How Can You Get Rid of Pubic Lice?
Find out what “crabs” really are and how you can treat it.
Sanaz Majd, MD
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How Can You Get Rid of Pubic Lice?
Talking about sexually transmitted infections can be embarrassing and frightening, especially if you are unsure of what is truly going on. When patients get diagnosed with pubic lice, they often panic and drive themselves truly crazy.
Even though pubic lice is a serious infection—and a huge flashing warning sign for those who don’t practice safe sex—it is treatable.
What is Pubic Lice?
So what exactly are pubic lice? They are parasites, organisms feed and live off of our human blood, that spread from person to person through sexual contact. They are difficult to see with the naked eye–unless the lice have recently eaten and are filled with blood. The pubic louse is a small, round crab-like organism with claws that grip pubic hair. The female louse lays up to 26 eggs, referred to as “nits,” over a month’s time and takes up to 8 days for it to hatch its eggs.
Aside from being spread through sexual contact, they can also be spread through infested sheets, towels, and clothing. But the most common transmission is through sexual contact with someone who is infested.
What are the Symptoms of Pubic Lice?
Most people with pubic lice report an intense itching in the genital area. They may also report the presence of the nits around the pubic hair, or bluish pale spots in the genitals or near the thighs or buttocks from repeated feedings.
Even though the pubic area is the most commonly infested area, the lice can also spread to the eyebrows, mustache, or eye lashes on occasion. Spread to the scalp for pubic lice is rare.
How Is Pubic Lice Diagnosed?
Pubic lice are often diagnosed by your physician with a simple physical exam. Once the nits are seen, the diagnosis is made. If you have been diagnosed with pubic lice, it’s very important to make sure you don’t have another type of sexually transmitted infection as well. Your doctor may ask you to take a urine and blood test to check for other sexually transmitted infections.
How Can You Get Rid of Pubic Lice?
Unlike some other sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV or herpes, there actually is a cure for pubic lice. The treatment is a cream or lotion, which is applied to the genitals, anus, armpits, chest hair and back hair for ten minutes and then rinsed off with water. Any remaining nits can be removed with a fine toothed comb or tweezers. All sexual partners should be contacted and treated, regardless of whether or not symptoms are present. Other household contacts that are asymptomatic do not need treatment.
All bedding and clothing used within the previous week should be washed in hot water and dried in heat. Anything you are not able to wash, you can place in a plastic bag and seal up for two weeks. Any remaining organisms will die off without feeding during that time period without food. Alternatively, dry cleaning is considered sufficient as well.
If you still have itching after one week, you can repeat the treatment and regimen one more time. If your symptoms still don’t go away, please make sure you see your doctor.
