Recently, up and down the Outer Banks , some bathers have discovered a red itchy rash on the skin, especially under bathing suits, after swimming in our warm ocean waters. Locals know what that itch is: the pesky Sea Lice.

What are Sea Lice and what the heck is Seabather's Eruption?

Seabather's eruption is a rash that occurs when a swimmer is stung by marine life larvae. The condition has many names, including sea lice, pika-pika, sea poisoning, sea critters, and ocean itch. 

The tiny creatures responsible for the itching, commonly referred to as sea lice, aren’t lice at all.  In the waters off the Outer Banks, there are two probable culprits: crab or jellyfish larvae.

How can you tell which?

If you can’t see what’s stinging you, then it’s jellyfish larvae, which are translucent and less than a millimeter wide.

“It looks like an alien Lobster

and its pincers are just big enough to irritate people’s skin and maybe cause a rash.”

The crabs are a different story. According to the Vice President of Education at the Virginia Aquarium, Chris Witherspoon, you should be able to see the crab larvae in the waters where you’re swimming and first felt the itch. “It looks like an alien lobster and its pincers are just big enough to irritate people’s skin and maybe cause a rash.”

Encounters with the larvae are to be expected this time of year, because of the timing of the blue crab’s life cycle. In late spring, eggs hatch at the mouth of the nearby sounds. Surface currents push the zoea larvae into the ocean, where they transform to megalopae. Those sink to the bottom and ride bottom currents back into the sound, where they develop into young crabs.

How to treat? Do not rinse with freshwater!

• Do not rub your skin. If larvae are on your skin, rubbing will cause them to sting.

• Do not rinse with freshwater!! Jellyfish larvae can release the most toxins when exposed to freshwater due to “osmotic explosion”. The toxin is a protein, and it will respond to acid denaturation. That is the secret. So when you first get out of the water, grab a spray bottle that contains white vinegar (Acetic Acid) to reduce the stinging sensation and the overall rash marks. This solution also works well on Jelly Fish stings as well.

• Remove your swimsuit as soon as possible.

• Wash your suit in hot, soapy water and dry it in a dryer, if possible, before you wear it again.

• After taking a shower, you can apply treatments like hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to your skin a few times a day. They’ll ease the itching and pain. Antihistamines and anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen may help, too.

Should I Pee on the Sea Lice Bites? NO! IT CAN MAKE IT WORSE.

There is a common myth with surfers and other long-time Bankers that if you pee on sea lice bites, it can help soothe the pain. However, this can actually cause more damage “by moving the stingers around with the velocity of your stream.” I didn’t pen that. That’s a direct quote from the Fort Lauderdale Surf Club Website.

So in summary…not lice, but larvae…try vinegar not freshwater… and no peeing, please.

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