Sea Lice Are Back on South Jersey Beaches: What You Should Know

Sea Lice.

The name alone gives most of us a major ick factor.

That icky feeling gets worse when you realize sea lice have been in your bathing suit—or your child's bathing suit—and have given you a skin rash or a burning sensation known as seabather’s eruption.

What Are Sea Lice?

"Sea lice" are not actual lice, but rather the microscopic, transparent larvae of the thimble jellyfish or crabs. You may find them in the ocean or the bay. They can also be extremely patchy, causing real issues one day and not being a factor the next.

When they become trapped under swimwear in the ocean, they release stinging toxins that cause an intensely itchy, red rash called seabather's eruption.

This summer, they have made their presence known on beaches in Ocean City, Cape May, Brigantine, Ventnor, and Barnegat Bay and, in the past, they have caused issues on Avalon and Stone Harbor Beaches, according to Jeff Tittel of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

“This is a direct result of problems from both climate change and stormwater runoff. As the summer continues to be hot and rainy, the invasion of sea lice could spread up and down our coast.”

Crab larvae also "count" as sea lice, according to Paul Bologna, Professor of Biology and Director of the Marine Biology and Coastal Sciences Program at Montclair State University.

Bologna also runs the Facebook group, New Jersey Jellyspotters, which has seen a recent stream of photos of these “teeny tiny,” but visible baby crabs. The tiny crabs are easier to see than the jellyfish larvae sea lice.

He said that in recent years, crab larvae have been in larger numbers, causing the sea lice warnings along the Jersey coast.

Symptoms of Sea Lice

Small bumps may appear where bathing suits came in contact with a person’s skin. A rash may appear on other areas of the skin as well.

People who shower while wearing their swimsuit may notice an increase in itching because the larvae have a reaction to fresh water.

Treatments for Sea Lice

Over-the-counter medications such as Benadryl or Calamine lotion may give some relief.

Doctors may provide treatment such as oral antihistamines, topical steroids, or a combination of both.

If you really want to avoid seabather's eruption, you should avoid swimming in the ocean. Remember, a problem like sea lice doesn't mean the ocean is dirty, but the ocean is living, and sometimes that doesn't agree with us.