Identifying and Treating Lice & Pubic Lice: Symptoms & Solutions

Itchy skin, sores, a bluish-gray skin discoloration in the pubic area, small red bumps and hard-to-remove white specs at the base of hairs are all indications that you have bugs living in your hair. Pubic lice thrive in your crotch area and in the hair on your legs. Head lice live in the hair on your head and are concentrated behind your ears and the back of your head. Pubic lice spread through close human contact, but can also be caught from toilet seats or even trying on underwear or swimsuits at a store that was tried on by someone infected. You can kill bugs in your hair with a medicated lotion or shampoo.

Instructions

Head Lice

• 1

  Purchase a lotion or shampoo containing 1 percent permethrin. This is available without prescription at most pharmacies.

• 2

  Rinse and thoroughly dry your hair, then apply shampoo or lotion, working it in down to the scalp. Let it soak in for 10 minutes before your rinse it out.

• 3

  Run a metal nit comb through beeswax. Comb your hair from the scalp out to the end of the hair -- do your best to cover your entire scalp. This will remove the eggs at the base of your hair. Repeat every seven days until cured.

• 4

  Wash all your clothes on the hot cycle with detergent. This will kill any eggs or lice that have fallen from your scalp, and help prevent reinfection.

• 5

  Consult your physician if the lice persist.

Pubic Lice

• 6

  Talk to your doctor. The best way to get rid of pubic lice is with a medicated shampoo or lotion that is only available with a prescription.

• 7

  Massage the shampoo into the infected area for at least five minutes.

• 8

  Apply vinegar to the affected region. This will help loosen the bug eggs at the base of the hairs.

• 9

  Comb your pubic hair with a fine-toothed comb, starting at the skin, to remove the bugs and their eggs.

• 10

  Wash all clothing and bedsheets on the hot cycle to kill any lice that have fallen off of your body. This will help prevent reinfection.