Lice
What are lice?
Lice are tiny insects that can infest the skin anywhere on the body. Lice infection is characterized by intense itching.
Lice are highly contagious, spreading from person to person by close body contact, shared clothes, and other items (such as hats, hairbrushes, and combs). There are three types of human lice, including the following:
- head lice
- body lice
- pubic lice
Facts about lice:
Head lice:
- Head lice are less likely to occur in African-Americans.
- Head lice are seen mostly in childcare settings and among school-aged children.
- The child usually has itching in the head area.
- Lice, or the eggs (called nits), can usually be seen on the hair, behind the ears, and on the neck.
Body lice:
- Body lice are usually seen in people with poor hygiene.
- Body lice are rare in children.
- Body lice cause severe itching, which is often worse at night.
- With body lice, in some cases, lice and eggs can be found in the seams of clothes.
Pubic lice:
- Pubic lice are very contagious and can be transmitted through sexual contact, or by contaminated items such as towels and clothes.
- Pubic lice can affect the pubic hair, but also can cause infections of the hair on the chest, abdomen, thighs, and eyebrows.
- Itching of the affected area is a common symptom of pubic lice.
How are lice diagnosed?
The eggs laid by lice are usually visible to the naked eye, making it easy for your physician to diagnose. Pubic lice leave small, brown spots on the parts of clothing that come into contact with the genitals or anus.
Treatment for lice:
Specific treatment for lice will be determined by your physician based on:
- your age, overall health, and medical history
- extent of the infestation
- your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- expectations for the course of the infestation
- your opinion or preference
Lice are treatable. Treatment may include:
- For head lice and pubic lice:
- Application of a medicated cream rinse or shampoo is usually effective treatment for head and/or pubic lice. Specific instructions need to be followed. Discuss this with your physician. Examples of medicated cream rinses or shampoos include the following:
- malathion (Ovide®) - this is a new treatment that is safe and effective for lice and nits
- lindane (Kwell®) - do not use if there are open sores on the head because of toxicity
- pyrethrins (RID®) - this treatment does not kill nits (lice eggs)
- permethrin (Nix®) - this treatment does not always work due to lice resistance
- Nits need to be removed from the hair with a fine-tooth comb.
- Combs and brushes should be soaked in hot water with the shampoo for period of at least 15 minutes.
- For body lice:
- Medications are usually not needed to treat body lice.
- Treatment for body lice usually consists of improving hygiene and washing clothes.
- Bed sheets and blankets should be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer.
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The Dermatology Programs and Services at Rush
Dermatology specialists at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago offer comprehensive care for common and rare skin, hair and nail diseases. Offering care for people of all ages, our dermatologists are leading authorities in skin care whose expertise draws patients from all over the Midwest. The dermatology team at Rush offers safe and innovative treatments based on years of experience as well as the latest scientific research.
Click here to visit our Department of Dermatology.
Services Provided
Comprehensive dermatology services for adults and children include:
- Innovative treatments for various dermatologic conditions
such as
- Acne
- Eczema (atopic dermatitis)
- Psoriasis
- Vitiligo
- State-of-the-art treatments for all forms of skin cancer include:
- The CTCL Clinic provides multidisciplinary care for people with a rare type of cancer called cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Treatments include extracorporeal photophoresis, one of the most effective treatments for patients with this disease.
- The Melanoma Surveillance Clinic provides innovative intervention and treatment strategies for melanoma, including the use of photographic surveillance to track high-risk moles over time.
- Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) Clinic provides Mohs surgery, which has the highest cure rate of any procedure for skin cancer. During Mohs surgery, the surgeon uses a microscope to remove the very last traces of cancer cells.
- The Cosmetic Dermatology Program provides:
- Antiaging therapies, such as Botox and collagen injections.
- Chemical peels and microdermabrasion to make skin smoother and improve acne, wrinkles and skin discoloration.
- Advanced laser therapy to decrease excess hair growth and reduce lines and scars.
- Varicose vein treatments, including laser therapy and sclerotherapy, which involves the injection of special solutions into the veins to reduce their appearance.
In addition to the services above, the department tests the efficacy of new treatments for different skin diseases through its Clinical Pharmacology Unit. Clinical studies are complemented by a basic science laboratory, where investigators are conducting state-of-the-art research on mast cell biology and mastocytosis.
Finding a specialist at Rush:
To find a dermatologist at Rush click here.
Or make an appointment with a doctor at Rush by calling our toll-free physician referral number:
To reach the hospital operator, call (312) 942-5000. If you have difficulty hearing, call (312) 942-2207 (TTY/TTD).
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Dermatology
Dermatology
Dermatology
Skin Infections