The lice crawl from hair to hair, but can't fly or jump. They need human blood to survive, so will only leave the body to move from one person to another. The most common way pubic lice are spread is through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex.
Using condoms and other methods of barrier contraception doesn't protect you against pubic lice. It's also possible — though much rarer — for pubic lice to be spread through sharing clothes, towels and bedding. Your GP or pharmacist can advise you about which treatment to use and how to use it. It's important to follow this advice. Some treatments only need to be applied to the affected area, but sometimes the whole body must be treated, taking care to avoid the eyes. The treatment usually needs to be repeated 7 days later to get rid of any lice that have hatched during that time.
If the treatment doesn't work, you may need to use another type. This is because pubic lice can develop resistance to some treatments. To prevent reinfestation, anyone you have had close bodily contact with, including any sexual partners you have had in the past 3 months, should also be treated, even if they don't have symptoms. Certain groups, such as young people under 18 years of age and pregnant or breastfeeding women, may require a specific type of treatment. Don't use the medication more than twice.
If you think it hasn't worked, see your GP or pharmacist for advice. Insecticides used to treat pubic lice may cause skin irritation, such as itchiness, redness, stinging or burning. Some aqueous and alcohol-based medications may discolour permed, coloured or bleached hair. Check the patient information leaflet. The first treatment application will probably kill the lice, but the eggs may not have been destroyed. This means more lice could hatch and the cycle will start again.
Reapplying the treatment after 7 days will ensure that any lice are killed before they're old enough to lay more eggs. Check for lice 1 week after your second treatment, or return to your GP, practice nurse or sexual health clinic so they can check for you. Your doctor can look for crabs using a microscope. Crabs prefer coarse hair and can sometimes affect other thicker hairs on your body. This can cause itching in other places.
Crabs rarely affect the hair on your head. They can be found on:. Most people get crabs through sexual activity with a person who already has pubic lice. Crabs can be treated with either over-the-counter OTC or prescription medications.
Treatment options include gels, creams, foams, shampoos, and pills that kill the lice and their eggs. OTC treatments are usually strong enough to kill crabs, although you may need to use the treatment more than once.
Common brands include Rid, Nix, and A Shop for lice treatment online. Most of the OTC and prescription medications are not safe to use around the eyes. Talk to your doctor about your options. You may need to apply petroleum jelly to the area every night for several weeks. To remove crabs from your body, use a fine-tooth comb or your fingernails to pick out the lice and nits. Most OTC treatments come with a comb. You can get crabs any time you are exposed to them. Your chance of reinfection increases if one of your sexual partners fails to get treatment.
To prevent reinfection, make sure your sexual partners seek treatment immediately. Crabs and their eggs can live in bedding and clothes. You will also want to wash any clothing you wore while you had crabs. Most cases of crabs can be self-diagnosed at home, but only a doctor can tell you for sure whether or not you have crabs. There are many conditions that can cause itching in the genital area, including several sexually transmitted infections STIs.
Your doctor can perform a physical exam and test for other STIs, just to be safe. To prevent pubic lice infestation, avoid having sexual contact or sharing bedding or clothing with anyone who has an infestation. If you are being treated for pubic lice, all sexual partners also must be treated. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.
Overview Pubic lice, commonly called crabs, are tiny insects found in your genital area. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references AskMayoExpert. Mayo Clinic; Goldstein AO, et al.
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