Body lice are tiny parasites that live near the surface of human skin and feed on their blood. Body lice can cause serious itching and red bumps on the skin's surface. Dealing with body lice can be very easy, and in most cases, all you need to do is improve your personal hygiene and wash your clothes, sheets, and blankets thoroughly. If you have body lice, take immediate action to get rid of them from your home and life.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Getting Rid of Body Lice
Step 1. Wash all used sheets, blankets and towels
Body lice can hide and thrive on old sheets, blankets, or towels that have been used by people with the parasite. Washing towels, sheets, and blankets properly can keep body lice out of your home and kill them.
- Use hot water when washing all sheets, pillowcases/bolts, and blankets. The water temperature should be at least 55˚C.
- Don't let bed linens or towels that have body lice come into contact with clothing and other sheets/blankets as this can spread the parasite.
- Be sure to wash bedding and towels at least once a week.
Step 2. Change and wash clothes regularly
Body lice are usually spread due to poor personal hygiene. Changing dirty and dirty clothes can also get rid of body lice and prevent them from spreading in the future. Wearing clean clothes and bathing properly can get rid of body lice and prevent the same problem from arising in the future.
- Change clothes with freshly washed ones at least once a week, or preferably more often.
- Always wash and dry flea-infested clothes using a high temperature, approx. 55˚C.
Step 3. Keep it clean
An easy and simple way that can be used to fight body lice is by bathing regularly and maintaining good hygiene. Keeping the body clean will create an uncomfortable environment for body lice. This will allow body lice to leave your body and help prevent similar problems from occurring in the future.
- Try bathing or bathing at least once a day.
- Wash and clean your hair at least once a week.
- Be sure to clean all parts of the body with soap and water.
Step 4. Consult a doctor for serious cases of body lice
If you or someone you know has a serious body lice disorder, see your doctor for a course of action or a prescription for medication containing a pediculicide, usually permethrin. The use of pediculicide can kill all body lice that live on the skin surface directly.
- Your doctor may prescribe a pediculicide.
- Follow directions properly when using pediculicide.
- All clothing, towels, sheets and blankets that have the potential for body lice should be thoroughly washed and cleaned.
Part 2 of 2: Recognizing Body Lice
Step 1. Watch for any bumps or itching on the skin
If affected by body lice, the skin may feel itchy and there are lumps that are the result of the bite. You may be affected by body lice if you notice slightly swollen red bumps on your skin.
- Extreme itching occurs around the waist or the area of the body that is most often in contact with clothing.
- Red bumps may become scaly after they appear and will be itchy.
Step 2. Check your clothes
Although they survive by sucking human blood, body lice actually live in the folds of clothing. Finding body lice on the body or skin is not easy. So, look for body lice on your clothes so you can find them more easily.
- Using a magnifying glass can help make it easier to find body lice.
- Check the types of clothing that has the closest contact with the skin, such as underwear.
Step 3. Identify body lice
Body lice will be difficult to see because they are very small and can move around the body easily. Their tendency to hide and live among clothes also makes body lice difficult to find. However, both body lice and their eggs can be found on close inspection to confirm the presence of the parasite.
- Adult lice have a body length of about 3 to 4 millimeters.
- Lice have six legs.
- Body lice will appear brown or gray.
- Lice eggs, or young lice, are usually small, oval in shape, and slightly yellowish in color.
Tips
- Thoroughly wash clothes, sheets, and blankets that have body lice.
- Avoid wearing the same clothes or not showering for more than 1 week in a row.
- Body lice are easier to find on clothing than on the surface of a person's skin.
- Body lice will die within five to seven days after falling from the human body.
Warning
- Body lice can transmit other diseases. Treat body lice as soon as possible.
- Body lice can be transmitted through direct person-to-person contact.
