You cannot get rid of pubic lice by washing or shaving, as the lice only need a minimal length of hair on which to lay their eggs. Therefore you do not need to shave your pubic hair. You can treat yourself at home with an insecticidal lotion or cream which is available over the counter from a pharmacy.
All hairy areas of the body should be thoroughly checked and treated because lice can move away from treated areas to other hairy parts of the body. Shaving won't get rid of pubic lice.
Special lice shampoos or creams are the only treatments that will work. They kill pubic lice. Shaving or taking hot baths won't destroy the lice. You can use a hydrocortisone cream to stop the itching, but it won't treat the lice.
A lice-killing lotion containing 1% permethrin or a mousse containing pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide can be used to treat pubic (“crab”) lice. These products are available over-the-counter without a prescription at a local drug store or pharmacy.
Pubic lice, also known as crabs, are tiny, parasitic insects that feed on blood. They spread easily and cause itching and red spots. Treatment with products containing 1% permethrin or pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide can help get rid of them.
It's usually easy to get rid of them with over-the-counter medicines. Getting pubic lice doesn't mean you're dirty — it has nothing to do with hygiene or cleanliness. Anybody can get pubic lice if they have close, personal contact with someone who has them. About 3 million people in the U.S. get pubic lice every year.
Pubic lice are usually sexually transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact. Pubic lice do not voluntarily leave the body and will need to be treated with a cream or lotion that contains permethrin.
It's a good idea to treat pubic lice, because if you don't get rid of them you can end up with: Discolored spots on your skin where the crabs have been feeding. Skin infections from scratching your skin too much. Eye irritation from rubbing your eyes.
What happens if crabs go untreated? In addition to the discomfort of the infestation, repeated scratching of the infested area can result in a serious skin infection. If you have symptoms or think you've been exposed to crabs, get examined and treated immediately to avoid any complications and continued transmission.
While you are treating pubic lice: Wash and dry all clothing and bedding in hot water. Spray items that cannot be washed with a medicated spray that you can buy at the store. You can also seal items in plastic bags for 10 to 14 days to smother the lice.
Pubic lice (Pthirus pubis) have three stages: egg, nymph and adult. Eggs (nits) are laid on a hair shaft . Females will lay approximately 30 eggs during their 3–4 week life span.
Regular soap or shampoo does not kill crabs. Shaving may not get rid of crabs either. Use special shampoos/creams with medicine (you can buy these at a drugstore without a prescription). Follow package directions or ask your pharmacist.
Do not shave your pubic hair off! The pubic lice will crawl into where you hair grows and lay more eggs, so whilst you may temporarily remove some of the lice – when your pubic hair grows back, the crabs will return, and in greater number. Also if you must scratch yourself, please cut your fingernails before doing so!
Condoms do not protect someone from pubic lice because the lice live outside of the area that condoms cover. Shaving pubic hair does not always prevent pubic lice. Not sharing clothing, bedding, or towels also can help lower the risk of getting pubic lice.
Dr. Park says this is actually quite an effective prevention method. “Shaving or waxing all your hair off would be an effective way to prevent pubic lice,” she explains. “Pubic deforestation through hair removal is certainly the reason for the [overall] decline in crabs.”
Shaving is not necessary. Crabs only live for about 48 hours. To ensure crabs won't be able to lay eggs and continue to develop, wash all clothes and bedding in hot water and dry warm. This will kill any remaining lice.
You cannot get rid of pubic lice by washing or shaving, as the lice only need a minimal length of hair on which to lay their eggs. Therefore you do not need to shave your pubic hair. You can treat yourself at home with an insecticidal lotion or cream which is available over the counter from a pharmacy.
Sexual transmission - You can get crabs when you have skin-to-skin contact with another person. Even when there is no sexual penetration, you can get (or give) crabs. Non-sexual transmission - You can get crabs from sleeping in an infested bed or using infested towels.
They need human blood to survive, so generally only leave the body to move from one person to another. Pubic lice don't live on other animals such as cats or dogs. It's also possible for pubic lice to be spread through sharing clothes, towels and bedding.
Adult: The adult pubic louse resembles a miniature crab when viewed through a strong magnifying glass. Pubic lice have six legs; their two front legs are very large and look like the pincher claws of a crab. This is how they got the nickname “crabs.” Pubic lice are tan to grayish-white in color.
They're usually found on the pubic hair, but can also be found on other parts of the body where a person has coarse hair (such as armpits, eyelashes, and facial hair). Anyone can get crabs and they are very common. Millions of people are infected with public lice very year.
Itchy pubic hair is common and is often easily treatable. Common causes include rash burn, contact dermatitis, jock itch, pubic lice, scabies, yeast infection, psoriasis, eczema, and folliculitis. See a healthcare provider if the itching is severe, painful, persistent, or worsening. American Academy of Dermatology.