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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffPubic lice can be treated with the same nonprescription and prescription treatments used for head lice.
Medications
- Over-the-counter lotions or shampoos (Nix, Rid, others). These products are usually the first line of defense. However, if nonprescription products don't kill the lice, your doctor can prescribe a stronger shampoo or lotion.
- Malathion (Ovide). You apply this prescription lotion to the affected area and wash it off after eight to 12 hours. Malathion is flammable, so keep it away from heat sources such as hair dryers, electric curlers and cigarettes.
- Ivermectin (Stromectol). This medication is taken as a single dose of two pills, with an option to take another dose in 10 days if the treatment doesn't work. Ivermectin may be used to treat lice in the pubic region or when children have pubic lice in their eyelashes. Ivermectin may not be safe for pregnant or breast-feeding women or children who weigh less than 33 pounds (15 kilograms).
- Lindane. Another prescription lotion treatment for lice contains the medication lindane. Because of its toxicity, this is usually prescribed when other treatments fail. You apply lindane to the affected area and wash it off after four minutes. Your doctor may not recommend lindane if you weigh less than 110 pounds (50 kilograms), have used it in the past few months, are a women who is pregnant or breast-feeding, or are younger than 2 years of age. Side effects may include skin irritation, seizures and, rarely, death. Using lindane in higher than recommended amounts, or for longer than recommended, increases the risk of side effects.
- Eye treatments. If public lice are found in eyelashes, they can be treated by applying petroleum jelly to the eyelid and lashes three times a day for several days. In addition, or as an alternative, the lice and nits can be manually removed from eyelashes using a tweezers. Your doctor may also prescribe an ointment, like physostigmine, which is applied twice a day for eight to 10 days. This ointment may cause annoying eye spasms and irritate the skin.
Use these medications only as directed. Applying too much can cause red, irritated skin.
Whether you use over-the-counter or prescription shampoo to kill lice, much of the treatment involves self-care steps you can take at home. These include making sure all the nits are removed and that all clothing, bedding, personal items and furniture are decontaminated. In most cases, killing lice on your body isn't difficult. The challenge is getting rid of all the nits and avoiding contact with other lice at home.
