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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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We are both free from that same infestation of Demodex. Used coconut oil with oregano oil.
Be careful as the oregano oil can burn yr skin. The coconut oil is the carrier & dilutes the oregano oil. We were desperate & resolved. Start with 1 or two drops of oregano oil to the C/oil.
Builds up to a heat. I did this before bed & lay down. I could feel the burning but hung in there as want them dead & gone. If it builds too hot then wipe off with tissue and put on coconut oil. Test & build up to burn them out. The ONLY thing that worked.
Ungex works well but is expensive. Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo has helped tremendously. Wash lashes and lids 3 times daily
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I have immunodeficiency from post septic shock that was nearly fatal. They advised that only about 6-7% of patients even survive sepsis of that severity and 40-50% of those who survive die within 2-3 years from treatment related complications. So while you are coming to terms with how short 2-3 years is, no one mentioned that because of my compromised immune system it's common to experience demodex mite overgrowth similar to the plague of locusts mentioned in the Bible. That would have been a handy bit of information to have. I was overwhelmed with them in my hair, face and eyes and nasal passages. They are not microscopic. I blew my nose and out came something you similarly see when you have a sinus infection only it was traveling on the tissue. I have used tea tree oil diluted with antibiotic ointment and they come to the surface as white/pale yellow and worm like as they die. From the scalp they retreat and die down and attach to the skin (ears, neck and clothing) as small dense white balls. The tea tree oil was effective but not enough for the vast amount. I remembered that I had a mild Retinol serum and Googled that for safety purposes and applied it but didn't get any miraculous results so I applied it again and this time I used saline solution as it's another one of their kryptonites and dabbed it repeatedly over the dried Retinol serum and they did their dance of death to the surface in masses. By changing their preferred host environment with the Retinol along with the kryptonite hydration application, I watched as they erupted from everywhere. But there are still some that just aren't dying. Will prescriptions for Ivermectin and Doxycycline to fight from the inside as well be suggested? I am not financially set to make a doctor's office visit but I may be able to do a Teledoc appointment. Please share your thoughts and ideas.
Aloha. I have been dealing with a Demodex Infestation for about 3 and a half years now. I believe it became an Infestation after I had the Shingles on my forehead and scalp. My Shingles pain wasn't pain....I know, it sounds nuts but I had none of the excruciating pain that's associated with it, what I did have was a Maniacal Intense Itch! If I didn't see it with my own eyes fall out of my hair and onto my sheet, I wouldn't have believed it. Two fell out, I caught one and the other got away. How, I was freaking out and making my boyfriend run around getting my phone and a container, better light. I Google Lens it. Called my Doctor and told him what I had and that started the Ivermectin Pills with Steroid Topical Lotion. I, also tried everything I think...never had a skin graph, or eye swab from my Doctor, my Optometrist or the leading Dermatologist/Plastic Surgeon. Everytime I feel like I'm getting a hold on it....I'm not! Maybe cause my Shingles was on my head, I immediately thought holy shit this is the culprit for Rosaceae, and probably all of our "hereditary skin diseases" , not to mention Ocular diseases as well as failed Plastic Surgery Procedures. Big Dollar Industry these little bitches and no one is saying much about it besides us. Wear gloves, try not to scratch, been bald or practically bald for 2 years and I try my best not to use makeup! I miss my hair and yet I want to laser remove every hair from my body! Some days I don't think I can handle it....I want to literally dig them out that's how bad the itch is! Hundreds of them coming out from inside your skin at the same time...it's indescribable. Everyday is a battle. It takes up a lot of my time and it's not considered a disability. Well that's because they want you to believe that it's all in your mind!!