Pubic Lice

What Are Pubic Lice?

Pubic lice (often called "crabs") are tiny insects that live in pubic hair and cause itching. They're passed through sexual contact or very occasionally through contaminated clothing or bedding. The good news? They're not dangerous—just uncomfortable and annoying. And they're completely treatable with a simple cream or lotion available at any Irish pharmacy.

How Do You Get Them?

Pubic lice spread through direct sexual contact with an infected person. Very rarely, they can spread through shared towels, bedding, or clothing—but this is uncommon. They live in pubic hair and sometimes in other body hair, and they can't live on the skin itself.

Symptoms

• Intense itching in the pubic area, especially at night
• Small red or brown insects visible in the hair
• Nits (tiny white eggs) stuck to hair shafts
• Blue spots on the skin from bite marks (rare but distinctive)
• Symptoms can appear 5-7 days after exposure

Some people have no symptoms at all, so regular testing is still important if you've had unprotected sex.

Testing & Diagnosis

A doctor or sexual health nurse can diagnose pubic lice by visual inspection. They'll look for the lice themselves or the nits. It's straightforward and not uncomfortable.

Irish clinics offering tests:

• Your GP (free)
• Sexual Health Clinics (free on the HSE)
• Sexual health services in your county

Treatment

Pubic lice are treated with topical treatments (creams, lotions, or shampoos) available at any Irish pharmacy—many are over-the-counter and cost €5-15. Common treatments include permethrin cream or malathion lotion.

How it works:

• Apply the treatment as directed (usually for 10 minutes)
• Wash off thoroughly
• Repeat after 7-10 days to catch any newly hatched lice
• Wash all affected clothing and bedding in hot water

You're usually sorted within 2-3 weeks. Sexual partners should be treated at the same time to avoid reinfection.

Prevention

• Regular sexual health checks if you're sexually active
• Communication with partners about testing and status
• Avoid sharing towels with others
• Wash bedding regularly in hot water

Support & Resources

There's no shame in getting pubic lice—they happen to loads of people. Many Irish sexual health clinics offer confidential, non-judgmental support. If you're embarrassed about visiting in person, many clinics now offer online consultations or phone appointments.

Your sexual partners should be notified so they can get tested and treated too. Most clinics can help you with partner notification if that feels difficult.