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Pubic lice

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goodtoknow says: Pubic lice, also known as 'crabs', are browny grey insects you 'catch' through sexual contact or hugging or kissing someone who's infected. They're tiny, about 1-2mm long, and attach themselves to any coarse hair such as genital, chest hair, underarm hair, even beard hair, eyelashes or eyebrows. The female lice lay eggs that hatch within seven days. The main problem is they make you itch, but an insecticide treatment applied in two doses to your entire body should clear them up quickly. Avoid sex if you suspect you have them, and inform anyone you may have passed them to.

For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatment of pubic lice from patient.co.uk read on

Pubic lice are passed on by close bodily contact such as when having sex. The main symptom is itch, usually in the pubic hair area. However, you may not have any symptoms, but may still pass on the lice to others. Treatment with a lotion or cream usually clears the lice. You should be checked out for other sexually transmitted infections if the lice came from a sexual contact.

What are pubic lice?

Pubic lice (often called 'crabs') are tiny insects about 1-2 mm long (smaller than a match-head). They are grey or brown in colour. Female lice lay eggs which hatch into lice after about seven days. Pubic lice attach strongly to hairs, and do not wash or brush off with normal cleaning.
Pubic lice commonly affect the pubic hair. However, they may also affect hair around the anus, underarm hair, beard, chest, eyebrows, and body hair. Eyelashes are occasionally affected. Scalp hair is a different type of hair, and is not commonly affected. (A different kind of louse called the head louse is the one that usually infects scalp hair.)