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Conditions

Phthirus Pubis

A tasty specimen of a pubic louse (Photo courtesy of CDC)

You can catch pubic lice through close body contact, such as during sex, because condoms – whilst offering effective protection from most STIs – cannot prevent infestations of lice (or ‘crabs’ as they’re otherwise known). Thankfully, the crabs we’re talking about aren’t sizeable crustaceans with nipping claws, but tiny grey-brown insects, about 2mm long, that live by sucking blood from the skin. You’ll find them living mainly in the places you’d expect, such as in the coarse hair of your pubes or around your anus, but they can also live on the abdomen and the back, in the armpits, on the head, and on eyelashes and eyebrows. If you now feel like hitting the shower and scrubbing yourself vigorously, I’m afraid it won’t wash the lice away. But if you suspect you’ve got a circus of lice in your underwear, then you should consult your GP, who may prescribe you an insecticidal lotion or cream to treat yourself with.

If you’re suffering from any of the conditions featured on this site and want to apply for an onscreen consultation with one of the EB team then you can find more details here >>

Remember that you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

omg im 14 i hav NEVER had sex nd i think i might hav crabs im scared 2 tell my mom because i don't want her to think i have sex, also i dont want to have to go to the doctors office and have them looking at me "down below" it itches but it doesnt burn. i looked but my vision really sucks even though i wear glasses :•/ but i just want to know how to tell my mom without being scared :•{





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nit lotion can be used for crabs or an old remedy which is... shave till completely bare then put malt vinegar on. It stings but it works.

heyy my fanny has ben itching for a few days now i think i may have caught crabs what shall i do?





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I've been shaving my vagina for about a year now and before I started doing it, I already knew about ingrowing hair. For the past several months I've noticed I have sore patches that are really irritable and go quite dry and scabby when i itch them and when they arent wet or moisturized. These patches have got worse over the past months. I'm still in school, and I'm too scared to tell anyone about it or even go to a GP incase they suspect that I've had sex. Although I haven't had sex, I've been in contact with naked penis' before. I'm really worried about it and I have no idea what it could be.





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i have spots in my pubic hair ,im a 14 yr old girl and im also a virgin theres about 20 spots which if squeezed have puss . they never go away and i dont see any lice they sometimes itch and leave scar marks ...what are they and why am i getting them ? .. and yes i keep the area clean , i also have the same type of spots on my face but only like normal and some on my upper back





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I dont think they are anything 2 worry about hun, im an adult woman who still gets the odd spot down there, i think the best thing 2 do is NOT squeeze them as with any kind of spot anywhere else it can irritate your skin cause soreness itching and scars.If your worried see ur GP, but i think puberty probably has the blame for this. xx

i have the exact same problem and im 14 yr old girl

i had this problem a few years ago after i shaved my pubic hair and i put sudocreme (cream) on and it worked wonders and i use it on my spots aswell hope this helps and dont worry most poeople will go threw this hun xx

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i always feel really itchy on the skin in and around my pubic hair, what is this?





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im really worried because i shaved down below and when my pubic hair started to grow back red spots appeared and i dont know what they are :/





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Hi :) When you shave your skin gets very irritated sometimes so that might be what it is dont worry this is normal and when people shave it happens all the time :) You might just have sensitive skin :)

hi i think i have crabs but i am not sure. i have not had sex but have a rash and red spots which sometimes bleeds. it is really itchy and stings aswell. is this crabs ? please help !!!





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i have had crabs befor and let me tell you, you panic at first but you then carlm down just go and see your doc and they will give you tha advice you need ok i hope those that do have crab lice have a happly ever after





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i dont understand what i have but im 16, but inbertween my ballsack and legs my pubic hair has a layer that looks like white crust, its it smells allot to i have searched it on the internet and the results i have found is that it might be called "trichomycosis pubis" and its off lack of washing, but i have a bath everyday, but i also found it mostly happens in hot countries, but i sweat allot, could that be the reason?





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I have crabs but the annoying thing is my pubes really hurt and all my hair hurt e.g. head hair, arm pit hair and leg hair. I've done nothing to the hair. It just hurts and under my pubes just my pubes when I lift them up I have little lumbs and on my scrotum I have littler lumps.





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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