Lice in My Pubic Area?

Wherever you have hair, you can get lice.

Pubic lice are more often sexually transmitted especially during an intercourse. They travel in spite of your partner using a condom. This is because the condom does not cover the entire pubic area.

Another important reason for pubic lice is that of poor hygiene. Hygiene here means personal hygiene.

If you do not wash your pubic area properly or if you do not bathe regularly then you are likely to get pubic lice.

You are attending a social gathering and you are required to share your bed with another person who has pubic lice and if you happen to have a close skin contact with him then you are likely to get pubic lice.

Pubic lice do not jump, fly or swim. Pubic lice are occasionally transmitted by articles that have had a close contact with the infected person's skin like bedding, toilet seats and the clothes.

The high humidity and severe temperatures during summers can only aggravate this problem because you are likely to sweat more and moisture attracts lice.

Ouch, It is Itching!

Pubic lice cause severe itching.

The lice secrete a substance which causes the itching. Too much itching can turn your skin red and also crack your skin. They can also leave bluish grey marks on your thighs and pubic areas caused by the bites.

Itching leads to an infection, which is called crab infection. You may get mild fever if the infection is too much.

Also, you are likely to witness more itching especially while you are menstruating because during your periods, there will be moisture which aggravates itching.

Treat It!

Shaving of the pubic hair will remove the lice completely. However, if you do not wish to shave, then you can consult a skin specialist who can prescribe a shampoo to get rid of the lice.

Also, your doctor may prescribe creams to treat the infection and remove the lice. It has to be applied on your pubic hair at night and remove it with any antibiotic soap in the morning.

You may be asked to repeat the procedure after 10 days because if there are any nits or eggs laid by the lice, they will mature after 10 days. So repeating the procedure will remove them completely.

Once you get rid of the lice, you need to wash your used towel, bed sheet, pillow and clothes in hot water and dettol.

If you maintain good hygiene and ensure that your partner is maintaining a good hygiene as well, then you can try to keep the pubic lice away and also prevent crab infection.

(With Inputs from Dr. Satish Bhatia, Head Dermatologist and skin surgeon, Lady Ratan Tata Research Centre and Dr. Satish L. Wadhwa, Consultant Dermatologist, Breach Candy Hospital).