Pubic Lice Treatment

Pubic lice treatment will be high on your to-do list if you find you've been infected with the little buggers. The itching can keep you up all night, and the thought of nasty little crab lice crawling around on your junk should be enough to give anyone the willies. Unfortunately, regular washing or shampooing of the affected area won't be sufficient to kill crabs. Getting rid of them takes special treatment, and killing the adults won't be enough. There are several steps involved in successful pubic lice treatment.

1. Confirm the infestation with a medical provider. If you can't afford a doctor, there should be free clinics in your area. If you're a student, your school most likely has a student health center that can help you out.
2. 1% permethrin creme is the most recommended pubic lice treatment. It is available over the counter without a prescription. Be sure to wash and thoroughly dry the pubic area before applying the creme. Leave it for 10 minutes, then rinse again, making sure to remove all traces. Remember to put on clean clothing after the treatment - don't use the same things you were wearing before your pubic lice treatment.
3. There are three life stages of pubic lice: adults, immature nymphs and the eggs, called nits. The permethrin creme will kill the adults and nymphs, but you still need to remove the nits manually. This can be done with a fine tooth comb, tweezers or your fingernails. Be sure to carefully wash your hands after pubic lice treatment. While not necessary, you may shave the area to help with nit removal. Note that shaving is not a cure.
4. If the infestation includes facial hair, it's important to check with a medical provider before pubic lice treatment, as the permethrin creme should not be applied to the face.
5. Prevent re-infestation by laundering all clothing, bedding and towels that had been used since the initial infection. Dry in the clothes dryer on the hottest setting possible. Anything that can't be safely washed can be dry cleaned or put in a plastic bag for at least 72 hours. Smaller items can be put in a plastic bag in the freezer for 24 hours.
6. You may repeat pubic lice treatment in seven to ten days, if necessary. This can be a good way to kill newly hatched nymphs from any nits you may have missed in the first go around.