Fight the urge to itch, as getting lice under your fingernails or on your hands will make the infection more likely to spread. Even if you’re not entirely sure crabs may be the culprit, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
The longer you’ve had crabs, the more visible these colored spots will become. If left untreated, the area will be covered in all the dark spots the lice have bit.
Of course, it’s not just your pubic hair that could be affected, though that’s the most common site. If necessary, take a close look at your eyebrows and eyelashes, too, for similar manifestations.
These are just as important to get rid of as the crabs themselves. Once you’ve started treatment and adult lice aren’t visible, nits are what you need to keep an eye on to make sure the infection doesn’t return.
The average louse is about 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter. They are very tiny and just barely visible to the human eye. Your dermatologist might use a magnifying glass to diagnose you. It’s a surefire way to know exactly what you’re dealing with.
Crabs feed roughly every 45 minutes. You may notice a change in color in this interval if you monitor them stringently.
They love warm areas. If the temperature drops (as in they get removed from the body), they will head for warmer ground. This means you may be able to find them in your sheets or in other dark, stuffy areas.
Along with treating your body, treat your home, too. Wash your sheets, towels, and linens to prevent any lice that may be surviving out in the open from creating a recurring issue. This goes double if you live with others, as crabs are contagious and do not require physical contact for transference.
Live lice form (which can be seen crawling on the infected area) Egg form (otherwise known as “nits”) Finding either form indicates the presence of an infestation which requires immediate treatment. Even just one egg can present a problem.
In cases of infestation that have not been treated for a long period of time, discoloured skin may be seen at the sites where the lice have been constantly biting and feeding from your blood.
Pubic lice in the eyelashes or eyebrows gives rise to irritation of the eyes leading to potential cases of conjunctivitis as well as secondary infections of the eye.
Additionally, with care, tweezers may be used to remove any visible lice that may be present within the eyelashes and eyebrows. Regular petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) must not be used in the eyes as it is an irritant.
