Pubic lice

What are they and how do I get them?

Pubic lice are tiny parasitic insects. They can be found in pubic, underarm and leg hair, hair on the belly and chest and in beards. Very occasionally they can found in eyebrows and eyelashes. They are about 2mm long, a yellow-grey colour and look like a crab which is why they are often known as crabs. When they are in their egg form, they are called nits and look like brownish dots which attach themselves to the hair. Pubic lice are different from the head lice which some people get on their scalp.

Pubic lice are easily passed from one person to another through close body contact or sexual contact, or by sharing clothing, bedding and towels with someone who is infected. Lice crawl from hair to hair – they don’t fly or jump. Getting pubic lice is common and has nothing to do with poor hygiene. 

What are the symptoms?

After coming into contact with pubic lice it can take several weeks before you notice any signs or symptoms - or you may not notice any at all. Pubic lice are tiny and difficult to see because they keep still in the light – some people notice them moving and others don’t. These are some of the symptoms you could experience:

• Itching in the affected areas
• Black powdery droppings from the lice in your underwear
• Brown eggs on pubic or other body hair
• Irritation and inflammation in the affected area, sometimes caused by  scratching
• Sky-blue spots (which disappear within a few days) or very tiny specks of blood on the skin.

What does getting tested involved?

Most of the time a doctor or nurse will be able to tell if you have pubic lice just by looking or they may use a magnifying glass or take one of the lice and put it under a microscope to double check.

How can I get tested?

You can get checked and treated for public lice at your local Genito-urinary medicinie (GUM) clinic. Or, if you want to self-treat you can go to the chemist and buy treatments. The chemist will be able to advise you and answer any questions you may have about how to use the treatment.

All of these services are totally confidential. GUM clinics are specialist clinics that deal with STIs.  You don’t need to have been referred by your GP to use them you can make an appointment over the phone yourself.

If you want to find out more information about GUM and CaSH clinics, have a look at our 'What to expect: GUM clinics' and 'What to expect: CaSH clinics' pages.

What does treatment involve?

Treatment for pubic lice is very simple and involves using a special cream, lotion or shampoo on the affected area and sometimes the whole body. You DON’T need to shave off the pubic hair or other body hair.

Treatment usually lasts for around 3-7 days and you may be asked to go back for a check-up a week or so afterwards to make sure the lice have gone. You’ll also need to wash your clothing, bedding and towels in a washing machine on a very hot cycle. This will kill the lice and prevent re-infection. 

The doctor, nurse or chemist will advise you on what treatment to use and how to use it. Do tell them if you are, or think you might be, pregnant or if you are breastfeeding as this affects the type of treatment you are given.

You and your partner(s) should be treated at the same time even if they don't have any signs and symptoms. And you should avoid sex and close body contact until you have finished the treatment.

What are the health effects?

Pubic lice won’t go away unless they are treated. If you leave it untreated you risk passing pubic lice onto someone else.