Anyone else dealing with Demodex Mites? What helps?

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!

I've seen the Avenova products but there are a few; which one do you use for eye lids. I didn't see a brush for eye lashes. Would like to get that as well. Is this on Amazon? I'm hoping when the mites are under control I can reduce all the washing of sheets and pillow cases . It's time consuming for sure.

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!

I was wrong! the brush isn't from Avenova but from We Love Eyes. I got it on Amazon for $24, plus I use their eyelid foaming cleanser and their eye makeup remover. But I'm really just using their foaming cleanser and the brush.

The Avenova products are the face and eyelid/lasher cleanser and their shampoo and conditioner. Sorry!!! I'll see if I can change it. Thank you for writing!!

Great, I found the We Love Eyes brush. Will get that.
Is the Aveno eyelid /lash cleanser the one with pure hypochlorous acid spray in a brown bottle? That's all I find for that brand. Not tea tree oil?

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.

I found the attached in a study about the survival rates of Demodex Folliculorum, and 100% TTO killed them in 3.7 minutes; 100% alcohol in 3.9 minutes; 100% caraway oil (CWO) in 4.4.

I use the alcohol on my makeup brushes, and used to spray my powders but stopped when I learned they die quickly because it dries them out.

My face and neck are quite dry now, and I'm not sure how to handle it since the new moisturizers I bought don't have oil in them and aren't as effective as my old ones with oil. I'm using serums (CeraVe Vitamin C with hyaluronic acid; and Filorga Hydra-Hyaal Intensive Hydrating and Plumping Face Serum (pricey) (all Amazon). One thing that really, really dried my face out was the Ovante demodex mask. I used it once last week and my neck hasn't recovered yet. I'm 74 and would only use it again if I were years younger or if nothing I'm doing now won't control the DX
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Thank you so much for all the info. Amazingly thorough. I assume you are retired now; what kind of work did you do ? I read yesterday, just from google search, not an "informed" site from university medical or NIH, that 100% alcohol is too strong to put on skin that 70% was best too use.
Re your doctor's position, the Demodex eat dead skin cells which is a benefit, still it's gross to think about. My impression is that we can't eliminate all of them; I hate to think for the rest of my life I have to be doing all this cleansing and inspecting, etc. to keep them under control. Also read - somewhere all the way , I think the NIH site- age , dna, blood sugar levels are some factors contributing to overgrowth conditions, that overgrowth does not occur with everyone. I've been troubled with blepharitis for years but all these skin problems began only the past year or so .

Hi, 70% alcohol won't kill them, just 100%, which I can't find - just 99%. I don't put the 99% alcohol on my skin, or at least not for long. I mostly spray it intensely on my combs, brushes and makeup if I don't have time to soak them. I had blepharitis and then had breast cancer in 2021, which lowered my immune system. I had switched ophthalmologic practices and the new one didn't mention the blepharitis so I was mistakenly thrilled that the chemo had killed them. But when I went back to my dry-eye specialist she said that the chemo is probably what caused them to go into overdrive. Needless to say, I'll go to both practices!

I'm keenly aware of how difficult it is to kill them after spending months getting rid of mealy bugs in our atrium. People use neem oil, but it's the alcohol that kills them. They are tiny, but unlike Demodex they're not microscopic and you can actually see the tiny white bugs... and watch as they die in the alcohol (it's instantaneous). After a lot of research I realized that they had made their way into the house via me or my husband! If you just brush up against a leaf that has them, they can stay on your clothes and travel with you, get onto a chair and live for a week or so until someone sits there and then brushes up against another plant where they can live happily. They can live for 2 weeks without any nourishment, unlike the Demodex, which can only live 2-3 days without food. So after going on several killing sprees, they are finally gone and now I've got Demodex to contend with. So that's why I'm aware of transferring them from my face to a towel or cotton pad and keep changing everything and washing my hands - especially before putting on clean pillow cases!

I'm retired from a non profit I headed for 26 years that's part of a 'citizen diplomacy' network across the U.S. that works with the U.S. Department of State. Our role is to make friends around the world and by having rising leaders from around the world visit our communities as guests of State to see what the real U.S. is like and form their own opinions. We arranged counterpart meetings and dinners in homes of Americans. (Our guests were members of parliament, presidential advisors, attorneys general, etc.) I also ran Philadelphia's Sister Cities Program. I miss it but retired in 2016 because I was losing my hearing and couldn't hear in meetings. I had already lost it in one ear in 1974. But all this doesn't belong in the Demodex discussion group! Sorry!!

You had a fascinating career and I can see why you miss it. I retired in 2008, am 10 years older than you. I was happy at first, but now , especially after Covid and being in isolation phase for so long, getting older every day.... not so much. Health issues keep popping up and now with this darn mite problem , I spend most of my time making one doctor appointment after another or checking drug side effects on rx.list. org . I hesitated using the metronidazole but I think you used it successfully. One dermatologist said it had to be used twice a day and would take 8 to 10 weeks to kill them .