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Title : What is Sea Lice Rash, Symptoms, Pictures, How to Get Rid, Prevention
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What is Sea Lice Rash, Symptoms, Pictures, How to Get Rid, Prevention

The term “sea lice” was strange to me until this May when I had a horrible experience with it while on vacation in Cancun Mexico, initially thinking that I had developed a sudden allergic reaction to sea water. I wonder why those horrible creatures chose me over all the other swimmers. Anyway, today I will be sharing with you tips on how to get rid of sea lice rash fast along with prevention measures.

What Is Sea Lice Rash on Humans?

The term “sea lice rash” is a misnomer because sea lice (the marine fish ectoparasites that cause no harm to humans) are not the actual cause for the itchy rash.

Also referred to as ocean itch, pica-pica, sea poisoning, seabather’s rash, Caribbean rash, and beach lice rash among other names, sea lice rash appears when a swimmer, scuba-diver, or a snorkeler comes into contact with and get stung by the tiny larvae of thimble jellyfish (Linuche unguiculata), sea anemone (Edwardsiella lineata) and other types of  marine life.

These miniscule sea creatures have several specialized stinging cells on their body called nematocysts. When touched, thimble jellyfish and sea anemone sting with the nematocysts get activated and inject their intruders with toxins in self-defense. The toxins are responsible for the rash.

Of all the marine life larvae that can cause sea lice rash, thimble jellyfish larvae are the most common culprits. This is to say that when people complain of sea lice bites or sea lice stings they should actually be talking about thimble jellyfish bites.

When in water, thimble jellyfish larvae cannot be seen with the naked eye. They often make their way through bathing and diving suits where they get trapped. When compressed against the body, the larvae unleash a stinging havoc as a self-defense mechanism.

Although they can occur at any time of the year, sea lice stings and the associated itchy rash is experienced more between April and August.  Florida, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean are the most commonly affected areas but cases have also been reported in South America (Brazil), Australia, South East Asia (Thailand, Philippines), and New Zealand.

In Mexico, persons visiting Cancun, Cozumel and various other popular tourist spots during the warmer months are at particular risk of sea lice rash. I can personally testify to this after my nasty experience at Cancun earlier this year.

Cases of sea lice have reportedly been on the rise in recent years, prompting the authorities in several parts of the US (especially Florida), the Caribbean, and Mexico to plant purple flags along the sea lice infested beaches as a warning sign during the peak seasons.
Sea lice rash is not contagious.

Sea Lice Symptoms 

Although a sting from an adult thimble jellyfish is usually painful, the sting from their larvae is not and you won’t notice that you have been stung right away. it is only after a short while that you will notice a tingling sensation in areas of the body covered or subject to rubbing by the swimming or diving gear e.g. armpits, groin, breasts, inner thighs, and neck.

A rash then follows within 24 hours. Sea lice rash is typically very itchy and accompanied by raised, red areas of skin with bumps or blisters of varying sizes. These can in some cases form a dense mass on the skin. Other than itching and bumps or blisters, the rash may be accompanied by the following symptoms, especially in more severe cases:

• Fever


• Chills


• Nausea 


• Retching 


• Headache


• Fatigue, especially in children


• Urethritis (urethra inflammation) 


• Pink eye

Sea lice symptoms vary from one person to another depending on their body’s reaction to the sting, but people who have developed sea lice rash before are more prone to it. People with a history of allergic reactions as well as those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of developing more severe rashes, says Mebane, M.D., former associate medical director of Divers Alert Network (DAN).

Sea lice rash lasts anything between a couple days and 1 week. For severe cases however, it may be a few weeks before the rash heals completely.

Sea Lice Rash Pictures

Sea lice bites cause an itchy rash along with red, raised areas of skin along with bumps or blisters as you will see in the following pictures:

How to Get Rid Of Sea Lice Rash Fast – Effective Sea Lice Bites Treatments and Home Remedies

Although sea lice bites are harmless and heal within a week in most cases, sea lice rash itching can make you very uncomfortable. The home remedies for sea lice rash listed below can help to relieve you of the discomfort from the itching and other symptoms while hastening the healing process.

Do Not Rub or Scratch Your Skin

This is nowhere close to how to get rid of sea lice rash, no doubt, but scratching or rubbing the affected area will only make the condition worse. The urge to scratch the itchy areas may be overwhelming, but restrain yourself from doing that. If using a towel to dry yourself after a shower, pat the skin gently rather than rubbing it across the surface of the skin.

Take a Shower

The Florida Department of Health recommends taking off your bathing or diving suit as soon as you realize that you have been stung by sea lice before taking a shower with fresh water and soap.

Taking a shower help to flush out any stingers from the skin but people often make one mistake: showering while still wearing the contaminate swimsuit. This causes any larvae still trapped in the fabric of your suit to unleash their stings.

To prevent recurrence of sea lice rash and other symptoms, soak the swimming or diving trunks with vinegar or rubbing alcohol, then wash them with detergent before heat-drying them. Air-drying is often inadequate in eliminating the larvae of thimble jelly fish and other culprits.  In cases of severe sea ice rash, doing away with the swimsuit may be the best option.

Apply Oatmeal

Oatmeal’s itch soothing properties makes it one of the most effective home remedies for sea lice rash. How to get rid of sea lice rash with oatmeal is pretty straightforward:

1. In a small pot, mix 2 tablespoons of oatmeal with ¼ cup of water.


2. Heat the mixture for 5-10 minutes to soften the oats.


3. Apply the cooked oatmeal gently on the affected areas of the skin.


4. Repeat this home treatment several times daily to help heal the condition fast.


5. Bathing with a colloidal oatmeal product such as Aveeno can also help.

Rub On Calamine Lotion

Calamine lotion also helps to stop sea lice itching and reduce the rash. Available over the counter in most drugstores (pharmacies), Calamine lotion is especially recommended for children, says the Florida Department of Health.

Apply Vinegar or Rubbing Alcohol on the Rash

Vinegar and rubbing alcohol have long been used to relieve sea lice rash. It not only helps to kill any loose larvae that clings on the skin but also soothe itching naturally.

• For vinegar, dab a cotton ball that has been soaked in dilute white vinegar on the stung areas of the skin. Do not rinse; let the skin air dry.


• Soaking in a vinegar bath also helps.


• As for rubbing alcohol, it also helps to neutralize the toxins remaining on your skin. Applying it dilute to the skin with the help of a cotton ball will do the trick.

Apply Porridge

According to Sarah Buchanan, a lifestyle writer for Daily Star UK, applying cooked porridge to the affected areas of the skin can also help to soothe the rash and itching.

Take Antihistamines

Antihistamines help get rid of sea lice rash itching by blocking the action of histamines which then stops the urge to scratch the affected area and further worsen the condition. Among the most common antihistamines are diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, and loratadine (Claritin). According to the WebMD, however, you should not administer antihistamines to children without the approval of your doctor.

Apply a Hydrocortisone Cream

Applying 1% hydrocortisone cream on the affected areas of the skin affected by the stings 2-3 times daily over the span of 1 or 2 weeks can also help to get rid of sea lice rash. It helps to reduce the itchiness and reduce the discomfort associated with the condition.

Hydrocortisone creams should however not be applied to the vaginal or rectal areas for children aged below 12 years and should not be used at all for toddlers younger than 2 years.

Apply an Ice Pack or Cold Compress

Ice helps to relieve the pain associated with seabather’s rash.

Wrap some ice cubes in a clean towel, then pat it on the reach areas. Repeat regularly until the rash and other symptoms go away.

You can also soak a washcloth in cool water, wring out the excess water, and then work it on the treatment area several times per day to alleviate the symptoms.

Take Over the Counter Medications

Taking over the the counter Non-steroid Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or aspirin is also useful in getting rid of the inflammation (swelling) and discomfort. aspirin should however not be given to children aged below 16 years to avoid exposing them to the risk of a rare condition known as Reye's (Ryes) syndrome.

You should check with a dermatologist if none of these methods help to relieve the symptoms, you develop a secondary bacterial infection, or develop very severe case of sea lice rash. Sea lice treatment may involve the administration of prescription corticosteroid creams along with other medications such as antihistamines, NSAIDs e.g. ibuprofen etc.

Sea Lice Prevention

We have so far looked at how to get rid of sea lice rash but how about preventing getting stung in the first place? Although you cannot completely rule out the possibility of running into sea lice and getting stung, unless of course you stay out of the water and miss the fun, there are several measures that can help you minimize the risk.

1. Swim Naked: This may sound like a weird way to prevent sea lice rash but it is very effective. Thimble jelly fish larvae’s nematocysts fire off when swimsuit compress them against your body. Since the larvae will not get trapped to your body per se, it then follows that swimming naked, if possible, will help you avoid sea lice bites or stings. 


2. Remove the bathing suit immediately: As soon as you are done diving or swimming, take the swimming gear off to avoid exposure to the singers that may be trapped in it. Consider washing the swimsuit with detergent before using it the next time just in case any critters are trapped in.


3. Apply a thick layer of Vaseline on your skin:  Vaseline and other waterproof moisturizing ointments help to prevent sea lice rash by creating a protective barrier on your skin. Zinc oxide is also touted to be effective.


4. Use an appropriate swimsuits: A tight-fitting wet suit is a great way to go when diving in parts of the ocean infested with the so called “sea lice”. If you cannot get your hands on a wet suit, look for a suitable alternative. T-shirts and other loose-fitting clothing are a definite no-no. For women, 2-piece swimsuits are advised; 1-piece swimwear increase the risk of trapping in stingers.


5. Use a sea lice Repellent: Numerous anti-jellyfish lotions and creams have been developed to offer sea lice protection when diving or swimming in waters infested with them. Of these, the dermatologically-tested Safe Sea Jellyfish Protection Lotion is the most popular. It not only protects against jellyfish but also other stingers such as sea nettle, and fire coral. 

The best way to stay safe from thimble jelly fish stings – and those of other stings – is to heed the warning signs and flags and stay out of the ocean water during sea lice peaks. If the wild side of you however takes a toll on you, then you now know how to get rid of sea lice rash.

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