Crab Lice Treatment

Overview

Crab lice, also called pubic lice, are insects that feed off a human's blood. These small insects are appropriately named, because they look like tiny versions of ocean crabs. Crab lice primarily infest pubic hair, but they sometimes infest other hairy areas of the body as well. The insects are usually contracted through sexual activity, but can also be contracted through the sharing of clothing, towels or bedding with an infested person. There is a very small chance that they can be contracted from sitting on a toilet where crab lice are present. The first line of treatment for crab lice involves the use of an over-the-counter crab lice shampoo.

Step 1

Rub crab lice shampoo onto the infested areas of hair to create a lather. Over-the-counter crab lice shampoo can be purchased at your local pharmacy. Leave the shampoo lather on the hair for five minutes or as recommended on the shampoo bottle.

Step 2

Rinse the crab lice shampoo off the pubic hair with water.

Step 3

Run a fine-toothed comb through the treated hair to remove dead crab lice and nits (crab lice eggs).

Step 4

Put on clean clothes.

Step 5

Launder all clothes and bedding in hot water to kill crab lice and nits. Clothes and bedding that cannot be laundered in hot water can be placed inside of a sealed plastic bag for two weeks to kill the crab lice and nits.

Step 6

Repeat all of the above steps in 10 days if crab lice are still present.