What are Demodex Mites
Demodex mites are tiny mites that live within hair follicles and are found in all adults over the age of 18. There are two species of the mite: D. Brevis, and D. folliculorum. D. Brevis inhabit the sebaceous glands of the skin, and D. folliculorum are found on the eyelids within the meibomian glands, and in the hair follicles on the face. Demodex mites only require medical attention when they are found in large amounts or intensify skin conditions such as rosacea.
Demodex mites are unable to expel feces from the body because they do not have an anus; therefore, everything they consume stays in the body, and this kills them within two weeks. They have an aversion to light and will scout for female mites to mate with during the night. When the males go searching, you may feel them crawling over the skin. After the mating session, the females lay eggs, a lot of mites in one pore causes them to stretch making them more visible.
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Demodex mites feed off yeast, hormones, and sebum; they also eat elastin and collagen which cause excess wrinkles on the skin. They consume the good nutrition required by the hair for healthy growth causing them to become weak and lifeless over time.
Signs Demodex Mites are Dying
Apart from the obvious physical symptoms of Demodex mites, one of the most aggravating features of the condition is the unnerving feeling of crawling over the skin and on the top of the head. One of the first symptoms of Demodex mites dying is the disappearance of this crawling sensation.
This is experienced by patients who use scalp detox products to treat the condition. The burning, redness, eczema, itchy, scaly and sensitive skin will clear up as the mites are eradicated from the skin.
Another thing to note here is that a large number of dying mites in the follicles or glands may increase bacterial antigen load, triggering inflammatory responses in patients. This is why some patients experience worsening of the symptoms before the mite infestation completely subsides.
Life Cycle Of Demodex Mites
The life cycle of these mites spans between 14 and 18 days – from the egg to the larva and then finally to the adult stage. Since this is a relatively short life cycle, successful copulation is crucial to the survival and thriving of Demodex mites.
So, to successfully eradicate this infestation, it is essential not just to kill these mites, but also prevent them from copulating.
How do Demodex Mites Multiply?
Several factors contribute to the overpopulation of Demodex mites; these include the following:
- Hair products
- Stress
- Depression
- A weak immune system
Who is Most Susceptible to Demodex Mites?
Infestation is most common in males; age is also a major contributing factor. People between the ages of 20-30 are most likely to carry the mites as well as those with the following conditions:
- Dermatitis
- Alopecia
- HIV
- Inflammatory acne
- Rosacea
- Skin infections
What are the Symptoms of Demodex Mites?
Demodex mites are undetectable with the natural eye; they do not cause symptoms when they are in small numbers, but in large numbers, the bacteria in the feces triggers a reaction on the skin. The symptoms are as follows:
- Extreme redness
- Burning sensation
- A rough sandpaper texture on the skin
- Sensitive skin
- Scaly or itchy skin
The Causes of Demodex Mites
There are no causes for Demodex mites as they occur naturally on the skin; however, they are contagious and are transferred through skin to skin contact. Research suggests that d. folliculorum may be the cause of rosacea; according to the National Rosacea foundation, patients with the condition have got 18 times more Demodex mites than those who do not suffer from rosacea.
How are Demodex Mites Diagnosed?
Unless a person is experiencing complications or symptoms, it is not necessary to get tested for mites. If you are experiencing symptoms, book an appointment with your doctor, they will ask about any symptoms you may be experiencing and will take a tissue sample from your face or eyelashes, the skin biopsy is then examined under a microscope to determine the presence of Demodex mites.
Demodicosis is diagnosed if the examination detects a high number of mites on the skin.
How are Demodex Mites Treated?
Treatment will depend on the severity of the condition; mild cases can be treated without medication. Some home remedies include:
- A Warm Compress: This treatment is most effective for D. brevis, put the mask in the microwave for 20 seconds. Make sure the temperature is suitable by applying it to the inside of your wrist and then let it rest on your eyelids for 15-20 minutes. You will need to do this twice a day.
- Tea Tree Oil: It is not advised that you apply tea tree oil directly to the skin; however, there are soaps that contain tea tree oil. It is an antibacterial that works by killing microorganisms on the skin. Wash the face with soap and water twice a day.
- Toning: Mix a few drops of tea tree oil into a hydrating toner and shake to combine. Apply the toner to the face using a cotton pad to rub the skin gently.
- Sunscreen: The majority of sunscreens on the market contain harmful ingredients such as titanium dioxide. Therefore, it is advised that you replace regular sunscreen with zinc oxide.
- Lotion/gel/cream: When applying any lotion, gel or cream to the skin, combine it with a few drops of tea tree oil before using it to the face.
- Scrubs and Deep Cleaning Masks: Add a few drops of tea tree oil to any scrubs or deep cleaning mask before applying them to the face.
You can reduce the number of mites on the skin and limit the risk of further complications by doing the following:
- Use a mild shampoo to wash the hair and the eyelashes daily
- Take a bath or shower every day to reduce the amount of oil secretions available for the mites to feed on
- Cleanse the face twice a day
- Exfoliate the skin once a week to get rid of trapped sebum and dead skin cells
- Shower after sun exposure and workouts
- Avoid oily sunscreens, lotions, and cleansers
For cases that are slightly more severe, a doctor might prescribe a medical ointment, facewash or gel to trap the mites and stop them from reproducing in other hair follicles. They typically contain active ingredients such as:
- Salicylic acid
- Benzyl benzoate
- Sulfur
- Selenium sulfide
Other treatments a doctor may prescribe include:
- Metronidazole (Flagyl)
- Crotamiton (Eurax)
- Permethrin (Nix, Elimite)
- Ivermectin (Stromectol)
It is also advised that any underlying infections contributing to mites are managed. Also, conditions such as rosacea and eczema will need additional medical treatment.
References:
– National Rosacea Society, “The Ecology Of Your Face: Demodex, Rosacea And You” , link
– US National Library Of Medicine, “Human Demodex Mite: The Versatile Mite of Dermatological Importance” , link
– US National Library Of Medicine, “Under the lash: Demodex mites in human diseases” , link
– Image 1 src: Wikimedia
Another symptom of these mites are what seem to be abscesses mainly on the face. Are actually egg sacks laid inside the pores. Very painful, itching, tender, red. I had close to 30 on my face before finding the cause.
I completely understand what you said! I’ve been battling this horrible hideous crap on my face since May! I was finally able to get into the dermatologist in August! But nothing seems to be helping! I’m on antibiotics, using some kind of creme a pharmacist put together and washing my face with a sulfur face wash. I still have this! I’ve never ever experienced this in my whole life. I don’t even know how I got It! And I can’t find anywhere on line where it says specifically how long it takes to eradicate them off my face! I’m beside myself and I don’t go out of my house because I look so ugly now.
You have to take topical and oral Ivermectin for about 4-6 weeks. Also get the Ivermectin lotion for hair, it’s called SKlice. Wash and dry everything frequently on hot.
Me too! I’ve had this for 19 months and just started Ivermectin for it and it’s exploding! My face is so painful and just covered with lumps that split open. I
This is a helluva thing..
Ivermectin (stromrectol) works for me. Dosage is prescribe according to your weight and the pills are taken all at one time. My skin clears within 4 days, and I am able to face the world again. I also use permetrin creme for smaller breakouts to prevent full-blown breakouts. These treatments cause extreme dryness as it kills the mites, but skin is rejuvenated once the mites are gone.
can you refer any thing that will eradicate demodex mites
I have had demodex infestation since April 2021 after Folliculitis , low immune and possibly stress from a house fire. I had long hair to mid back that slowly washed away in shower. I looked like Angelica from the “Rugrats” cartoon s doll Cynthia. I started getting black hairy tongue, mouth ulcers, itchy ears with sensation of crawling in them. I have swollen painful sores under tongue and my throat is red and u can see little glittery mites jumping around like pop rocks I eat something and my tongue expresses small food particle and when late night and it’s bad, mites also come out of tongue, under tongue, ulcers and my tongue swells and is either white or black on biotin of tongue, so disgusting . When this first started I had gas and deep burps and felt like I had air in my chest, I also have incontinence that comes and goes. I look older, shaved my head back in August 22, due to alopecia and extreme infestation in hair that started really affecting my ears. I have tried ear cleaner and that just made them run down my back, my legs have broken blood vessels, my arms are bad, my right wrist hurts like a nerve pain and swells, this started after I had a full ache and a bruise appeared. My hands are bad, using foaming wash brings them out and I can’t touch food without it getting in it and looking glittery , old , melted and almost a early mold like look. It’s crazy!! I have new furniture and I already see little signs of them. I have seen about 8 Doctors, 12 plus appt. One treated me like a 2 year old and told me to go to mental health, didn’t look, no scraping etc. none of these Primary care, urgent care, ER, do scrapings!!
My PC was on maternity leave. I seen another Doctor who couldn’t see mites with his eyes and at the time was not on lashes as bad as other times. He acted like it was stress and Anxiety. I made the mistake of telling this Doc and the Other one “urgent care” who acted like I was crazy that I suffer from agoraphobia that is worse due to Covid. I even waiting til 4 am and went to ER when my ears were bad and my ear and scalp was puffy and swollen, he gave me permethrin cream. I have spent $1,000’s on tea tree, sulfur, laundry soap, steamer, bedding, garbage bags, disinfectant, Shampoos, creams, hyaluronic creams, toner, body wash, scrubs, toothbrushes, mouth antibacterial wash, tea tree, neem and charcoal toothpaste and , online virtual doctors, I have been given permethrin about 7x’s, ivermectin oral, 2x metronidazole gel which helped but only given enough for face and head, they are all over, so that lasted 3 days along w/ ivermectin oral. I did a virtual dermatologist which gave me second dose, doxycycline ( which I just finished yesterday. I am so done! I also am a caretaker to my Parents. I am cook and this is disgusting!! I had stopped cooking for a couple months but my Mom acted like it was an excuse. I wear medical gloves, cleaning rubber gloves but still doesn’t help when I am having them so extreme. I lost 100lbs, I have controlled type 2, rheumatoid but not on medication, I get cellulitis and chronic skin infections but I think tea tree is preventing it. I wash my bedding , clothing with antibacterial, lavender wool balls, essential oils, hot dryer and wash, I even have a steam antibacterial setting on washer n dryer but I still have little mites on clothing. I actually bought a magnifying light for cannabis cultivation to see if I was crazy before I got my new iphone 14 which has a magnifying camera that is how I was able to show my doctors what I experience at night. Sorry to vent here but I am alone and been made to feel guilty and crazy throughout this nightmare. What else is there? I can’t go through this for another year!