What do pubic lice look like?

Author: Dr. Oscar Morar Sr.  |  Last update: Monday, June 30, 2025

Pubic lice are generally tan in color and are about the size of the head of a pin. They are relatively flat and when seen on the skin they often look like small scabs.

How do you tell if you have pubic lice?

Other symptoms of pubic lice include:
  1. itching, which is usually worse at night.
  2. small red or blue spots on your skin (lice bites)
  3. white/yellow dots attached to your hair (lice eggs)
  4. dark red or brown spots in your underwear (lice poo)
  5. crusted or sticky eyelashes, if they're affected.

What kills pubic lice instantly?

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.

Are pubic lice visible to the human eye?

Pubic lice are short and crab-like; they appear very different from head and body lice (I.e., they are broader and flatter than other lice). Although pubic lice and nits can be large enough to see with the naked eye, a magnifying lens may help to see them. Lice found on the head generally are head lice, not pubic lice.

What do pubic lice look like on a woman?

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. Nits are really small and can be hard to see.

Crabs STD (Pubic Lice) - Symptoms & Treatment Of Pubic Lice

Can you visually see pubic lice?

“You can often visually see pubic lice,” says Dr. Twogood. “They can look like tiny little bugs in the pubic hair area, although sometimes they can be so small they can only be seen with a microscope. The nits look like tiny white balls.”

What do body lice bites look like?

A tickling feeling on your skin. Itchy and irritated skin. Groups of small, discolored (red, purple, brown) dots or bites. They may grow bigger and develop a lighter discolored ring around the outside.

How to relieve itchy pubic hair?

A cool compress is a classic fast and effective home remedy that can be a super-effective way to stop pubic hair itching. Reduce your inflammation and itching fast by simply taking a washcloth (make sure it's clean), soaking it in cold water, removing any excess water and applying it to the affected area.

What is the fastest way to get rid of body lice?

A person that has body lice should shower and regularly change into clean clothes to get rid of body lice and keep them from coming back. Infested clothing, bedding, and towels should be washed in hot water (at least 130°F) and then placed in a clothes dryer on the hot cycle to kill any lice and nits.

Can showering 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.

Why is there white stuff on my pubic hair?

Trichobacteriosis (formerly trichomycosis) is an asymptomatic infection of the axillary and less commonly the pubic hair shafts caused by Corynebacterium flavescens and other coryneform species. A bacterial biofilm encases the hair, creating yellow or white concretions distributed along the length of the hair shaft.

How do you know if you have lice?

Look for lice crawling on the scalp where the hair is parted or on the hair shaft. The lice will be dark in color and the size of a poppyseed. Look for nits near hair follicle about ¼ inch from scalp. Nits (eggs) will be white or yellowish-brown.

What kills pubic lice naturally?

6 home remedies for lice
  • Anise oil. Anise oil may coat and suffocate lice. ...
  • Olive oil. Olive oil offers similar benefits to anise oil, potentially suffocating lice and preventing them from returning. ...
  • Coconut oil. Coconut oil is a popular treatment for dry skin and hair. ...
  • Tea tree oil. ...
  • Petroleum jelly. ...
  • Mayonnaise.

At what age does pubic hair turn white?

In some individuals, the change in color of pubic hair may occur around the age of fifty, but it can happen earlier or later, depending on individual genetic predispositions and lifestyle factors.

Why does my pubic hair itch at night?

Why do my private parts itch at night? Having itchier skin at night is common because that's the time of day when changes to your body temperature and increases in blood flow to your skin occur. Your skin also loses water at night, making your skin extra dry and prone to itch.

How do I tell if I have crabs?

If you have pubic lice, you may notice:
  1. itching around your genitals or back passage (anus), especially at night, when the lice are most active.
  2. tiny blue spots around your genitals.
  3. spots of blood or fine, gritty debris in your underwear.
  4. visible lice or tiny eggs in your pubic hair.

Why is my pubic hair itchy no STD?

Itchy pubic hair is often caused by skin conditions, infections, or hygiene habits that irritate the skin and hair follicles. Common causes of itchy pubic hair include razor burn, allergic reactions, pubic lice (crabs), jock itch, eczema, and psoriasis.

Why do I still have stubble after shaving down there?

For most people, a bit of stubble begins to grow back after a few days. Shaving does not remove the hair from the root; it cuts hair close to the skin's surface.

How do I check myself for body lice?

Diagnosis. You can diagnose body lice infestation by finding eggs and crawling lice in the seams of clothing. Sometimes you can see a body louse crawling or feeding on the skin. Although body lice and nits can be large enough to see with the naked eye, a magnifying lens may help to find crawling lice or eggs.

What can be mistaken for lice?

Location: Lice lay eggs called nits while dandruff causes flaky skin. The two look similar, but close inspection reveals key differences. Nits stick to the hair while dandruff flakes, easily falling off of hair. While dandruff is visible on the scalp, lice lay eggs on hair, not the scalp.

Why do I feel something crawling in my hair but no lice?

This is a tactile hallucination known as formication. People with this condition are convinced the bugs are real, even with reassurance from others they are a hallucination. This makes formication difficult to treat for the person and their medical provider.

How do I get rid of crabs asap?

Self care
  1. Use lotions and shampoos. Choose from among several over-the-counter lotions and shampoos (Nix, others) designed to kill lice. ...
  2. Wash contaminated items. Wash bedding, clothing and towels used in the two days prior to treatment. ...
  3. Dry-clean or seal unwashable items.

What does pubic lice look like on a woman?

Pubic lice are generally tan in color and are about the size of the head of a pin. They are relatively flat and when seen on the skin they often look like small scabs.

Does shaving get rid of pubic lice?

You can treat pubic lice with a lice-killing lotion containing 1% permethrin or a mousse containing pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide. Shaving and other hair removal methods (waxing, sugaring) will not get rid of pubic lice.

Previous article
Should I apply minoxidil right after microneedling?
Next article
How do you make skin scars go away?