Crabs are small animals that feel particularly at home in human pubic hair.

Crabs are small pests that like to nestle in human pubic hair. They are transmitted through sex. However, since they live in the pubic hair of the affected person, condoms do not help to protect against transmission. In addition, the lice can sometimes cross over in other ways, for example via shared bed linen or towels, and settle in their new host.

The good news, however, is that there are now helpful remedies that can be used to remove the beasts quickly and without damaging the skin. However, anyone who discovers a crab louse should not make the mistake of simply waiting until the infestation stops on its own. Because that is exactly what will not happen.

Here, it is important to contact the doctor as soon as possible to avoid the risk of possibly infecting sex partners.

Often, it is not optimal hygiene that leads to crabs finding a suitable environment. But: sometimes it is also simply the famous coincidence that ensures that transmission can take place. It would therefore be wrong to always assume unhygienic conditions.

At the beginning, those affected complain of severe itching and sometimes also of localised skin changes. These are the bites of the crabs. In order to survive, they have to suck blood. Depending on the puncture and sensitivity, the formerly small spots can grow to the size of a fingernail. Since the lice themselves only grow up to two millimetres in size, they are rarely noticed - especially if the pubic hair is rather dense.