If you didn’t need another reason to dislike selfies, the popular new method of taking a picture of yourself, lice expert Mary McQuillan wants to give you another. McQuillan, of Scotts Valley, California, is claiming that selfies may be contributing to an increase in head lice amongst teenagers. Typically an issue for young children, head lice do not indicate a health issue if they are treated as soon as possible.

Backing McQuillan, the CEO of lice removal company Lice Knowing You, Nancy Gordon claims to have seen an increase in head lice in teenagers. Gordon also claims that teenagers are less likely to tell their peers that they have head lice, thereby increasing the chances of spreading the lice.

While McQuillan may be legitimate considering her position as an expert, Gordon profits off of an increase in head lice cases and has an obvious reason to claim that there is a head lice epidemic amongst teens. Regardless, I doubt there’s an actual correlation between selfie taking and head lice. Teenagers have been hugging for centuries, and that’s never been accredited with the rapid spread of head lice.

Source:

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/selfies-blame-head-lice-teens-article-1.1701724