Pubic lice are small parasites that infest the pubic hair, abdominal hair, chest hair, and underarm hair of humans. There, pubic lice feed on human blood and lay up to three eggs per day.
Below you will find more information about pubic lice as well as a selection of doctors who treat pubic lice.
Pubic lice bites cause small bruises, skin lesions, redness, and severe itching. An infestation with pubic lice is also known as pediculosis pubis. Pubic lice are found worldwide and infest only humans, mostly adults.
Pubic lice cannot survive for more than 24 hours without a host and, unlike head or body lice, do not transmit any diseases.
Pubic lice are transmitted primarily through close physical contact, particularly during sexual intercourse. An infestation with pubic lice is therefore classified as a sexually transmitted disease (STD). There is no mandatory reporting requirement for pubic lice in Germany.
What are pubic lice?
Pubic lice are known by the scientific name Phthirus pubis. They are parasites measuring 1 to 2 millimeters in size, with a rounded, grayish-white body and six legs. Pubic lice feed on human blood and turn a rusty-red color after feeding.
Pubic lice cling to the affected person’s pubic hair using strong claws located at the ends of their legs. Pubic lice have a life expectancy of about three weeks.
Pubic lice do not infest the hair on the head @ Warren Rosenberg /AdobeStock
During this time, fertilized females lay up to three eggs per day. The nits stick to the shafts of the pubic hair due to a special secretion. Within three to four weeks, these nits develop into new, sexually mature pubic lice.
Pubic lice are transmitted primarily through close physical contact, especially during sexual intercourse. In rare cases, transmission can also occur when people share bedding, mattresses, towels, or clothing (underwear). Poor personal hygiene facilitates the transmission of pubic lice.
Pubic lice prefer to nest in warm and sometimes moist areas of the body with many sweat glands. They therefore mainly infest the pubic hair in the genital and anal regions.
However, they occasionally thrive in other hairy areas of the body as well. These include, among others, the abdomen, chest, armpits, and thighs. From time to time, pubic lice can be found on the eyebrows, in the eyelashes, or in the beard.
It usually takes three to six days after infection for pubic lice to become noticeable through intense itching. However, it is also possible that no noticeable symptoms appear at first. As a result, pubic lice can sometimes remain undetected and untreated for a long time.
A pubic lice infestation is characterized by severe itching in the pubic area, which becomes unbearable at night. This itching is triggered by a substance secreted by the blood-sucking pubic lice when they bite the skin.
Other signs of a pubic lice infestation include:
If you experience itching in the genital area or suspect an infestation, you should see a specialist in dermatology and venereology.
The doctor can make the diagnosis fairly quickly, as pubic lice and their eggs are visible to the naked eye or with a magnifying glass.
If in doubt, they can also examine the pubic lice and their eggs under a microscope.
Special shampoos, creams, sprays, lotions, or solutions are used to treat pubic lice. These contain the active ingredients pyrethrum or lindane. The patient should apply the treatment to the affected areas of skin and let it sit for several hours.
The goal of these substances is to kill the pubic lice and their eggs and prevent them from multiplying. The patient must repeat the treatment after one week to eliminate newly hatched larvae from any remaining eggs.
If the patient has heavy body hair, they should also treat the abdomen, buttocks, and thighs with these substances. In addition, it may be advisable for men to completely shave their pubic and underarm hair, as well as their beards.
The affected person should avoid close physical contact and sexual intercourse until the treatment for pubic lice has been successfully completed. In addition, family members and partners should also check themselves for pubic lice and seek treatment if necessary. This will help prevent mutual reinfection with pubic lice.
To kill all pubic lice and their eggs, you should carefully wash bedding, clothing, underwear, and towels at 60 degrees Celsius.
Pubic lice on a bedspread @ Joshua /AdobeStock
Alternatively, you can store the items in an airtight plastic bag or in the freezer for three days to several weeks.
This will kill the pubic lice within 24 hours at most.
Pubic lice are among the less serious sexually transmitted infections that can be treated quickly and without complications.
