Pubic lice

Pubic lice are very small, crab-like creatures which live in the pubic hair.

Pubic lice are not necessarily sexually transmitted, but can be passed on through close body contact or sharing towels and bed linen.

How to recognise them

Pubic lice are tiny and difficult to see, so you may not notice them at all. You may notice other signs like:

• 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.

How to treat them

Treatment is with special solutions. If they are left untreated, the lice may spread to other parts of the body, including chest hair and eyelashes, although this is uncommon.