Pubic lice (crabs) and scabies: recognising and treating bedroom parasites

Crabs and scabies: what are they?

They’re neither viruses nor bacteria, but skin parasites:

• crabs are pubic lice, which cling to pubic hair, sometimes chest, armpit or beard hair;
• scabies is caused by a tiny mite that digs small tunnels under the skin.

They spread through close body contact, so very easily during sex, but also via sheets, towels and clothes. Condoms don’t protect.

How to recognise them?

Crabs

• itching in the pubic area, often worse at night;
• small grey or brown dots moving in the hair, and nits (eggs) stuck to the base of hairs;
• small bluish spots or blood traces on underwear.

Scabies

• intense itching, especially at night, often affecting several people close to each other;
• small spots and thin burrows between fingers, on wrists, elbows, armpits, buttocks, genitals;
• itching can start several weeks after infection.

How to treat them?

See a doctor or pharmacist, who will suggest the right product:

• crabs: anti-lice lotion or shampoo (often pyrethrin-based), to repeat 7 to 10 days later because the first treatment doesn’t always kill the nits. Shaving isn’t required but can help;
• scabies: topical or oral treatment prescribed by a doctor, often in two rounds.

In both cases, French health insurance sources stress three rules:

1. Treat recent sexual partners and anyone sharing your bed at the same time;
2. wash at 60 °C minimum the sheets, towels and clothes used in the previous days, or seal them in a plastic bag for several days;
3. no close contact until treatment is finished.

Should I get tested?

Yes, it’s a good opportunity: if you caught parasites during sex, you may have been exposed to other STIs. Use it to get a full check-up.

And in sex venues?

Saunas, backrooms and group sex encourage transmission. Use your own towel, and watch for itching in the following weeks.