Behind the scenes

Lice on the loose: sales of anti-louse products explode

12.9.2024

Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson

Is that something crawling around in your hair? Head lice are back, as soaring sales figures for anti-lice remedies at online retailer Galaxus prove. Customers are buying almost twice as many lice combs and over three times as many anti-lice shampoos compared to the previous year.

The small parasites’ favourite places to hatch their eggs is the back of the neck and behind the ears. Unless consistent action is taken against these creepy crawlies, they’re quick to spread and infest friends or even a whole classroom of children. As cries for help by parents in Zurich (article in German) as well as Galaxus’s sales figures show: the bloodsucking pests are currently multiplying at breakneck speed. Shampoos against lice were shipped to customers more than three times as often between January and August 2024 than in the same period last year (see chart). For comparison, shampoos overall sold 40 per cent more frequently in the same period. The lice and nit combs you need to fight head lice are usually included with the shampoos. And yet, Galaxus sold twice as many of these combs this year than in the same period last year. The complete range of hairbrushes and combs grew by 45 per cent in the same period.

How to get rid of the critters

Lice spread quickly, especially between people who are in close physical contact. Although the small parasites can’t jump or fly, younger children in particular are predestined to pick up lice when they’re playing with their peers. The next thing you know, they start spreading to other family members. Lice feed on the blood they suck from the scalp every few hours, which causes severe itching around the bite. Their eggs are visible to the naked eye, and both the insects and nits can be removed with combs and special shampoos. The shampoo kills the parasitic insects by blocking its respiratory openings. In other words, the lice suffocate, as do their eggs, which are called nits. The shampoos also soften the protective wax layer on the lice, causing them to dry out. One treatment will usually do the trick, but a follow-up check after a few days is recommended. To prevent an infestation, you should avoid hair-to-hair contact.

Have you recently had to deal with a lice infestation in your family? How did you navigate with the situation? Do you have any tips? The comments section’s all yours!

Header image: Shutterstock

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Manuel Wenk

Communications Manager

Manuel.Wenk@digitecgalaxus.ch

As a Multimedia Producer, preparing multimedia content and knowing about cutting-edge technology is my business. My main focus at digitec is producing videos. I can’t wait to try out new products such as cameras, drones or smartphones as soon as they’re launched. This is where being at the source comes in rather handy. When I’m not working, I’m probably skiing, biking or hiking – the mountains are my place to be.

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