What does a pubic louse look like on the skin? - briefly
A pubic louse is a tiny, crab‑shaped parasite roughly 1–2 mm long, gray‑brown, with a flattened body and clawed legs that grip coarse hair. It may be observed as a moving speck or as small, darkened eggs (nits) attached near the hair shaft.
What does a pubic louse look like on the skin? - in detail
Pubic lice are tiny ectoparasites, typically 1.1–2 mm long. Their bodies are flattened and crab‑shaped, with a broad, oval abdomen and short, stout legs that grasp hair shafts. The exoskeleton appears gray‑brown to tan, often with a slightly translucent sheen that makes the insects difficult to see against light skin but more visible on darker areas.
When they inhabit the pubic region, the insects cling to individual hairs near the base, moving in a slow, deliberate manner. Their legs produce a characteristic “scurrying” motion that can be observed under magnification or, occasionally, with the naked eye if the infestation is heavy. Live lice may be seen as tiny, mobile specks moving along the hair.
Nits (eggs) are oval, about 0.8 mm, and firmly attached to the hair shaft with a cement‑like secretion. They appear as solid, whitish‑gray or yellowish ovals positioned close to the scalp of the hair. After hatching, the empty shells (nits) remain attached and look like tiny, translucent, cigar‑shaped remnants.
Skin reactions include:
- Small, red papules or punctate lesions where the lice bite.
- Itching that intensifies after several hours, often localized to the area of infestation.
- Dark, speck‑like fecal spots (digested blood) on the skin or hair shafts, resembling tiny coffee‑ground stains.
The combination of visible insects, attached eggs, and characteristic skin lesions provides a clear visual diagnosis.