Pubic lice are small, crab‑like insects that are grey or brown‑red. They live in pubic hair, but can be on other body parts with hair (like the chest, armpit, face, eyelashes). Crabs can live for up to 24 hours on bedding, towels, and clothes.
To kill any lice or nits remaining on clothing, towels, or bedding, machine-wash and machine-dry those items that the infested person used during the 2–3 days before treatment. Use hot water (at least 130°F) and the hot dryer cycle.
Sometimes, people can get lice from sharing pillows and sheets with someone who has lice. As with furniture and carpets, adult lice typically live for around 2 days on pillows and sheets without human contact. Nits will not hatch and will die within a week.
Occasionally, pubic lice may be spread by close personal contact or contact with articles such as clothing, bed linens, or towels that have been used by an infested person.
Using regular soap and hot water isn't effective in killing pubic lice. You can typically buy shampoos and creams for pubic lice over the counter, without a prescription. They're safe and effective.
You can opt for vinegar: It possesses properties that render it toxic and an effective pubic lice treatment. So, just mix water with it in equal amount and take a cotton ball, dip it into the solution and apply it on the affected area.
A common misunderstanding is that infestation can be spread by sitting on a toilet seat. This isn't likely, since lice cannot survive away from a warm human body. Also, lice do not have feet designed to walk or hold onto smooth surfaces such as toilet seats.
It can take up to 3 weeks after coming into contact with pubic lice before you notice any symptoms. They are spread through close body contact with someone who has them, most commonly sexual contact. The lice crawl from hair to hair but can't fly or jump.
Pubic lice are small, crab‑like insects that are grey or brown‑red. They live in pubic hair, but can be on other body parts with hair (like the chest, armpit, face, eyelashes). Crabs can live for up to 24 hours on bedding, towels, and clothes.
Adults are found only on the human host and require human blood to survive. If adults are forced off the host, they will die within 24–48 hours without a blood feeding.
Lice and nits can live on pillows and sheets. Lice glue their eggs to the hair strands of their host. However, if a piece of hair with an egg falls out while the lice host is sleeping, an egg could end up on pillows or sheets.
Heat Method:
There are recent studies that show that treatment of lice with heat can be quite effective in killing head lice. Products such as Lousebuster are very effective but even a home hairdryer can successfully treat lice.
Usually, pubic lice live on pubic hair in the genital area. If you look carefully, you may be able to see visible nits or crawling lice. Less commonly, they live on hair on other parts of your body. This may include legs, armpits, beard, eyebrows, eyelashes, or on your head.
The main treatment for pubic lice is a lice-killing lotion. Options include a lotion that contains permethrin or a mousse containing pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide. These products are available over-the-counter without a prescription. They are safe and effective when you use them according to the instructions.
Benzyl alcohol lotion, 5% has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of head lice and is considered safe and effective when used as directed. It kills lice but it is not ovicidal. A second treatment is needed 7 days after the first treatment to kill any newly hatched lice before they can produce new eggs.
Pubic lice will not go away without treatment. If you're sure you have pubic lice, you may be able to get treatment from a pharmacist.
You can get head lice from sitting at a desk next to someone who is infested with head lice. Head lice are spread through direct head-to-head contact. The lice do not hop, jump, or fly, so sitting near someone with head lice does not increase the risk of getting the lice.
Pubic lice nits take about 6-10 days to hatch and become nymphs, which look like a smaller version of the adult louse. The nymphs undergo 3 molts before becoming adults. Nymphs take about 2-3 weeks after hatching to mature into adults capable of reproducing.
Head and body lice survive 7 to 10 days without a host. Whereas pubic lice (crabs) survive about 2 days off of their host. Any eggs that were laid will hatch after 5 to 10 days. A person may suspect lice from a known exposure, through visual identification of lice or eggs, and itching.
Disinfectants are known for killing germs and bacteria. However, they are not an effective or safe treatment when it comes to killing lice and nits.
Pubic lice move by crawling from hair to hair - they can't fly or jump. Body contact during sex is the most common way pubic lice are passed on. However, if a person has pubic lice it doesn't always mean it was passed on that way. Lice can also be passed on through close body contact like hugging and kissing.
You might notice really tiny dark brown specks in your underwear or your skin - this is lice poo (faeces).
Pubic lice infestations (pthiriasis) are usually spread through sexual contact. Dogs, cats, and other pets do not play a role in the transmission of human pubic lice. Both over-the-counter and prescription medications are available for treatment of pubic lice infestations.
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.