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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Body lice can be found anywhere on your body, and particularly in the seams of your clothing. If you have body lice, you may experience:
- Itching. Intense itching on your body.
- Rash. You may have an allergic reaction to the lice bites, resulting in a rash.
- Lice or eggs (nits) on your body or in your clothing. Body lice feed on your blood but then return to your clothing to live and lay eggs. You may see lice on your body, but body lice primarily live in clothing, particularly the seams.
- Skin changes. If you're infested with body lice for a long time, you may experience skin changes such as thickening and discoloration in the areas most heavily infested.
When to see a doctor
Usually you can get rid of body lice by taking self-care steps that include properly washing and treating clothing and other infested items. However, it's a good idea to see your doctor to confirm that you have body lice. And in some cases, you may need a nonprescription shampoo, such as Rid or Nix, that's specifically made to kill lice.
However, see your doctor if:
- These steps don't eliminate the infestation
- You have infected hives or skin abrasions from scratching
