What are pubic lice?
Pubic lice are tiny insects that live in body hair, these are different from headlice that live on head hair only. Also known as crabs, they mostly live on pubic hair around the penis or vagina. They are unlikely to cause long-term harm, but it is important to be treated as they do not go away on their own.
Where to get help in Bexley?
There is no home or routine screening available for pubic lice. You will need to book an appointment at your local sexual health clinic for examination and treatment.
Pubic lice are transmitted through close bodily contact with areas that are infested. They cannot fly or jump from person to person, only crawl.
Rarely, lice can be transmitted through sharing clothes, underwear, bedding and towels with someone that has an infestation.
Pubic lice are very small and can be difficult to spot, but you may be able to see them in your pubic hair. They can also infest other types of body hair such as armpit, eyelashes and eyebrows, and chest hair. Other symptoms are the same for both sexes and include:
- Itching (generally worse at night)
- Lice eggs attached to your pubic hair (appearing as yellow/white spots)
- Lice bites (appearing as red or blue spots on the skin)
- Red or brown spots in your underwear (lice droppings)
- Crusty or sticky eyelashes (if affected)
Communicate with Partners
Open and honest communication with sexual partners about STI testing and protection is essential.
Laundry
wash your clothes, towels and bedding at a minimum of 50 degrees Celsius, or get them dry cleaned.
Furniture
vacuum your mattress and other soft furnishings
Sharing
do not share clothes, bedding or hygiene products
Treatment
do not have any close bodily contact until treatment is completed
Contraception
Barrier methods such as condoms and dental dams do not offer protection against pubic lice, however it is still important to use condoms as they protect against other STIs and unplanned pregnancy.
Pubic lice is treated with medicated creams or shampoos that are prescribed by a doctor, nurse or pharmacist. You will need to use the products on your entire body and may need to let it sit for a few minutes before washing or rinsing off. Treatment will need to be repeated a week later to ensure all lice are killed.
After treatment is completed, you will be invited to a follow-up appointment to make sure the treatment has worked.
At your appointment, a doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms and recent sexual history and check any affected hair for lice. They may use a comb and magnifying lens to check the hair around your penis or vagina, armpits, chest or eyelashes. You will likely be offered additional STI testing at the same time.
It is important that your sexual partner(s) are treated at the same time to avoid passing the lice back and forth, even if they do not have symptoms. A doctor or nurse may be able to do this anonymously for you through a partner notification service. If you live with your partner(s), it is suggested you have an open and honest conversation with them to prevent re-infestation.
Complications aren’t as severe as other STIs, however they are still possible. Secondary infections may occur from bites, or skin that has been irritated or repeatedly scratched leaving open wounds or sores.
Chronic infestation can result in skin hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin).
If you get pubic lice in your eyelashes, you can get eye infections such as blepharitis, conjunctivitis or corneal epithelial keratitis.
Pubic lice will not affect your baby and is easily treated during pregnancy.