Q Hello doctor, i am 19 year boy with problem of white flakes at the base of my pubic hair and like dandruff along with intense itching since past 3 months. Recently, i came to know that i am having infestation of lice in the pubic area when visited a doctor near my house. So what causes this infestation? How do people get it and what is its treatment?
These are called Crab lice which usually spread by sexual contact. This type of lice likes hairy areas of the body. They live by sucking blood from the skin and attaching their eggs to the pubic hair. The eggs are called nits. One can get crab lice from any type of close body contact with an infected person or by using that persons sheets, towels, or other personal items that might have contacted the infected area. Crab lice are extremely contagious. Crab lice are treated with an over-the-counter shampoo specially designed to kill the lice and their eggs. If this does not work, some may need a stronger treatment. Follow the instructions that come with the product for the best results. One would need to remove the dead nits by using a fine-tooth comb or tweezers after treatment. A topical cream may be recommended to relieve itching, or an antibiotic if any bacterial infection. Wash bedding, towels, and clothes in hot water and detergent, and dry them thoroughly at a high heat setting to kill any remaining lice.