First, it is very necessary to go through some insightful bits of information and facts about mites especially facial and eyelash mites.
Meaning and physical characteristics?
It is a “parasite found in the follicles of our faces, mainly, in the nose, cheeks and most especially the eyelash area.” [consumerhealthdigest.com]. Demodex mites are tiny parasites. Two of the over 60 species known to exist in humans. Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis. Generally, adults fall in between 0.3 – 0.4mm long. Male one can measure nearly 0.2 mm (millimeters). Both male and female adults have a transparent membrane body.
Pictures
To get an idea of how they look like below is a picture of these mites.
While Demodex folliculorum species live in the hair follicles, Demodex brevis inhabits in the sebaceous glands. Demodex brevis usually come out of the glands at night to avoid light. This is also the time they lay eggs. Both species can survive for a good number of hours and can live up to two days in animal fat. When there are too many mites in eyelashes or on the face the phenomenon is referred to as Demodicosis.
Causes – How do humans get eyelash mites
Newborns are rarely born with mites in eyelashes but can get it shortly afterward. Below is a brief description of how you get them. Statistics and figures from research reveal that people of middle ages to old are more liable to getting them. Most of these factors cut across
Secretion of Too Much Oil
Facial mites may cause demodicosis if you produce or have too much body oil. According to CHD, Consumerhealthdigest, too much oil seems to cause anyone to get them including those on eyelashes.
Eyelash mites and eye makeup
If you like to put on makeup during the night you are increasing risks to get more of this mites and worsen it. According to Dr. Oz, failure to remove makeup before going to bed could bring about demodicosis and is equally unhealthy.
Unhygienic facial conditions
People who seem less concerned with their hygiene can always expect to get many problems from facial mites. Use of makeup can cause contamination and thus be a source of dirt. Ladies must be very keen when using all eye makeup such as mascara, concealers and other eye beauties. But unhygienic anyone can have them. In fact, it is advisable to throw away all your eye beauty products that have been in use for quite some time. Buy new facial makeup. So do not until you start to sense a change in appearance or unusual response reactions.
Suppressed immunity
Some symptoms their infestation might not be noticeable in many people. However, people whose body immunity has been compromised are more likely to be infested with Demodex folliculorum and demodex brevis. Such include people living with HIV, patients with leukemia especially children or individuals who are medication that can suppress their immunity (immunosuppressive drugs)
Symptoms of infestation in adults
The process of identifying eyelash mites is not easy unless infestation levels when the symptoms begin to show up. Symptoms are critical part which determines what treatment to use in either Demodex folliculorum or demodex brevis species.
1. Itching
One common symptom in eyelash is itchy feeling. As they burrow into the skin they not only feed on skin cells and oil, but also overwhelm tissues hence itching. Itching could be slight during the day but may increase at night.
2. Burrows or large pores
Presence of burrows on skin surface can also be due infestation of facial mites. These pores may also trigger itching which indicates a start to demodex infestation of the eyelids. At this point diagnosis is recommended.
3. Red skin and Crusting Rosacea symptoms
Another possible way of helping you get symptoms of eyelash infestation is by getting a rosacea symptom checkup. However, Growyouthful.com states that, the mites in eyelashes may not causing this condition (rosacea) but, the bacteria the demodex mites (thus demodex rosacea) themselves carry is actually attributed to demodex symptoms. Signs and symptoms include:
- Redness in the centre of your face,
- Stinging and burning skin,
- Skin dryness, roughness and scaling,
4. Staphylococcal Demodex Blepharitis
Apart from rosacea, another eye problem that can be vital in telling Demodex mites symptoms is by studying Blepharitis caused by staph or staphylococcus bacteria. The biological reason for it is facial and these mites could be the carries of Staph strains of bacteria. Other symptoms demodicosis include hair thinning, adult acne, blackheads, and dilated veins.
Treatments to reduce or remove these facial mites
Why is treatment necessary when them when they have no health risks? Is there a procedure for their removal or what does their cure involve? Eliminating and treating demodex brevis is a quite difficult because it hides in the deeper areas of the follicles. The following are various means used in treatment for demodex mites.
Antibiotic Ointments and Creams
Application of ointment and creams is one of the methods used as cure for facial and mites in the eyelash. Before you start to apply them get more safety tips from a heath care provider to avoid getting into the eyes. To reduce inflammation and its discomfort, carefully apply tobramycin (0.3%) or dexamethasone 0.1% ointments. For effectiveness purposes, ladies should stop to use makeups for a period of not less than 2 weeks before starting treating them using creams. If you want to remove or get rid of facial mites you can also apply Demodex Control Face Cream.
Tea tree oil products treatment for eyelash mites
Another treatment to try is tea tree oil which will be one of the cleaning component in your regimen. Apply this tree oil drops onto the eyelashes regularly. Tea tree oil is antibiotic and thus will control the female mites in eyelashes lay eggs and thus reducing reproduction by limiting or preventing infestation.
Treatment with cleansing regimen
Besides doing a regular facial cleansing, individuals already infested with these facial mites are advised to stick to a regimen if they want to get rid of demodex mites and prevent instances of infestation as well. This regimen includes shampooing and other cleansing procedures as follows:
- Wash your hair using shampoo prepared with ingredients of tea tree oil every day. You can also clean your eyelashes using the same shampoo.
- Apply tea tree oil on the skin around your eyelids to prevent them from infesting by controlling mating.
- Clean your bedding on regular basis and replace your old pillows together with pillow cases.
- Wash your face with Demodex Control Facial Cleanser if you have red and dry skin due to facial mites.
Improve on General Hygiene
Cleanliness has to begin with you as an individual. Ensure that all your pieces of facial clothing and hair is also kept at the best standards of cleanliness. Your pets could also be yet a potential hiding of mites that you never knew. Get them to veterinary for checking. Sometimes you may require a diagnosis in order to clear mites. If precaution is not taken to treat them and avoid demodicosis, the infestation may result in severe loss of eyelashes. Any case of infestation may to higher extents require a doctor’s attention, diagnosis and recommended treatments.
Reference and Cited Works
- https://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/eyelash-care/eyelash-mites.html
- http://growyouthful.com/ailment/demodex-mite.php
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demodex
- http://www.healio.com/optometry/cornea-external-disease/news/print/primary-care-optometry-news/%7B586c29a0-2bf5-4548-9670-14e88fae9b98%7D/demodex-infestation-requires-immediate-aggressive-treatment-by-doctor-patient