Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsWhy Do They Sting?TreatmentSwim Safety
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Why Do They Sting?
Treatment
Swim Safety
Sea lice arejellyfishlarvae that can get trapped in swimmers' bathing suits, where they sting and cause an itchy rash. Another term for sea lice bites is “seabather’s eruption.”
A type of parasitic copepod (tiny crustaceans) that attach to fish—especially salmon—is also called sea lice.However, they are not the same thing.
This article explains sea lice bite symptoms, causes, treatment, and prevention.
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Sea lice bite symptoms include:
Fever, fatigue, sore throat, and an upset stomach are not typical and more commonly occur in children than adults.
Where Are Sea Lice Found?Sea lice are prevalent in ocean water, especially along Florida, the U.S. east coast, and the Caribbean.
Where Are Sea Lice Found?
Sea lice are prevalent in ocean water, especially along Florida, the U.S. east coast, and the Caribbean.
Why Do Sea Lice Bite?
“Sea lice bite” is a misnomer since the larvae don’t bite but rather sting. And even the stinging is likely unintentional. Rather, the stingers inject venom into the skin when your swimsuit or other clothing creates friction between the larvae and your skin.
Most commonly, thimble jellyfish larvae are responsible for sea lice bites. However, the larvae of sea anemones have also caused seabather’s eruption rashes.
Sea Lice Bites on Different Skin TonesLike other rashes, a sea lice bite rash may appear different, depending on how light or dark your skin tone is. For example, a rash might appear red on light skin and look pink, purple, or slightly lighter than the surrounding skin on dark skin.
Sea Lice Bites on Different Skin Tones
Like other rashes, a sea lice bite rash may appear different, depending on how light or dark your skin tone is. For example, a rash might appear red on light skin and look pink, purple, or slightly lighter than the surrounding skin on dark skin.
You can often treat sea lice bites on your own at home. If you suspect sea lice bites, the first thing to do is remove your swimsuit and rinse the jellyfish larvae off. You likely won’t be able to see the larvae because they are so small, so thoroughly rinse or shower as soon as you can.
At-home treatment options include:
Sea lice bites usually start to heal within a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, if you’ve had the rash in the past, you may be more likely to react in the future if you reencounter the larvae.
If you have severe or unmanageable symptoms, seek medical care.
Swim Safety to Prevent Sea Lice Bites
The most obvious way to prevent sea lice bites is to avoid swimming in places where jellyfish larvae live. However, if you still want to swim, there are some measures you can take to lower your risk of sea lice bites, including:
In addition, pay attention to lifeguard postings about the presence of dangerous marine animals, which include warnings about the presence of sea lice.
If you’ve had a reaction to sea lice bites, you may want to avoid swimming during peak times for sea lice, which generally ranges from March through August.
Summary
Sea lice bites are stings from jellyfish larvae. Medically it’s called seabather’s eruption. Sea lice live in the ocean, especially along the Florida coast, the east coast, and the Caribbean. Unlike swimmers' itch, which appears on exposed skin, sea lice bites occur on the skin under swimsuits and result in a painful, itchy rash.
You can treat sea lice bites at home with over-the-counter anti-itch cream and antihistamines likeBenadryl (diphenhydramine). To prevent them, avoid swimming during peak sea lice times, remove your suit, and shower immediately after coming out of the water.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Alaska Department of Fish and Game.What are sea lice?.Florida Health Department.Sea lice.National Capital Poison Center.Seabather’s eruption symptoms and treatment.New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.Seabather’s eruption.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Seborrheic dermatitis overview.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Alaska Department of Fish and Game.What are sea lice?.Florida Health Department.Sea lice.National Capital Poison Center.Seabather’s eruption symptoms and treatment.New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.Seabather’s eruption.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Seborrheic dermatitis overview.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game.What are sea lice?.Florida Health Department.Sea lice.National Capital Poison Center.Seabather’s eruption symptoms and treatment.New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.Seabather’s eruption.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Seborrheic dermatitis overview.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game.What are sea lice?.
Florida Health Department.Sea lice.
National Capital Poison Center.Seabather’s eruption symptoms and treatment.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.Seabather’s eruption.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Seborrheic dermatitis overview.
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