about prevention in a way that’s both effective and non-intimidating?
Prevention is easy! You should use a regiment of prevention shampoo, conditioner and spray for school aged children. Wearing the hair up in ponytails and braids is also helpful so your child’s hair doesn’t touch other’s hair. I also highly recommend prevention screenings by our certified technicians. The best times for screenings are pre and post camp, the back to school season, and after major holidays.
What’s one success story or memorable experience from your work that stands out to you?
There are two from our Cicero clinic that are memorable for different reasons. We had a young teenager in our clinic with a clinically significant case. When she arrived she was hiding under a hoodie. She had lived with head lice for a long time and was embarrassed. She was also bullied in school. We worked hard to clear her of all stages of head lice. When she came back a week later for a follow up appointment, she had on a tank top and had the biggest smile on her face. She was transformed! It made us all feel so happy. Our job is very rewarding. The second story is of an older couple. They had been married for 50+ years. They both got head lice from their grandchildren. I remember laughing with them when they said, “Now, we can truly say we did everything together!”
How do you keep your educational materials and methods engaging for both kids and adults?
We see all ages in our clinics and interact with parents, teachers, nurses, camp directors, and social service workers so we have a mix of educational material. We keep it simple and use fun colors and cartoons to get the message across.
What’s the most important piece of advice you’d give to families for managing and preventing head lice?
If you have head lice or are worried about it, come straight to us. We have a treatment for every budget. Avoid the home treatments and nitpicking services as they waste significant time and money. At our clinic, you will be screened and treated by certified technicians on an FDA cleared device that is the highest standard of care for head lice treatments. We also have a full shelf of prevention products and are happy to discuss a prevention plan with anyone who stops in. The more you learn, the less scary head lice can be — and the more prepared you are to avoid it in the future!
For parents searching for help, what should they look for when choosing a reputable lice clinic/treatment?
When choosing a service provider for head lice treatment be sure to find a Lice Clinics of America clinic like we have in Cicero, NY at Lice Clinics Upstate NY (formerly Naughty Nits) that uses the AirAlle medical device and has certified technicians. Be wary of pop-up, copycat nitpicking services that claim to have similar technology but who are using repurposed pet-dryers or cold air tattoo removal devices. There are also nitpicking services that will offer to come to your home but will then require you to reapply oil every day for 10-14 days. All of these treatments take advantage of people’s panicked, ill-informed decision making. Be sure to do your research. It is more important to get the right treatment than to rush and hire someone unqualified to treat your family or to waste money on topicals that simply don’t work.
💡 Know an educator who deserves a mention? Email [email protected].
