Common causes of genital itching include contact dermatitis, jock itch, scabies, yeast infection, and folliculitis. Your healthcare provider can help you determine the cause and point you to the best treatment and prevention strategies.
Genital Itching. Itchy genitals that interfere with your quality of life should be addressed by your healthcare provider. You could have a skin condition like psoriasis or eczema, an infection such as a yeast infection or maybe a sexually transmitted infection such as trichomoniasis.
Share on Pinterest Causes of itchy pubic hair include lice, razor burn, and contact dermatitis. Crabs, the common name for pubic lice, are tiny insects that feed off human blood, holding on to the hair for support. Although it is common for pubic lice to spread via sex, anyone can get them.
STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea often lead to itching, stinging, or burning sensations inside the vagina or penis. However, HPV and herpes also cause small itchy bumps to form on the pubic area. In addition, STD symptoms may “come and go.” So never assume that you're STD-free simply because symptoms have disappeared.
The most common symptom of pubic lice is itchy red spots. The itching is caused by an allergy to the louse saliva or poo. It can take 1 to 3 weeks for itching to develop after the first infestation, and it'll usually be worse at night. Adult pubic lice are tiny – smaller than a match head.
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.
Pubic hair may extend out to their thighs, and some girls may have a line of hair up to their belly button. Most girls attain their peak height by age 16, but some may continue growing through age 20.
To keep the pubic area smooth and hairless, you'll need to shave regularly, even daily. Consider if this is worth the trouble; it may become tedious after four or five weeks.
Shaving, whether it's your legs, armpits, or pubic area, is a personal choice. You certainly don't have to shave before sex if you don't want to. Shaving pubic hair (or not) is a cosmetic preference, and it does not mean you are "cleaner" if you shave. If you do prefer to shave, try not to do it right before sex.
Symptoms usually go away within a couple of days. If you notice continued discomfort after a few days or if parts of the area get redder/more irritated, be sure to check in with your health care provider (HCP). They may recommend that you try an over-the-counter topical medicine such as hydrocortisone cream.
Stretching your skin taut and shaving in the direction your hair grows, will help you achieve longer-lasting results and reduce irritation and itchiness. Post-shave care - After you are finished shaving, use a cooling gel or lotion to help soothe your skin, this will cool off the area and help combat any irritation.
You can pick them off with your fingernails or a fine-toothed comb. Along with using medication, wash or dry clean all of your bedding and towels. Also wash or dry clean any clothing that you wore while you had crabs.
You may see one or more lice or nits in your pubic hair. The nits look like tiny white dots attached to a hair. They look like dandruff. Dandruff, however, is easily brushed out of the hair.
Pubic lice are mainly spread by close body contact, most commonly sexual contact. The lice cannot jump or fly, but can climb from one person to another. You can also catch the lice from clothes, bedding or towels used by someone with pubic lice, but this is rare.
Your pubes may itch for a bunch of different reasons. These include unsafe shaving techniques, infections, and chronic conditions like psoriasis or eczema. Sometimes, a home remedy, OTC cream, or simple lifestyle change can help you manage the itching.
You can usually see pubic lice by looking closely, or you may need to use a magnifying glass. Pubic lice are tan or whitish-gray, and they look like tiny crabs. They get darker when they're full of blood. Crab eggs (called nits) on the bottom part of your pubic hairs.
Applying topical creams or lotions containing permethrin (for example, Lyclear cream or Quellada lotion) to the whole body from neck to toes is the most commonly recommended treatment. You do not need to apply the cream to the hair on your head. See your doctor, pharmacist or sexual health centre for further advice.
Your pubic hair region is more sensitive than your armpits and legs. So one reason why you might be hurting down there when the hair starts to grow back is because of razor burn, which can be itchy or painful. Another reason why you might be uncomfortable is because shaving can trigger ingrown hair growth.
Electrolysis is your best option for permanent hair removal, but it can be expensive. For more permanent results, laser hair removal can also help you remove pubic hair for a hefty price. You can also opt to do occasional grooming with trimming or tweezing to avoid going completely bare.
Then there's the regrowth stage: Shaved hair grows back after a couple of days, and when it does it can be prickly or itchy. This can leave you feeling uncomfortable. There's also a chance some hairs will become ingrown. This means that the hair that's trying to grow back gets trapped under the skin.