Diagnosis
You or a healthcare professional may diagnose body lice after seeing eggs or crawling lice on clothing seams. You also might see eggs or crawling lice on bedding. You can see body lice on skin when they feed.
Treatment
To treat body lice, first bathe with soap and water. That and washing clothes and bedding in hot water may be all the treatment you need.
If you still have body lice after taking these steps, try lotions you can get without a prescription that have 1% permethrin (Nix) or pyrethrin (Rid). Put lotion on the affected areas at bedtime. Don't put these lotions on your face.
Rinse the lotion off in the morning. Repeat the treatment after eight days.
If these lotions don't kill the lice, your healthcare professional may prescribe stronger treatments. These might include:
- Malathion. You put this prescription lotion on the area that has lice. Wash it off after 8 to 12 hours.
- Ivermectin (Stromectol). You take this medicine as a single dose of two pills. If that doesn't kill all the lice, you can take another dose in 10 days.
Self care
These steps may help you get rid of body lice:
- Wash yourself well. Use soap and water.
- Wash clothing, bedding and towels. Use hot water that's at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54 degrees Celsius). Dry clothing and bedding in a dryer on hot for at least 20 minutes. Dry cleaning also works.
- Store items that can't be washed. Put them in a sealed plastic bag for two weeks.
- Vacuum. Vacuum floors and furniture well.
Preparing for your appointment
If you can't get rid of body lice on your own, talk to your healthcare professional.
What you can do
Before your visit, make a list of:
- Your symptoms, when they began and how you think you got body lice.
- What you've done to get rid of the body lice.
- All medicines, vitamins and supplements you take, including the doses.
What to expect from your doctor
Your healthcare professional will do a physical exam and look at your skin and the seams of your clothes.
What you can do in the meantime
To keep from spreading the lice to others, don't have close contact with anyone while you have body lice.
