Demodex

Posted by medical1question @medical1question, Aug 10, 2022

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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Hi @medical1question and welcome. I can imagine that ongoing symptoms with no relief is quite frustrating.

I am inviting @gottab, @ainsleigh, and @markopolo who have mentioned Demodex here on Connect.

- Human Demodex Mite: The Versatile Mite of Dermatological Importance https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3884930/#!po=0.877193

Are you immunocompromised in any other way?

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@amandaa

Hi @medical1question and welcome. I can imagine that ongoing symptoms with no relief is quite frustrating.

I am inviting @gottab, @ainsleigh, and @markopolo who have mentioned Demodex here on Connect.

- Human Demodex Mite: The Versatile Mite of Dermatological Importance https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3884930/#!po=0.877193

Are you immunocompromised in any other way?

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Thank you, Amanda. I’ve read this abstract, and it’s a good one. No, I’m not immunocom-
promised to my knowledge. I’ve had two ANA that have come back negative for Lupus; however, my daughter was diagnosed with Lupus about a year ago.

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Hi - Just seeing your post about demodex since I do not go on this website very often because, frankly, have not received any meaningful help regarding my demodex overgrowth. I did find a demodex group on Facebook that you may want to search for on the FB website. I have suffered with this overgrowth for three years with it getting progressively worse. One dermatologist said I should talk to someone about the anxieties I was feeling…not been back to her! Another was interested in the NIH article I showed her but let me know she believed I did not have demodex mites. All this to say, I use Cliradex and Optase wipes, Hydroclorious acid spray, cold packs on my face because they do not like cold. My eye doctor has diagnosed me with blepharitis but cannot do much for it except prescribe erythromycin eye ointment for nightly use. (It is my understanding that FDA is now reviewing eye drops for treatment of demo. mites that, if approved, will be available later this year.) Am thankful for cold weather, however, as you know, they become active at dusk no matter the season. Again, I highly suggest that you find the FB group because there are many suggestions for coping. Also, look up Natural Genesis products. Their products have been helpful also. Sorry to be so long; have been up since 3 am because of these terrible pests.

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Meant to say that I hope this info helps; I understand your concern and frustration.

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Hello. I’ve suffered with this as well. I constantly went to dermatologists just for them to say it’s acne. My case is different. I would have a patch on my face filled with demodex. Being tired of not getting any solution, I had to research myself. Once I realized what it could be, I started to look for treatments. I finally found a solution. METRIN %5 Permethrin Cream 30g/1oz Treatment of Scabies. I would would put a thin layer on my whole face and a slightly thick layer on the specific areas on my face where I had an infestation. I would do this every morning and night after my skin care routine. I knew it worked when my skin would be full of white like mucous material you described. I’m assuming they were the dead ones that were on my face. It takes a few weeks to see your face clear up but it’s worth it. If it wasn’t for this cream, I would be confined into my home from shame.

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Hello, I’m doing my own Demodex research as I am certain I have this and am frankly sick of dealing with it. I started Dupixent back in Sept for severe dyshidrotic eczema and have found myself dealing with increased redness, papules, and scales on my face. It is extremely discouraging to be gaslit about this possibility when I bring it up to the prescribing doctor. I know that fungal issues and frankly anything that changes our immune response to those little microorganisms can definitely be contributing factor here but I am hesitant to give it up since my hands look so much better on the Dupixent. I was not even able to sleep with the itching blisters on my hands. But now my face looks awful! Defeating it seems like a full-time job. Hoping I can get some suggestions from this thread. Hopefully I can try the scabies med or ivermectin 🙁

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@kaitymay

Hello, I’m doing my own Demodex research as I am certain I have this and am frankly sick of dealing with it. I started Dupixent back in Sept for severe dyshidrotic eczema and have found myself dealing with increased redness, papules, and scales on my face. It is extremely discouraging to be gaslit about this possibility when I bring it up to the prescribing doctor. I know that fungal issues and frankly anything that changes our immune response to those little microorganisms can definitely be contributing factor here but I am hesitant to give it up since my hands look so much better on the Dupixent. I was not even able to sleep with the itching blisters on my hands. But now my face looks awful! Defeating it seems like a full-time job. Hoping I can get some suggestions from this thread. Hopefully I can try the scabies med or ivermectin 🙁

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I would suggest the oldest and safest remedy I have used for the
past 50 years.
Most of us who have oily skin and seborrhea do have Demodex in our skin flora. Normally there are no symptoms. Overgrowth when we are immunosuppresed could cause your condition.
Years ago I was given an old fashioned compounded sulfur remedy by my dermatologist.
Most treatments for rosacea also help control demodicosis.
I suggest safest course for control is Prosacea gel ( 10% sulfur) daily
and zinc soap wash available in bar or liquid forms OTC as well.
Helps to use a shampoo like selenium sulfide or zinc phrithione
in your shower. I would only use permethrin a few day a month if that fails. Demodex lives with us.
Ivermectin is expensive.

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@seniormed

I would suggest the oldest and safest remedy I have used for the
past 50 years.
Most of us who have oily skin and seborrhea do have Demodex in our skin flora. Normally there are no symptoms. Overgrowth when we are immunosuppresed could cause your condition.
Years ago I was given an old fashioned compounded sulfur remedy by my dermatologist.
Most treatments for rosacea also help control demodicosis.
I suggest safest course for control is Prosacea gel ( 10% sulfur) daily
and zinc soap wash available in bar or liquid forms OTC as well.
Helps to use a shampoo like selenium sulfide or zinc phrithione
in your shower. I would only use permethrin a few day a month if that fails. Demodex lives with us.
Ivermectin is expensive.

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Thank you so much, I’ll try Prosacea. Right now I’m using the retinol preparation Differin at derm’s recommendation because she seems to think it’s “just acne.” But it’s not doing much. I do already have a Vanicream Z-bar that I use for my numerous back lesions along with CLN wash (could THAT also be Demodex related?)…I am afraid of using a lot of the more drying stuff on my face as I actually have REALLY dry skin; not oily at all. Which is why I’m so confused by the seeming demodex infestation. I think it must be related to the Dupixent and its effect on my immune response seeing as I do not exactly have a feast of sebum for the critters. Hoping Prosacea can help. I’m not sure what else to try at this point :-/

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Hello@medical question. I have had almost identical experience you described. I recently found a doctor who actually listened to me and I have just started with his treatment plan. He is Dr Rolando Toyos. He is located in Nashville,Tennessee but he does video conferences visits for people who are not within driving distance. Dr Toyos is an ophthalmologist. He specializes in Dry Eye and it’s various causes. He did a through history and diagnosed me as having Demodex mites from all the clinical evidence from my history and physical I have dry eye, rosacea, “eye and eyebrow dandruff “ I am on steroids s long term for Rheumatoid Arthritis. His recommendations for me was a prescription face cleanser, face wipes with hyaluronic acid, eye drops, eye gel and Ivermectin cream. He also gave me a IPL (intense pulsed light) a type of laser treatment to open my glands that were blocked in my upper and lower eyelids. My face was horrible and after just 5 days it was 70% clear! I had already had 2 rounds of Ivermectin oral tablets that I received from Posh Medical a telemedicine group of doctors. That had calmed the mites down enough that I wasn’t wild with the constant itching. Dr Toyos has several You Tube videos discussing the various treatments that he uses. So you can get a feel of what he is like before committing to an appointment. He also has written a book the Dry Eye Diet that is available from Amazon for the kindle or you can order the book from his office.. this treatment plan was not cheap. But I had been fighting these mites for a year and this was a priority for me. His contact information is on his website at teamtoyos After an agonizing year dealing with all the doctors who really had NO knowledge of Demodex mites, Dr Toyo’s was like a breath of fresh air! Sorry this is so long. I hope this information will be helpful.

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@gottab

Hi - Just seeing your post about demodex since I do not go on this website very often because, frankly, have not received any meaningful help regarding my demodex overgrowth. I did find a demodex group on Facebook that you may want to search for on the FB website. I have suffered with this overgrowth for three years with it getting progressively worse. One dermatologist said I should talk to someone about the anxieties I was feeling…not been back to her! Another was interested in the NIH article I showed her but let me know she believed I did not have demodex mites. All this to say, I use Cliradex and Optase wipes, Hydroclorious acid spray, cold packs on my face because they do not like cold. My eye doctor has diagnosed me with blepharitis but cannot do much for it except prescribe erythromycin eye ointment for nightly use. (It is my understanding that FDA is now reviewing eye drops for treatment of demo. mites that, if approved, will be available later this year.) Am thankful for cold weather, however, as you know, they become active at dusk no matter the season. Again, I highly suggest that you find the FB group because there are many suggestions for coping. Also, look up Natural Genesis products. Their products have been helpful also. Sorry to be so long; have been up since 3 am because of these terrible pests.

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It is spelled Natural Ginesis and their Kleen Green was very effective with skin mites.

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