Effective home remedies to treat Pubic lice

What are pubic lice?

Tiny insects known as pubic lice, or crab lice, infest a person's pubic hair, though they can also be found on eyelashes, armpit hair, and facial hair.  Since the insects resemble crabs, people who have them are frequently referred to as having "crabs."  They can move around and stay on their human host because their claws allow them to grab hair.  

Like all lice, crab lice exclusively consume the blood of their host.  The eggs laid by female lice adhere to the hair shaft near the skin.  An egg takes roughly seven to ten days to hatch.  At any given time, the majority of individuals with crab lice infestations will have a dozen or fewer active lice on them, and the hairs may contain numerous living and developed eggs.

Symptoms and Signs of Pubic Lice

With only a few lice and eggs present during the initial infestation, one might have pubic lice without symptoms.  Symptoms may not appear for up to four weeks after the lice nits hatch.

•  Additional signs that a pubic lice infestation may be present include:
•  Lice or visible lice eggs.  Seeing lice nits or crawling lice in the vaginal area is one technique to narrow down a diagnosis.  The lice eggs appear as small, difficult-to-remove white specks in the pubic hair. 
• Itching.  Genital itching is a common problem for those with pubic lice.  As lice become more active at night and bury their heads inside the pubic hair follicles to obtain blood, this feeling may worsen.
• Underwear with blood on it. Tiny bloodstains in the underpants may indicate the presence of pubic lice.
• The pubic area may occasionally become irritated and even develop hives and wheals due to an allergic reaction to the proteins in the saliva of pubic lice.  More severe itching may result, which could lead to a subsequent bacterial infection.  Additionally, scratching may encourage the spread of pubic lice.

Also, read https://www.healthshots.com/intimate-health/feminine-hygiene/pubic-lice-treatment-home-remedies/.

Diagnosing: 

The lower abdomen, buttocks, or thighs may develop pale bluish patches.   Eyebrow Discomfort  Pubic lice exposure can cause blepharitis, an infection or irritation of the eyelids, in young children. 

Finding the insects and their eggs on the hair is essential to diagnosing a crab lice infestation.  Examine anyone with crab lice for other sexually transmitted illnesses, as sexual activity typically spreads the majority of crab louse infections.  Numerous individuals who have crab lice also have another STD, according to several studies.  When someone is diagnosed with crab lice, their sexual partners should be informed and encouraged to have a medical examination.

While the majority of crab lice infestations are spread through sexual contact, sharing a bed or clothing with an infected person can also result in an infestation, as can other direct contact.  Crab lice can survive without a human host for approximately twenty-four hours.

 Anticipated time frame

• Until they are addressed, crab louse infestations typically persist.  The infestation is typically eradicated quickly with treatment.

 Avoidance

• Avoid having sex with someone who has crab lice, and don't share a bed or clothes with someone who has them.
•  It's also necessary to treat recent sexual partners.  Resuming sexual activity should be postponed until both partners have received effective treatment.

When to contact a specialist

Even though there are over-the-counter medicines to cure crab lice infestations, it is advisable to speak with your healthcare provider if you think you might be infested because you might possibly be suffering from another STD.  Additionally, you should follow up with your healthcare provider to ensure that the infestation has been adequately treated and seek advice if your symptoms are particularly severe.

The outlook

 Infestations of crab lice are easily treated and do not cause any long-term problems.

 How Does Pubic Lice Spread, and Who Is at Risk for It?

• Getting a diagnosis has nothing to do with your hygiene or cleanliness, and anyone can develop pubic lice.  Worldwide, pubic lice infestations affect individuals from all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Sexual contact causes lice to transfer from one person's pubic hair to another, which accounts for the great majority of these cases.  It's crucial to remember that contact alone can result in the spread of pubic lice; thus, sexual activity is not the only method to get infested.
•  Additionally, although it is uncommon, sharing clothes, towels, or bed linens with someone who has an active pubic lice infestation may lead to acquiring pubic lice.  However, the idea that sitting on a toilet seat can cause pubic lice is untrue.  (Pubic lice have no feet to walk on a toilet seat and need a warm human body to survive.) 
•  The spread of pubic lice is not facilitated by dogs, cats, or other animals. 

 Handle a Pubic Lice Case

• There are several over-the-counter (OTC) solutions for treating pubic lice.  These treatments, which include medications like Nix and Rid, are often the same as those used to eliminate head lice.  However, a prescription might be necessary if these over-the-counter remedies prove ineffective. 
•  In any case, sex partners ought to receive treatment as well.  Any topical treatment, whether over-the-counter or not, must be administered to all potentially affected areas of the body, such as the thighs, lower belly, underarms, and the area next to the rectum.  
•  Lastly, be aware that shaving will not eliminate pubic lice. 

 Among the remedies for pubic lice are:

Lotions and mousses are sold over-the-counter  . Permethrin or a combination of pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide are the ingredients in these lice-killing products.  To use, clean and dry the area around the pubic region, apply the medication as prescribed, let it sit for ten minutes, and then rinse it off. 

Shampoo on Prescription  Despite killing lice and nits, lindane shampoos like Kwell and Thionex are not recommended as first-line treatments since they can be harmful, particularly for those with epilepsy disorders and pregnant or nursing women.  Usually, lindane is only used for patients who have not responded well to another treatment or who are unable to handle it. 

Ointment made of petroleum:  Use a cotton swab to apply prescription-grade petroleum jelly on infested eyebrows or eyelashes at night, and wash it off every morning for eight to ten days.  (Vaseline and other OTC petroleum jelly can cause eye irritation.) 

There are still crucial actions to do to prevent pubic lice and to lessen the itching after the initial lice treatment:

• Nitpick.  Many nits will still be affixed to the pubic hair shafts following treatment.  A fine-toothed lice comb or fingernails can be used to eradicate them. 
• Put on some hydrocortisone lotion.  Even after pubic lice have been successfully eradicated, itching may continue.  A hydrocortisone cream can assist in reducing itching if that's the case.
• Clean the beds and clothes.  Any clothing, towels, and bed linens used by the infected individual two to three days before therapy should be machine-washed at 130 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.  Use the highest setting on the machine to dry them. 
•  Seal or dry-clean additional items.  For two weeks, clothing and bedding that cannot be machine-washed should be carefully wrapped in a plastic bag or sent to the dry cleaner. 
•  Inform sexual partners.  Anyone who had intercourse (oral, anal, or vaginal) with an infected individual in the past month should be informed that they are susceptible to contracting pubic lice. 
•  Steer clear of sexual interaction.  Wait until the infestation has been effectively treated before having any sexual contact via the mouth, anal region, or vagina. 

 Reapply the therapy.  Treat again if live lice are still discovered after 9 to 10 days. 

 Home cures for treating pubic lice

• Certain tactics, such as utilizing over-the-counter medications, washing all clothing and bedding in hot water, and manually removing lice with tweezers, can be beneficial even if there are no safe, effective, and scientifically validated over-the-counter home remedies. 
•  It is advised to see a doctor, particularly if your symptoms are persistent or if home treatment proves ineffective.
• First things first: Make use of over-the-counter items: As instructed, use medicated shampoos and lotions.  
• Repeat treatment: To eradicate freshly born lice, a second application is frequently required seven to ten days later.      
• Decontaminating and cleaning: Clean all clothing, towels, and bedding.  To dry them, use hot water (at least 130°F or 54°C) and set the heat to high. 
•  Sort out what can't be washed: Anything that can't be washed should be taken to a dry cleaner or kept in a sealed plastic bag for at least two weeks.  
• Steer clear of pesticides: Avoid using insecticides on clothing or in your house.           
•  After therapy, get rid of the nits: To extract any leftover eggs (nits) from the hair, use tweezers or your fingernails.   
• Steer clear of sexual contact: Wait until you and your partner or partners have received treatment and the symptoms have subsided before having sex. 
• Inform partners: Inform any sexual partners you may have had in the previous month so they can be examined and treated.

Conclusion

Pubic lice are not known to transmit any infectious diseases, but persistent scratching can cause a secondary skin infection.