Online Crabs Treatment (Pubic Lice)

Crabs are treated with a medicated lotion, cream rinse, or shampoo that kills the lice. Most people clear the infestation in one or two treatments. Commonly used treatments include:

• Permethrin 1% cream rinse – First-line treatment. 
• Pyrethrins with piperonyl butoxide – An over-the-counter shampoo or mousse, also washed off after 10 minutes. 
• Malathion 0.5% lotion – Used when permethrin or pyrethrin doesn’t work, since resistance to both has become widespread.
• Oral ivermectin – Reserved for stubborn or repeat infestations.
• Laundry and household steps – Machine-wash and hot-dry bedding, towels, and clothing used in the 2–3 days before treatment at 130°F (54°C) or higher.
• Treating your partner – Anyone you’ve had sex with in the past month needs treatment, too, and sex should wait until you’ve both been treated and rechecked.

A doctor can review your symptoms in the app and send treatment to the pharmacy you choose, often the same day. The medications we prescribe for crabs include:

• Permethrin 1% cream rinse
• Antiparasitic medication such as Ivermectin

Describe your symptoms to one of our doctors, and when it is medically appropriate, they can issue your treatment through our online prescription service. Sexual partners should be treated at the same time, and testing for other sexually transmitted infections is advised.

Crabs, also called pubic lice, are tiny wingless insects called Pthirus pubis that live in coarse body hair and feed on blood. They get their nickname from their crab-like claws, which they use to grip hair.

Pubic lice usually live in the pubic area but can also affect the armpits, chest, back, beard, mustache, eyelashes, and eyebrows. They usually cause intense itching because of an allergic reaction to their bites.

Pubic lice do not spread disease and are not usually dangerous, but they will not go away without treatment.

Pubic lice are caused by an infestation of Pthirus pubis, and they spread through close physical contact. Common causes and risk factors include:

• Sexual contact – Lice crawl from one person’s body hair to another’s during sex, so condoms don’t prevent them.
• Close skin-to-skin contact – Any prolonged contact between hairy areas of the body can move lice across, even without intercourse.
• Sharing bedding, towels, or clothing – Less common, but possible if items were used by someone with an active infestation in the past couple of days.
• New or multiple sexual partners – More partners means more exposure, which is why crabs are often found alongside another STI.