Anyone else dealing with Demodex Mites? What helps?

My ophthalmologist, when looking at my eyes with is "microscope" said, "You have Demodex mites in your eyelashes." He suggested I order Noveha Demodex Lid Scrubs from Amazon. They scam yesterday with 60 individually wrapped tissues in a box. I didn't know I had the mies, as I had no symptoms. But I'll try the wipes and then go back to the doctor so he can see my eyelashes.

After joining this group, I bought a bottle of TeaTree Oil. I make all my own serums, and so tweaked the eczema formula to add it. I only have them on my scalp and forearms, and ZERO HELP from anyone! I've even had blue light therapy on my arms. My dermatologist recommended Selsun Blue after all these years (years!) of asking what to do. I read the post about using mayonnaise! I started at the full moon, and then every Wednesday after I have applied a mix of mayo and tea tree oil...I diluted with distilled water (but why not 99% alcohol!) and with a large 'animal' syringe I applied it in a grid pattern. Had some left, so applied to forearms (also an unsolved issue). Massaged it in, wrapped scalp with shower cap and towel, (for heat) and wrapped arms with plastic wrap and put on a warm base layer shirt...Wore it for half a day. Relief!! My forearms are clear for the first time in years, I can wear short sleeved shirts this summer. My scalp no longer itches. Has no scaley flakes. Oh, I also bought Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shampoo like someone recommended, and added more tea tree oil to the bottle. I even use it the shampoo as body wash!
I followed the advice: wear no clothes like t-shirts and nightgowns twice...and I change my pillowcase every morning.
I'm going to get the Premo products mentioned.

I'm not even bothering with doctors anymore, other than a wellcare appointment annually. Age 78.

I haven't tried those, but be sure to not use the same wipe on both eyes. You'll just be moving them from one place to another.

FYI, since they're microscopic (mostly) he probably didn't see them with his slit lamp. What he must have seen are collarettes, which Demodex leave on the base of the eyelashes. (If you've ever had crusty stuff on your eyes when you wake uo, its collarettes.) Collarettes are debris of mite waste and eggs. (Uggh!) Here's an article about them.
https://www.prevention.com/health/a45102642/heres-the-eyelid-disease-everyone-should-know-about-according-to-an-ophthalmologist/
What kills them are Xdemvy eye drops that are very expensive but worth it. I've used it twice and may need the drops again. It kills them, but they can migrate from your brows, your head or anywhere. I don't know why doctors aren't sounding the alarm about them.

I just ordered the Noveha wipes from Amazon. I've used Cliridex wipes and found them to be the best, but I'd never heard of Noveha. I got less vigilant after using the drops for 40+ days and thought I was rid of them, but sadly, they're always with us, and now I'm sure they're back.

Good luck!

Im sorry you've been through so much and it was from an eye appointment!

But you are NOT alone when it comes to Demodex. I really recommend Xdemvy. It's a 42 day program of eye drops 2x/ day. But why stop as long as there's still something in the bottle? It's expensive, but absolutely, definitely worth it.

Doctors just don't get it because they were taught that Demodex are commensal, but those of us with too many know that's absolutely not true. The pharmacy company that manufactures Xdemvy (Tarsus) just started doing a commercial about them and I've read they have a program to educate doctors. I've only seen the commercial once and 1fam hoping it will be as omnipresent as 'Ned's psoriasis' commercials.

Ophthalmologists seem to be the only ones fully aware of them but they still don't tell patients because it freaks people out. I learned about them from mine, but only by reading what she had written. She never uttered the word Demodex.

Facebook has several support groups for Demodex (stay away from the Ungex one - it's trying to sell a product). I joined 14 months ago and the number of people on it is now 4x the number from when when I joined (437 as of today and growing). You'll learn a lot from those groups, especially that doctors are a problem, if not a bigger problem than the Demodex because they aren't helping their patients.

Hang in there!

Thank you so much for your input. I read all of your past posts prior to writing, and it was from yours that I took the most advice! So how great to hear from you and for giving me hope.

I am writing now after going through 4 weeks of oral ivermectin, followed by 7 days of topical. It was a long, rough road but I am now free and clear from what I can see. My eyelashes are finally clear and my pain has subsided. I finally don’t feel any crawling ( good grief, that was such a horrible feeling), and the foreign body sensation has abated to almost zero. I am still VERY reluctant to let my guard down and check my eyes twice a day, as well as continue with showering daily, washing my hair every other day with a combination of Ovate Demodicosis shampoo and Malin & Goetz Peppermint shampoo, use salicylic and azelaic acid products on my face and body, Dr Bronner’s tea tree soap on my back, chest, and pubic hair ( not on vulvar area, of course, because it is too harsh for that area in my opinion). I change my pillowcase every time I wash my hair, change all bedding once a week, and my bedclothes every other day. I honestly don’t see a day yet where I won’t be doing this in the next year. It hurts that I feel like my entire life and routine have been upended by this plague, but I am so relieved to be in remission. I was prescribed Xdemvy half way into my oral ivermectin treatment, but I decided to listen to my own advice rather than the doctors’ and I think it was the right choice. I know that Xdemvy has worked for some, but it’s rates of success are about 1 in 2 and those were not odds I thought were good enough for my liking. Besides, after all of the other treatments I’ve subjected myself to have made my eyes so tender and sensitive that I couldn’t bear putting another thing into them. The medical literature out there regarding the oral/topical ivermectin route seemed strong enough for me to continue on that path. So, I’ve got a $1900 unopened bottle of Xdemvy in my arsenal if I change my mind…I urge everyone going through this process to do what feels right for them, to keep on it, and try to hold it together— that last part was the hardest for me. In complete transparency and honesty, there was one brutal night that I sat up at 2 in the morning and penned a last letter to my spouse and children, fell to my knees, cried out to the universe and my dead mother, asked to be struck dead to be taken out of my pain. I do not know how I made it through that night, and one of my only thoughts was that my beloved husband would be the one to find me and be ruined forever. This disease is no joke and I send my love and best thoughts to all who are braving this trial. May we all meet at the finish line. Peace.

My doctor had me take some (a very small amount) of the topical (Solantra) on a Q-tip and swirl it about .5 - .75 inch around the inner membranes of my nose and also take some of the topical and put it around the skin of my inner ears (do not go too far in). I also found out that I had a severe allergy to dust mites from an old mattress that I was using threw out. Bought a new mattress. That stopped the itching once and for all.

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.