Gymnastic pubic lice

A 34-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of intense itching of the pubic area, which had been diagnosed previously as dermatitis and treated unsuccessfully with topical steroids. Under dermoscopy examination, the typical broad body of a pubic louse, grasping on to several hairs with its large middle and hind legs like a gymnast, a finding that cannot be seen with clinical examination alone. Many small oval nits were also seen on the hair. Microscopy examination demonstrated the internal structure of lice and nits. We diagnosed the patient as having pubic lice.