Thursday 4 July 2013

Crabs/Pubic Lice/Body Lice: When the hairy areas get itchy


Crabs - or pubic lice, body lice, phthirus pubis - are parasitic insects that live on human hair (especially pubic hair) that can be transferred from person to person through intimate body contact.

They are a fact of life if you have multiple sexual partners, especially at bathhouses/saunas. Make no mistake, if you play around sexually with other partners sooner or later you will catch a dose of crabs – guaranteed! Your extra-marital partners will most likely show no obvious signs of infestation especially if you are playing in the darkness or semi darkness.

Indicators of crab infestation:
Itchiness! From one to fourteen days from contact, an itchy area usually indicates they are there, so look for a dark spot on the skin or hair. In close-up you’ll see little legs and if you transfer the crab via tweezers to a plain backed area you’ll see them move.  Don’t confuse the itchiness from trimmed pubic hair growing back or some other itchy skin disease or fungus symptoms. Itchiness doesn’t have to be crabs.

An egg can be found as a nodule on the hair stalk.  If itchy in the anal area or lower back (especially if you are hairy in those regions) and you have no-one to check it for you then you should assume that you have crabs and undertake the medication. Also check your underarms, eyebrows and head.  Always assume that one crab means a likelihood of more – and possibly located in a different hairy area of your body. Dark, moist, warm areas like under the balls or in the buttock crack, are favourite breeding grounds for them. Sometimes you’ll also see red spots like bites. If you’ve had crabs for a week or two this can be an additional sign of infestation.

You see crabs on your partner:
If you are giving oral sex to a man and there is ample light, flick your eyes into his hairy pubes whilst continuing to go up and down on him. This will give you ample time to check for any eggs on the hairs or indeed the crabs themselves crawling about. A favourite nesting area for them is the recessed belly button area. Believe me, it’s very disconcerting to suddenly discover your partner is infected. Your interest in sex wilts and you just want to get out of there as fast as you can.

Do you tell him? 
Yes, I believe you should. If he hasn’t been aware of having them then he needs to know so that he can stop infecting others with the little devils.  And you will need to immediately take action to cleanse yourself of any possible infestation. If the infestation is in your partner’s pubes then be sure to give special attention to your scalp hair as it’s highly likely that when your were giving him oral your head was rubbing in to his pubic regions thus increasing the likelihood of transfer.  If you’ve just had naked body hugging (including pubes to pubes contact) then there is also a high likelihood of transference.

The simple remedy:
An over-the-counter preparation (a cream) from a drug-store or pharmacy that takes 10 minutes to use will rid you of them. This involves being naked, slightly wet your skin and cover your body with the cream and leave for 10 minutes. Pay particular attention to covering all hairy areas anywhere on the body including head, under-arms, buttocks, legs and the stomach pubes.  Then shower. And dry off with a new towel. Don’t use a face-washer that has previously been used and with the soap, using a new cake would be preferable. It’s very important not to come in to any contact with items that have previously been touched by your body.  Start everything new and fresh as this eliminates a possible re- infestation. Use the fine tooth comb that comes with the cream to remove any dead eggs from the hairs.

Be aware that there is a medicinal aroma associated with the cream. So if you don’t want to be asked by your wife about the smell then take an extended time to wash the body extra clean using a perfumed soap and then cover up with a nice after-shave or talc. A walk in the outdoors is also a good way to eliminate some of the odour.

All clothing, bed linen and towels that have been in contact with your skin should be washed in hot water. And after using the cream medication begin with fresh towels and clothing. If you’ve been infected for a few days (or think you possibly have) then don’t forget to change all clothing especially underwear and including pyjamas if you wear them.

Tell others:
You should also advise your recent partners (if you know them) that you have been infected, as there is a high chance that they will also have had a transfer of the parasites. They in turn could re-infect you or another partner. Trimmed or shaved hair on your body can also make catching crabs a little less likely and it’s certainly easier to locate them if you do have them, but it’s no guarantee of protection.  Neither is use of a condom.

And what of your wife or female partners?
If you have had naked body contact with her and you’ve probably been infected a few days, then she has to know. Sheets, night clothes, pillows and towels are all potential transfer points for the crabs, so there is every chance she too could be infested. The crabs have to be eliminated from every point where they could re-infest to another person or back to yourself.

Excuses for having caught crabs:
Your excuse could range from “I must have picked it up from the kids and their school friends” through to a “dirty toilet seat in the park” to “they’re going around work” or “that’s the last time I shower at the gym”.  But really most people know that it takes naked human contact to transfer the little blighters. So be prepared for some awkward questioning. This is the downside of playing sexually beyond the marriage.

If crabs are discovered today:
If you’ve only just discovered during your sexploits today that your male partner has crabs, then you don’t have to worry about the situation at home as you haven’t carried anything home as yet. So ask you male sex partner if he has any of the cream in his cupboard (and if he’s a gay man he most likely has) and use it there, so you can walk out of his place knowing the possible infestation has been stopped. But if you have to wear clothing, especially underwear, between his place and where you can use the cream on yourself, then you must be able to change into new clean clothing before using anything at home. So a cream application and a shower at the gym or the office without putting back on the old clothing is a good idea. Arrive home in your gym gear, shower and change in to new clothes and no-one need be the wiser about your little visitors. Crisis averted – for now!

Summary:
Crabs are simply a nuisance. As you can see they can be easily disposed of by a simple over-the-counter cream, 10 minutes of your time and hot water to wash all clothing. It’s the side effect of the need to explain – and of feeling sexually dirty and unclean that will linger with you.

If you sexually play beyond monogamy, you will get crabs sooner or later. Be prepared. 


Disclaimer: All advice and information given here on this blog is general in nature and non-specific to any individual, couple or group. You are encouraged to seek your own independent professional medical, psychological and counselling advice. 

For more details about other man-to-man sex issues read
THE VERSATILE HUSBAND by Peter Benn
e-book and paperback at Amazon.com or
paperback only at your favourite online or local bookstore.

"A straightforward, practical guide for men in heterosexual relationships who'd like to explore sex with other men.  Frank, honest and understanding."
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