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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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I almost forgot, lavender oil also helps (has to be real, essential lavender oil not like fake lavender smelling something or other), maybe less effective than TTO but works nonetheless (and is a bit more relaxing of a smell than tea tree imo)… I have some lotions with lavender oil in em, like this dermalogica nighttime face gel and bbw rose+lavender ‘sleep’ body lotion, for example. I find them quite helpful and less medicinal feeling.
I've read numerous times that stress is a contributor to this awful problem. I think it must be;
lately other problems have added to my stress and rashes have definitely increased. What brands of lotions do you use with ingredients you mention? Salicylic acid and urea sounds interesting combination , must be strong ., My skin is very dry but moisturizers seem to immediately mean more itchy bumps. So a real catch 22 problem. . In early days I used a sulfur/selenium product that was a prescription. I've begun to use exfoliates and also think it helps. I'm aware over last few months, some areas on soles of feet are itchy at times and strangely pink looking but no visible bumps or rashes. I wondered if there was a connection but thought it a very odd place for demodex .
I would like to get the lavender oil or body lotion. Is BBW the brand? Do you recall where you found these products. I have not bought any essential oils for years and years. Our local Sprouts stores sell some , probably Amazon also.
I mix 1 % of permetherin mixed with a good lotion. You can get permetherin at any feed store. I use this about every month when I break out. takes just a dab for my face. On my dog who had an awful hot spot Carmex was the only thing that worked. (After spending hundreds on vet subscriptions) her hair finally grew back. But for the demodex mites I get them every monthly cycle bad. They are gone over night with the lotion mix.
I work in a building with mold. Over the years, I have had random symptoms that come and go with my time in the building. The last few years, I developed a skin rash/acne that at first would improve over the weekend and actually completely go away over the summer (I’m a teacher). This year, my school building “mitigated” for mold 1 week before school started. Lo and behold, after having clear skin, in 2 weeks I ended up with full blown acne that I knew was not acne but parasitic. I had the same frustrating experience! And like you, never had acne or any issues before this. The mold triggered the oil / pore blockage which caused the infestation. Yet, no doctor knew this and I wasted so much time and money on the wrong things. I have been taking Accutane (at 45!) for 1 week and pray it helps. I am using FMLA time and terrified to go back in the building. I just need one professional to care enough to identify and solve my problem and for the school to provide clean air!
Noveha Tea Tree products. My dermatologist recommended them. Order from Amazon.
Do they work? I bought tea tree wash from Amazon and it didn’t help.
Yes due to my mold allergy, while working in a school building with mold, the constant stress on my immune system and exposure to the toxin. triggers an assortment of uncomfortable and unsightly symptoms that are not often understood by many doctors. The school board pretends the mold problem is fixed. My body knows differently based on the symptoms happening as soon as I spend time in the building and then cease when I leave. What is scary, is that after 20 plus years, the symptoms are becoming worse and take longer to go away. The most recent issue being the Demodex ordeal. It has been painful physically emotionally and socially. It impacts my family as well. They don’t understand why doctors and school officials don’t seem to care.