An abundance of Demodex mites residing in the skin can be one reason a person may experience itching or crawling sensations on their skin, particularly if it gets worse at night.

Some common things experienced with Demodex Itching:

• It’s in your scalp, ears and/or face, where oil glands are commonly the most prolific.
• Nothing else has worked long-term. 
• You feel activity but nothing can be seen on examination.

Acne can be your skin’s way of reacting to Demodex mite activity by producing an inflammatory reaction which to try and ‘contain’ the bacteria that deceased mites release within the skin, forming a pimple or pustule.

How do I know if it’s Demodex mites causing my acne?

• You have particularly oily skin or use an abundance of moisturising products.
• Your acne is accompanied by other mite symptoms.
• You have had limited success with other traditional acne cures.

Rosacea may be caused, triggered, or worsened by Demodex mites. Similarly to acne, the body reacts to mites by producing an inflammatory reaction to where populations are concentrated (usually where oil glands are most productive on the face), causing redness.

Signs that Demodex mites may be a factor in your rosacea:

• You have been diagnosed with Subtype 2, 3 or 4.
• Your redness is not solely triggered by things like alcohol, hot drinks, spicy foods, temperature changes, etc.
• Limited success with traditional rosacea treatments  

Demodex mites can cause blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction, dry eyes, styes, chalazion, and ocular rosacea by spreading bacteria and creating blockages along the lash line.

Things to look for in Demodex blepharitis

• Cylindrical dandruff at the base of lashes and a build-up of debris, crusting and/or irritation
• Loss, sticking together or misdirected lashes, itching, redness, dry/teary eyes
• Lid margin erythema, blurred vision or feeling like there is something in your eye

Demodex mites can cause hair loss, hair thinning and dandruff on the scalp when competing for the same food source. If your hair cannot get the nutrients it needs, it can become undernourished and fall out.

What to look for when experiencing Demodex hair & scalp problems:

• Hair fall is accompanied by dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp or itching/crawling sensations.
• Scalp is either very dry or very oily.
• Other diagnostic processes have failed to resolve the issue.

Demodex mites can manifest in different symptoms depending on how an individual’s skin reacts to an overpopulation.

Some other symptoms can include, but are not limited to:

• Seborrheic dermatitis, redness, peeling, flaking, discolouration and changes in skin texture
• Itchy ears, loss of eyelashes and eyebrows, aged skin, loss of skin vitality
• The additional stress caused can impact mental health and overall well-being.