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Anyone else dealing with Demodex Mites? What helps?

Skin Health | Last Active: 2 hours ago | Replies (162)

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@cmcg

Hi… Sorry to hear about your current symptoms. I have days when I feel I am totally on top of these creatures and then the next day, I will feel them on my scalp, in and around my eyes and face!! As for your questions about adverse events… I had no adverse reactions ( and I do tend to have sensitive skin) to any of the products. I started w two rounds of oral Ivermectin while using TTO all over. Then I started topical ivermectin and metronidazole on my face and Xdemvy drops in my eyes amd Avenova for cleansing my eyelashes and kids. I also started total body washing w Paul Mitchell TTO shampoo and conditioner. I was clearly in full blitz mode as I would do anything to get rid of them. Once I seemed to be having no or close to no symptoms ( about 8 wks), I started removing one thing at a time…..I would go a week between eliminating each product. And over the last month or so I am only using Paul Mitchell shampoo and condition ( using shampoo as my total body soap). What products are you using? And do you think you can differentiate allergic itching from what I call the creepy crawly sensation ( which also itches). And I am increasingly mindful that my skin is getting drier, so I do have some itching from dry skin. I am just about at the one year mark dealing w all of this. I am not autoimmune. And my husband has not “caught” Demodex.

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Replies to "Hi… Sorry to hear about your current symptoms. I have days when I feel I am..."

It's always good to see what other people are doing, thanks for sharing! I was on chemo three years ago, which is probably why I'm having my problems (per my ophthalmologist).

I'm on Xdemvy for dry-eye and finish up next week and then have cataract surgery on 4/2. The difference in my eyes is amazing and I can actually open them in the morning without drops, but they're not perfect yet (maybe never will be). It could be the Xdemvy that's helping or in combination with everything else I'm doing, especially the Avenova cleansers and their brush. I think their nano-brush is really amazing (not the larger ones) and think it's been as important as anything. I also put an Optase eye mask in the microwave, and since I read that Demodex will come out when it's hot, I already have the Cliradex eye wipes opened for the moment I remove the mask since it has tea tree oil in it (which is why it stings). I also put 100% tea tree oil on my scalp before I wash my hair with the Avenova shampoo and conditioner. I'll look into the Paul Mitchell TTO shampoo - thanks! I've bought three types of eye wipes and Cliradex seems to be the only one with TTO as a main ingredient (4-Terpineol) - in fact it's listed right after water with only five more ingredients following, but the Avenova wipes have fourteen ingredients with TTO listed third from the end. So I'm sticking with Cliradex, even though it's four times more expensive.

I found that by doing a very, very close-up selfie of my eyes and then enlarging it, I can see if there's anything on my lashes and lid margin. It's not as clear as what's shown online, but I could see where there was some 'debris' remaining so I could use the brush again (I found it best to use it before the cleanser in front of a magnified mirror - upper and lower lashes and lid). Your cell phone should be able to look at your scalp, too. I read about it in a PubMed NIH report.

I've gotten into the routine now of changing my pillowcases every day and sheets every 3-4 days and will be happy to start removing the multiple steps I'm taking to keep these critters at bay!!

If you look at the Tarsus website for their Xdemvy drops it has a really helpful (and very creepy) 'video' of how the DX live in our eyelashes and hair follicles. It's something everyone should see so we'll be vigilant the rest of the lives!

Yes, you really did full blitz; glad you had no reactions. I started by using a sodium sulfacetamide & sulfur cleanser on my face about a month ago. Recently added OcuSoft's demodex foam cleanser for eyelids . Bought tea tree oil a week or two ago and am experimenting with it. Have used Neutrogena Deep Clean scrub for years prior to exfoliate and have been doing that more often now. Happily, the last two days I see and am encouraged. It takes a while,I realize, and I am not a patient person. I've used Jason tea tree oil shampoo before all this with mites, but am using it every day or other day, instead varing it with other shampoos. Typically, I'm cautious about starting more than one new product at a time , based on bad past experience, then not knowing which product caused the problem. So I'm still trying to do that with this regimen. I like the idea of a tea tree body wash so will look for that . As long as I see it's working, I'll keep on keeping on. I've read so much about mites recently my head spins. One natural product that was almost as effective as 100% TTO is caraway oil, per one of the articles no NIH site. Interesting. I want to read about 100% alcohol. 99% is referred to as "industrial and for cleaning " on Amazon, so doesn't sound like something to apply to the face. I don't have the creepy crawly sensations but do some itching and notice my face is quite dry. Since oil is attractive to the mites I am very sparing with any moisturizer.