Dubai: Dubai Municipality has warned beauty and hair salons against selling lice as a treatment for hair loss.
It has been noticed recently that women go to hair salons to buy lice believing that lice help treat hair loss and make hair thicker.
Some women’s hair salons in Dubai started growing lice by collecting damaged hair and subjecting it to high temperature. Some women said the price of one louse is Dh14, a report in Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm stated on Saturday.
The report quoted Hafez Ghalloum, head of the Health Control Section at Dubai Municipality, as saying the use of lice on hair is unhealthy and a harmful practice. The section carries our regular and surprise inspections on beauty centres and hair salons to ensure they do not violate health rules and regulations. Those found violating rules will be fined,” Ghalloum said.
“We aim through inspections to see that no negative or harmful practices are committed by hair salons and beauty centres,” he added.
Ghalloum said they are wondering how these salons grow lice that cause scalp damage and dangerous skin diseases. People usually go to salons seeking treatment to get rid of lice, not to buy it.
Dr Sharif Diaa, a dermatologist at Obaid Allah Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah, warned against believing such false claims that are promoted on social media.
“Head lice are small, wingless and blood-sucking insects. They live on head hair and feed on scalp blood. Head lice are contagious and spread quickly to others and cause severe itching and skin diseases. Treating lice and getting rid of it takes a long time,” Dr Diaa said.
He advised women not to believe such rumours, warning that it will infect their families.
