What are crabs – STD facts, tips and myths

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What are crabs? They’re more than just the butt of sex jokes or obscene wordplay involving sea creatures. They’re highly contagious, and even without having sex you can still get infected (and no, not from your chair).

Here’s more information on what exactly they are, how you can get them, and how to treat them.

What is Crab?

Pubic lice, also known as pubic lice, are tiny, highly contagious parasites that love to feed on human blood. Pubic lice also usually live on pubic hair (as the name suggests), but that doesn’t mean they can’t find other suitable areas of the body to call home. These areas include beards, eyelashes, eyebrows, or hair around the anus.

What are the symptoms?

• Itching – mainly at night
• Red, bumpy skin or lesions
• rash or irritation
• Blue spots on infected skin (where they feed)
• Brown spots on underwear
• Eye inflammation (if on the eyelashes)
• Lack of energy or low-grade fever
• irritability

However, it is also possible that someone may not even know they have the disease as they may not show any symptoms at all.

How do they spread?

The problem is, these slippery little suckers are easily spread from person to person. Usually it’s through sex or intimate contact, but they can also be spread through bedding, towels, or any clothing shared by multiple people. And to make your skin even itchier, even hugging can spread them.

How to treat them?

The good news is that pubic lice are easily treatable. You just need to go to the pharmacy and buy some over-the-counter medication. Don’t be embarrassed, these pharmacists are well-informed. They will never let you down.

• You can buy products that contain 1% permethrin or pyrethrin—usually in the form of a lotion or shampoo. However, these ingredients only kill live crabs, not their eggs. So you’ll need to do a second treatment about a week later.
• Wash your pubic area (or any infected area) thoroughly with soap and warm water, then make sure it is dry. Also, make sure you use a clean towel (not one that your infected partner has used).
• Use any medicine your doctor/pharmacist gives you – and use it exactly as directed! Even if your healthcare provider doesn’t tell you how to use it, there will always be very detailed instructions on the box.
• Pay attention to the time. The amount of time you leave your shampoo and lotion on will vary.
• Rinse the medication off thoroughly with warm water. Be sure to rinse thoroughly so you can remove any dead lice or loose nits.
• Use a different towel to dry your body afterwards.

But wait! …There’s more…

• Keep infected clothing or towels separate and wash them separately immediately after treatment is completed.
• Additionally, you’ll need to wash any bedding that has been used in the past month using a hot cycle and the dryer’s hottest setting for at least 20 minutes.
• Another good tip is to place all infested items in sealed plastic bags (if you can’t wash them right away).
• If your doctor gives you a lice “comb,” be sure to use it. You just need to comb through sections of hair carefully. Dip the comb in hot, soapy water after each combing. Be sure to disinfect the comb afterwards.
• If you have scabs on your eyelashes, there is a special petroleum jelly that will help. But it is only available by prescription. Do not use lotions or shampoo around your eyes!
• Your doctor may tell you to use tweezers to remove loose lice eggs and lice crabs, but only do this if they recommend it.

It is very important to observe the infected area after treatment – to make sure it is completely gone. You will also need to call past sexual partners (within the past 4-5 weeks) so they can check if they have also picked up the infected area. Needless to say, sexual intercourse is not allowed until the pubic lice are cleared.

Side Note – If other people you live with end up being infected, you must get treated at the same time.

To do a better job, sleep in freshly laundered sheets and disinfected pajamas every night. Yes, it may sound like a lot, but it can help clean up faster. It’s also best to vacuum your room and disinfect your bathroom with bleach.

Other facts and rumors

• On closer inspection, they look very similar to crabs – hence their name
• Their eggs are small, oval, and shiny.
• They are whitish-grey in color but turn brown after feeding.
• No, they won’t stick to your toilet or chairs – but if you’re really cautious you can vacuum them up or spray things with a recommended insecticide
• As long as they are attached to their host, the crabs will live and reproduce.
• They don’t “fall off and die within 24 hours”
• There is no need to shave the hairs after an infection. Shaving the hairs may not remove them.
• You don’t need to burn your bedding, as some rumors suggest.
• They are not caused by poor personal hygiene (this is a huge misconception)
• They may be the same species as head lice, but they are not identical and are treated differently
• Some say you can catch crabs from animals – that’s a myth
• As many as 30% of the population have eaten crabs
• Home remedies don’t work. No amount of essential oils can kill these crawlers.

Important health considerations

• If you are pregnant, talk with your doctor about the best treatment options.
• The parasites themselves do not cause any serious health problems, but the accompanying itching may lead to other problems, such as secondary infections.
• Children with infected eyelashes are at risk for conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. Before you panic, pubic lice don’t always come through sexual contact. Bedding or towels could be the culprit.
• You need to be extra careful with pubic lice on your eyelashes (and even eyebrows) because if left untreated, it can lead to more serious health issues such as blepharitis, conjunctivitis, and corneal epithelial keratitis, among others.
• Go get tested for STDs. It’s better to be careful.

Well, there you have it! Yes, these little bugs can be annoying. But the good news is, they are treatable. So if you find yourself itching down there and have discovered an unwelcome guest in your home, don’t be shy about heading to the drugstore and picking up some medication.