Pubic lice, also known as crab lice, are miniature insects that affect the pubic hair zone and lay eggs there. They can also be found in eyebrows and armpit hair.
Causes of Pubic Lice
Pubic lice are usually found in teenagers. These lice are mostly spread during sexual activities.
Not often, crab lice can spread through contact with certain objects such as sheets, toilet seats, bathing suits, or blankets. Many people think that animals may spread lice to people, but that is not true. Animals certainly can’t spread crab lice to people.
Other types of crab lice include:
- Head lice (insects that live in hair, especially common in children)
- Body lice (insects that live in the folds and seams of clothing; they are spread through close contact with people)
Risk Factors
You are at greater risks for pubic lice if you:
- Have sexual contact with an affected person;
- Have many sexual partners, and/or
- Share clothing or bedding with an affected person.
Pubic Lice Symptoms
Pubic lice usually cause itching in the place covered by pubic hair. The itching often starts very soon after getting affected with lice. However, there are many cases when it can start for up to two to four weeks after the interaction. Itching usually gets worse at night.
Some other symptoms can include:
- Sores in the genital area due to scratching and bites
- Skin reaction which causes skin to turn blue-gray in color
Pubic Lice Natural Treatment
Although there are probably effective drugs in the pharmacy to treat this condition, as we usually recommend, it is always a better idea to try some proven home remedies that are more affordable and easy to use. Following, you can find effective home remedies for eliminating pubic lice without much ado.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is high in acetic acid that has powerful biological effects. This acid is responsible for the great antimicrobial and antibacterial properties of apple cider vinegar, which helps destroy many types of bacteria.
- Simply dip a clean (new) toothbrush into a ½ cup of apple cider vinegar. Next, go over your pubic hair in order to remove nits (eggs). Apple cider vinegar will help you kill the bacteria and eliminate the nits.
One treatment is usually enough. In case you need a second one, you should do it 5-6 days later.
- Neem Leaves
Neem leaves have incredible antiseptic and antibacterial properties, which makes them one of the most effective remedies for removing pubic lice.
- Just take a few neem leaves and place them into a bowl. Pour some water over them and mix well in order to form a paste. Apply the paste on your pubic area and leave it to dry. In the end, scrub off with a clean (new) toothbrush. Wash with lukewarm water.
Do this procedure twice a day – in the morning and evening. Moreover, it would be great if you can leave it overnight and rinse it off in the morning. This treatment will show results within one week.
- Homemade Shampoo with Essential Oils
You can surely find many shampoos on the market that claim that can treat crab lice effectively, but Your Health Tubers stand against usage of chemicals especially on intimate and sensitive areas of the skin. Therefore, we suggest you prepare a natural, homemade shampoo for treating crab lice. For creating a homemade shampoo, you will need:
- ½ cup of almond oil
- 1 tablespoon of bergamot oil
- 1 tablespoon of eucalyptus oil
- 1 tablespoon of lavender oil
Mix all the ingredients well and apply this the mixture generously on your pubic area. You should cover the base of the hair follicles and all the hair. Leave it on overnight to give the oil shampoo enough time to act on the nits and the lice. In the morning use a nit comb to comb the nits and the dead crab lice out.
Repeat this treatment 2 times a day, every day. Within a week, all the pubic lice will be destroyed.
- Petroleum Jelly
In the case of crab lice, it is always recommendable to shave off your pubic hair until you eliminate the infestation entirely. Petroleum jelly will smother the pubic lice and destroy them.
- Apply petroleum jelly on your infected area generously. You should cover the base of your hair to eliminate the eggs, as well as to prevent further hatching of nits. After the hair follicles are well lubricated, you should use a nit comb in order to remove the eggs and the dead lice.
Repeat this procedure several times a day to destroy the nits and crab lice. You can also use petroleum jelly on the eyelashes and eyebrows as well to eliminate crab lice.
- Hot Water
This is one of the easiest methods for removing crab lice. You will simply need a nit comb and some hot water.
- Trim your pubic hair before you start combing to do a better job. Comb your pubic hair a few times to remove the nit and the crab lice. After that, wash the area with warm water (not so hot, so you won’t burn yourself) and sterilize the comb in hot (really hot) water so that the pubic lice are dead. Do this several times a day until all the nits and lice are effectively destroyed.
Your Health Tubers recommend you to combine this method with some other treatment (for example apple cider vinegar, neem leaves, petroleum jelly or shampoo) in order to get a quick relieve and eradicate crab lice completely.
When to Visit Your Doctor
You should visit your doctor if:
- You or your partner has symptoms of crab lice
- You try some of the above-mentioned crab lice treatments (or OTC medicines) and they aren’t effective
- Your symptoms continue after the treatments
How to Prevent Pubic Lice
You should avoid having sex or another kind of intimate contact with people you know have crab lice until they have been completely healed. Shower or bathe often and keep the bedding clean. Do not try on bathing suits while you are shopping. In case you need to try on swimwear, do not remove your underwear. These tips can help you prevent from spreading or getting pubic lice.
Conclusion:
While you are treating crab lice you should wash your bedding and clothing in hot water. Natural treatments and regular shower will help you get rid of crab lice within a week. If you decide to use medicines instead of natural treatment you should ask for permethrin. Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, as Nix or Rid, can also help you treat pubic lice. Malathione lotion can be also useful.
It is recommendable that the people with crab lice should be checked for some other sexually-transmitted infections when lice are destroyed.
