Pubic Lice

🌿 Overview

Pubic lice ('crabs') are tiny insects that live in coarse body hair, most often the pubic area, and cause itching. They're spread mainly through close body contact. They're a nuisance, not dangerous, and are cleared with a proper lice treatment plus washing of bedding and clothing.

Pubic lice cling to coarse hairs and feed on blood, causing itching that's often worse at night, and you may see tiny lice or pale eggs (nits) on the hairs. They can occasionally spread to other coarse hair like the thighs, abdomen, beard, or eyelashes.

Treatment is a medicated lice lotion or shampoo (a pharmacist or doctor can advise), repeated as directed to catch newly hatched lice, along with hot-washing bedding, towels, and clothing. Because they usually spread through close contact, partners should be treated too, and it's worth checking for other infections. Lice in the eyelashes need a doctor's care, not over-the-counter products.

Common signs

• Itching in the pubic area (or other coarse-haired areas), often worse at night
• Tiny lice or pale eggs (nits) clinging to the hairs
• Small bluish spots or specks of louse droppings on the skin or underwear
• Sometimes mild irritation from scratching

🔎 Why it happens

Common causes and triggers — spotting yours is often the first step to relief.

• Close body contact, often intimate, with someone who has them
• Occasionally shared bedding, towels, or clothing
• They cannot jump or fly — spread is by direct contact
• Not a sign of poor hygiene

✅ What to do

Gentle, practical steps you can take at home — start at the top.

1. Use a proper medicated lice lotion or shampoo (ask a pharmacist or doctor), and repeat as directed to catch newly hatched lice.
2. Hot-wash and hot-dry, or seal away for two weeks, all bedding, towels, and recently worn clothing.
3. Treat close/intimate partners too, and avoid close contact until everyone is clear.
4. See a doctor if lice are in the eyelashes (don't use ordinary lice products there) or if itching persists after treatment.

⭐ Community-ranked natural supports

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🍽️ Eating to help

Food is one of the gentlest medicines — small, steady changes help most.

Favor these

• Nothing specific

Go easy on

• Nothing specific

This is treated with proper lice products and laundering, not diet.

📜 A note from history

Recognized since antiquity, pubic lice are now easily treated with modern lice preparations and thorough laundering.

📚 Learn more

Trusted, independent sources for further reading. These open in a new tab.

• Crab louse — Wikipedia ↗

💬 Ask Remy about Pubic Lice