Demodex mites, the cause of demodex blepharitis, come from being naturally present on human skin, transmitted via touch, and their numbers increase with age or certain conditions like rosacea, leading to overpopulation and inflammation when their population booms due to factors like excess oil, immunosuppression, or blocked glands.
Demodex mites are readily transferred via skin-to-skin contact. Demodex can cause problems through the following mechanisms: The mites consume the lining of follicles in order to lay their eggs. This results in the distention of the follicle and mal-direction of the lashes.
Blepharitis typically occurs as a result of a blockage in the oil glands at the base of the eyelashes, sometimes as a result of a demodex mite infestation. Demodex mites become more prevalent with age, and are typically the cause of blepharitis in patients over the age of 60.
"Demodex mites live on our skin and are especially prominent in areas where we have a lot of oil like the face or the middle of the chest." Even worse, said mites thrive in unsanitary environments, like Xu's dirty pillowcase.
Tea tree oil is a great help with clearing up mites. Rubbing tea tree oil (in eye-safe ratio, please! Pure tea tree is very strong) into your lashes every night ought to get rid of the colony in about 6 weeks. Use a 5% tea tree oil cream around the lids.
When demodicosis occurs, it can lead to blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids), which in turn leads to keratitis (inflammation of the cornea). It is often uncomplicated but can sometimes lead to additional symptoms, especially if the infestation is severe and left untreated.
A mild case may cause an occasional runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. In severe cases, the condition is ongoing, resulting in persistent sneezing, cough, congestion, facial pressure or even a severe asthma attack. People with asthma who are sensitive to dust mites face an increased risk of asthma attacks.
While demodex mites can only live a few hours off of the human skin in a dry environment, in a wet or damp environment they can live for days. (Source). A mascara tube is not a great environment for demodex to live, as they have nothing to feed off of and nowhere to lay their eggs safely.
Demodex infestation, characterized by cylindrical dandruff or sleeves around the eyelashes, has been found in 30% of patients with chronic blepharitis. It is theorized that the infestation and waste of the mites causes blockage of the follicles and glands and/or an inflammatory response.
So tiny, eyelash mites can only be seen with a microscope. In ideal scenarios, eyelash mites go unnoticed. They simply do their job — cleaning up dead skin cells and excess oils on your face — throughout their brief lifespan, 14-18 days.
Causes & risk factors
Less commonly, allergies or a mite infestation of the eyelashes can cause anterior blepharitis. Posterior blepharitis can occur when the glands of the eyelids irregularly produce oil (meibomian blepharitis). This creates a favorable environment for bacterial growth.
Sulphur Soap. "I read about the Demodex mite that may be associated with rosacea. I started using pyrithione [an organic sulphur compound] containing soaps and creams. Within days the lesions disappeared and have not reappeared for nearly two years with a few exceptions."
Basics: Microscopic mites (D. folliculorum and D. brevis) naturally live in hair follicles and oil glands; overgrowth causes irritation, redness, and blepharitis. Symptoms: Itching, gritty sensation, swollen eyelids, and cylindrical dandruff at lash bases.
Other risk factors—Immunocompromised individuals, those with specific skin conditions like rosacea, blepharitis, and seborrheic dermatitis, users of topical or systemic corticosteroids, obese individuals, and people experiencing stress are all at increased risk for demodicosis [55,56,57,58].
Even though dust mites are microscopic, there are ways to tell if you have dust mites sleeping in your bed, including:
Combine Clove, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint or Rosemary oil with water in a spray bottle and spray your bed, linens, and other furniture lightly with a fine mist. Once this mixture air dries, the scent should repel dust mites. Cinnamon bark oil can also be used to help control dust mites as well.
It's important to vacuum clean regularly, especially in the areas of your home where dust mites tend to settle more, such as carpets, curtains, mattresses, and furniture surfaces.
Symptoms include red or dry eyes, swollen eyelids, sticky lashes, itching, burning or stinging, grittiness in the eyes and crustiness around the outer edge of the eyelid. An infestation of mites can also cause dry and itchy skin, and it can even damage the oil glands at the edges of the eyelids and the lashes.
As the number of Demodex organisms decreases, many patients notice signs demodex mites are dying along with a significant improvement in their skin health. It's common to experience enhancements in skin texture, reduced irritation, and fewer breakouts when there are signs demodex mites are dying.
This is the most common type of demodex mite. They tend to stay in the facial area, including your nose, cheeks, chin, eyelashes, eyebrows, and scalp. They might also be found on your neck and ears. They like to get inside the upper part of a hair follicle and survive on skin cells and oil.
Demodex mites have a tendency to reside in vellus sebaceous follicles that have more sebum producing cells. Both species are primarily found in the face, paranasal area, eyelashes, or eyebrows, but D. brevis has a wider distribution on other parts of the body. Demodex mites cannot be found in newborn skin.
You can't wash or scrub all Demodex mites away. But you may be able to help prevent infestation by keeping your skin clean. This removes the extra oil and dead skin cells the mites eat.
Skin Conditions Mistaken for Scabies