The ointment commonly used for this purpose is called Lacri-Lube. It contains a combination of petrolatum and mineral oil. Since body lice are frequently spread through sexual contact, your doctor may also want to run tests for other STIs that you may have contracted.
Try to sleep on your back so the petrolatum doesn’t come off on your pillow. For severe infestations, your doctor may recommend that you do the treatment up to 2 times a day for 10 days.
Be sure to wash the cloth thoroughly in hot water after you use it.
If you notice any lice, eggs, or nits after this, continue the treatment for an additional week, or more if you need to.
Change into clean clothes daily if possible, and wash your dirty laundry, bedding, and towels at least once a week. Wash these items in hot water (at least 130 °F (54 °C) and dry them on a high heat setting.
If you only have a few body lice, removing them by hand may be all it takes to get rid of them. However, if the lice laid eggs, the infestation will continue. Wash your hands and sterilize your tweezers or nit comb by wiping them down with rubbing alcohol before you do this. A nit comb is a small plastic comb that will pull nits and eggs from your hair. You can find these at any pharmacy.
Fluorescein dye strips are used to diagnose abrasions on the cornea. However, they can also be used along with a petrolatum treatment to get rid of body lice on your eyelashes. [8] X Research source This treatment is typically repeated for 3 days.
Your doctor will prescribe this ointment to you if they think it’s necessary. It’s very important to follow your doctor’s orders precisely if you use this ointment. Otherwise, there’s a risk that you could suffer adverse effects as a result of mercury toxicity. [10] X Research source
A typical dose of Ivermectin would be 2 200 ug/kg doses, administered a week apart.
Dry the items in the dryer on high heat for at least 20 minutes.
After all the lice and eggs are dead, shake out the item thoroughly to remove them. You can also send the items for dry-cleaning, but as a courtesy, it’s a good idea to let the staff know that the objects are contaminated with body lice. That way, they can take steps to ensure other items in their shop aren’t exposed to the lice.
In addition to vacuuming floors, carpets, and furniture, it’s also a good idea to vacuum pillows or cushions the infected person has used.
In general, it’s best to avoid having sex with a partner who also has other partners. They’ll be at an increased risk of STIs, including body lice.
