Have you had an encounter with head lice yet? If you have school-aged children, statistically speaking, you’re likely to come up against them at some point.

Lice have been present wherever humans are for centuries, and they’re especially prevalent among our younger kids. Schools, daycare facilities and other places where kids are playing close together can be prime areas for infestation.

Most parents will look for the quickest, most effective way to get rid of lice. Many schools still send kids home and won’t allow them back until they are “nit free,” while you still must get to work!

The problem is that not all lice treatments are a great choice. In fact, some over-the-counter treatments can be downright harmful. Want to avoid potential ill-effects of treatments, yet still successfully get rid of lice? Home remedies for head lice can be effective, but it’s important to know what you’re dealing with:

The Size of the Lice Problem in North America

The official estimates of the CDC show 6 to 12 million lice infestations in the 3 to 11 age group annually. Given that many cases go unreported, some suspect this number to be a low estimate. In any case, just know that a lot of kids get lice and it’s totally normal! [Read more…]