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Anyone else dealing with Demodex Mites? What helps?
Four years ago, with no history of any skin issues, I developed overnight red, pustules and papules on my eyebrows. Over the four years, I’ve gone to three dermatology groups known to be selected by other healthcare professionals, and have seen a total of seven practitioners. They have said it’s rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, or actinic keratosis. I’ve been prescribed expensive new topicals, two different antibiotic courses, etc. Each visit I hear, “Well, you can try this.”
I’m an RN, and I know my body. I keep telling each dermatologist that I believe it could be an infestation or overpopulation of demodex; demodex reproduce at night on your skin (they live in hair follicles) and most evenings my eyebrows begin to itch about the time it’s getting dark. With needle-tipped tweezers, I can pull white cyndrically-shaped mucous-type material attached to a hair follicle. None of the practitioners have followed guidance from an article on the NIH website for ensuring there is a skin scraping or other method to obtain a demodex count. None has acknowledged the damaging effects on self image that abound in the literature for rosacea, with which demodex is associated. This post is in no way to disparage dermatologists in general, but I clearly don’t fit the mold of the repetitive frequently seen five minute visits to which they may be accustomed. Has anyone experienced an overpopulation of demodex? How was it diagnosed and treated? Thank you.
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It looks like you've tried everything. But have you tried 100% Lemongrass oil? As I write this I'm next to my husband who starting immersing himself in that and 100% tea tree oil on alternating days - both of which kill them, and also will do a number on your skin. He's not vain and doesn't care.
We're advised to dilute it, but if you can put up with the stinging, it'll help. No one will recommend 100% anything for fear of being sued. But clinical studies show what kills them, and Lemongrass oil is #1. TTO isnt even in the top 5!
My Demodex problem began with my dry eyes, and after a year when I was having difficulty seeing I looked into cataract surgery but wanted to treat the dry eye first. That's when I learned about the mites. She prescribed Xdemvy, which has been a miracle cure for me. But it's horribly expensive. It's a 42-day treatment of twice daily drops in each eye. During the 42 days there are three life cycles of mites killed off. I had my two cataract surgeries in April after the Xdemvy and no longer have a headache, but I think I'm seeing their dead bodies every day in my eyes' discharge. Looks a bit like your photo, but much smaller. My husband started the drops 2 days ago. I used what was remaining of my drops firvgis eyes and his watering eyes cleared uo, but there wasn't enough to go through all the life cycles.
FYI, We're leaving this Saturday (5/4) for 2 weeks out of the US, so if I'm not responding quickly you'll know why.
I've connected with three other women who are going through very much the same thing you are. (I feel like my eye problem is somewhat resolved m, but my husband is treating it all over his body, and the 3 others are not getting the help they, and you, deserve.
Send me a private message if you'd like to connect.
Take care!!
Have you tried applying tea tree oil that has been diluted with a carrier oil on the area? I use both oil and a tea tree cream. I only speak from personal experience and it may not be right for you. But, I found tea tree oil to be very effective with ridding me of recurring styes caused by mites.
have your doctor or his pathologist prepare a slide with some material from infected area like eyelashes and veiw under polarized light. it will make eggs and critters show.
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1 ReactionI am in a similar place. I believe the reason I am so dry in my scalp and hair is because in addition to my face and eyes they are in abundance on my scalp and I have had terrible loss there. If they are eating the sebum and dying in the follicle then you have nothing left for your own needs.
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1 ReactionHi! Know that you are not alone! This is a very supportive and helpful group! And several of us are nurses! I am a year into my journey and my goal has shifted from elimination to control w minimal to no symptoms. I started w 2 rounds of oral ivermectin, 2 months of alternating topical metronidazole and ivermectin all of which helped but the problem persisted. I have also taken Xdemvy drops… I am on my third round. I have been the best w the following routine: daily shower and shampoo w Paul Mitchell Tea Tree oil shampoo, followed by his “leave in conditioner/body lotion”. He also makes a conditioner that I also use after a shampoo. I try to leave the shampoo and condition on for a couple of minutes. I cover my body w the leave in condition/body lotion. And what I have added for a couple of weeks now is I strengthened the TTO concentration in all the above Paul Mitchell products. I purchased 100% TTO at CVS and I now add 3 ml of the 100% to 10 oz bottles of the above three products. Until about 3 months ago, I was washing my bedding on hot settings every day and my clothing daily. I wash my bedding every 3-4 days now and have resumed my normal routine of washing clothing. Two weeks ago I added Vaseline to my nighttime routine. I apply it to my forehead, eyelids, eyelashes, face, and in my nose. While this is fairly intense, it has become my routine and I am better….. in control but far from eliminated! I too have found doctor visits frustrating. My dermatologist has prescribed what Inhave asked her too but is kind of doubtful. My PCP and allergist had never heard of Demodex. I provided them w literature and they are “following w interest”. My opthalmologist is the most responsive. My guess is that he sees it every day in his practice. I am sure you have read that most people (100% over age 70) have some Demodex. And then for some reason, there is us…. Struggling w the infestation version! The literature will say due to being immunocompromised but many of us aren’t! I hosted a zoom call last week and have another one scheduled. I will re-post it in case you are interested. And so know that there are two Demodex groups…. Put Demodex in the search feature if this site and it will bring up the other site. One is much larger than the other. Perhaps we can get Mayo to combine them as there is a wealth of information. Everyone’s story is a little different and people find different treatment regimens useful. I haven’t heard one person say they eliminated the Demodex. I encourage you to take it one day at a time. It was a couple of months ago when I realized I was no longer thinking about it 24/7! And I think you will find this community very helpful!
I know this sounds bad but when I had this, I used a dog shampoo! it worked after two uses. I had to follow up with conditioners it was worth it. These critters are all around us it's all about control not elimination because you can pick them up at the gym , a movie theater or anywhere people lean their heads. They love heat so a ice water rinse helps too.
You used your dogs shampoo. Did you use it all over your body
how did you get rid of mites in your house
Please share name of shampoo….
Same. My ophthalmologist is the one who brought up the mites. I didn't even complain about the roseacea. He saw the irritation around my lashline (that I explained away initially as irritation from Grande Lash, which may well contribute) and suggested a diluted tea tree oil eyelid "scrub" that is really a foam. I tried it for a short time and didn't see results so I quit. A couple years later my relatively new cpap habit (July 2023) and nasal cushion rubbing on the bridge of my nose caused me to take a closer look. I've been washing my whole face with the foam for a week or two. I'm gonna power through 3 little bumps that have showed up, assuming that they may be indicative of Die-off. AND I will consult the website of this recommended Nashville doctor!