Fans of personal space will be relieved to know that selfies may be on the way out, as they increase the risk of head lice.
Yep, the infestation, which is most common in young children, is increasing among teens and college students because they’re sticking their heads together for photos.
Marcy McQuillan of Scotts Valley California Nitless Noggins told SFist, ‘I’ve seen a huge increase of lice in teens this year. Typically, it’s younger children I treat, because they’re at higher risk for head-to-head contact. But now, teens are sticking their heads together every day to take cell phone pics.’
McQuillan says she now sees more cases of lice in high school and college-age teens than in younger kids. ‘Every teen I’ve treated, I ask about selfies, and they admit that they’re taking them every day. I think parents need to be aware and teenagers need to be aware, too. Selfies are fun, but the consequences are real.’
Here’s our advice: keep those selfies to yourself(ie) and you won’t be picking nits out of your barnet. And, PS, can we discuss the ingenuity of the name Nitless Noggins for a head-lice treatment company? It almost makes it sound cute.
Picture: Getty
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.