What is pubic lice?
Pubic lice, crabs, crab lice ā theyāre all one and the same, and theyāre all a little grim. These little parasites take up residence in coarse body hair and lay eggs, causing skin irritation and a lot of itching.
They are 2mm long and are yellow-grey, with multiple legs as well as two small pincers to help them grip onto hair (hence the nickname crabs). Pubic lice also lay pale brown eggs amidst hair and after they hatch, they go white. Theyāre so small that a GP will sometimes bust out a magnifying glass to search for them.
What causes pubic lice?
One of the biggest myths about pubic lice ā and lice in general ā is that theyāre caused by bad personal hygiene. This isnāt true. While they arenāt an STI likeĀ chlamydiaĀ orĀ gonorrheaĀ per se, pubic lice are actually primarily spread through close body contact since they crawl from hair to hair (they donāt jump or fly) so sexual contact is up there. Unfortunately, as the lice shifts from hair to hair, condoms donāt help too much but you should probably wear one anywayĀ to avoid catching other STIs.
Pubic lice symptoms
It can take up to a few weeks for symptoms of pubic lice to become noticeable, but the biggest indicator is an onslaught of itchiness (caused by their irritable saliva). You may also notice their pale brown eggs as well as their tiny bites, which look like light blue dots or blood specks. Black powdery spots may also appear in your underwear, caused by their excretions.
Pubic lice treatment
If you think you have the lice, itās best to speak with a GP, practice nurse or somebody at yourĀ nearest sexual health clinicĀ about it. Theyāll be able to recommend a course of treatment and these can consist of topical lotions/creams and shampoos.
Depending on how severe the outbreak of pubic lice is, you may have to treat your whole body to get rid of the lice. A medical professional will be able to determine that for you, however. Lice are pretty resilient, so you may have to either upgrade to a stronger medication if they persist.
You should also let your previous sexual partners know so they can get treated, especially if youāre planning on seeing each other again in the future. Itās also important to decontaminate your home so wash all your towels, bedding, clothing at the highest water and heat setting possible.