A good hygiene practice is essential, both for keeping your fancy lashes for an extended time and protecting yourself against eyelash extension mites known as Demodex mites. Beyond that, cleaning extensions is a delicate process, and you may lose them if you are not cautious enough.
Eyelash extensions give you an attractive look and make your daily makeup look much more beautiful. Although some people think they cause eyelash mites, the root of the infection is lack of hygiene, not the lashes themselves.
Extensions are easy to clean. You just have to spare some time and follow the instructions we provide. If you get eyelash mites, you may not be able to use artificial eyelashes for a long time. Mites can also infect other parts of your skin and cause myriad problems because they can crawl on the skin!
About Eyelash Extension Mites
They are creatures like dust mites and bird mites, except that pretty much everyone has a population of them living on their skin, whether they wear extensions or not. They are very small (0.1 -0.3 mm) and live inside the lashes follicles that are 2.3 mm long. As it’s obvious, they may be overcrowded in one follicle, causing numerous mites to face down in each duct.
Demodex mites feed on dead cells, oil and dirt. The more food they access, the faster they multiply and fill the follicles. So it is not surprising that not observing the hygiene of artificial eyelashes can lead to an explosion in their population. A high population of mites on the eyelash line are associated with the following symptoms:
Mild symptoms: Mild itching, redness, and inflammation at the base of the lashes. Mild discomfort in the eyes.
Severe symptoms: refractory blepharitis, severe itching, tearing, oily and sticky eyelids, impaired vision, foreign body sensation in the eyes, and inflammation of the eyelids
The tell-tale signs of Demodex mite habitation are not confined to eyelids. They crawl on your skin with their segmented eight tiny feet at a speed of 8 to 16 centimetres per hour. So they can depart the eyelids and expand to other parts of the skin. Some of the skin conditions that are connected with eyelash mites include:
- Rosacea & redness of the skin
- Acne & pimples
- Rough & dull skin
- Hair loss & thinning hair
- Itching & crawling sensation
- Seborrheic dermatitis & eczema
It is important to consider eyelash extension mites are not always the primary cause of these complications but can exacerbate or trigger them. Of course, in cases such as rosacea and blepharitis, they can be an independent factor.
A Good Extension Hygiene Practice to Prevent Demodex Mites
Step One: Wash Your Extensions
1. Find a gentle cleanser for yourself:
The cleanser you choose should be oil and alcohol-free. These two substances can break down the adhesive on your extensions, inadvertently shorten the retention time, and cause loosening and loss of your beloved extensions.
On the other hand, concerning Demodex mites, oils and most nutrients in typical eyelash cleansers on the market can boost them. In other words, when it comes to Demodex mites, the solution is not just to clean the lashes; you should avoid the compounds that nourish them.
Finally, in the case of baby shampoo, it can remove grease, dirt and bacteria. Still, it may contain things such as perfume, synthetic colours, and oils. Over time and with prolonged use, it can loosen the extension and shorten the time you’ll need between appointments. After all, baby shampoo – and to a good approximate almost all typical cleansers – does not harm Demodex parasites and can not eliminate them.
Trust DDC – the science-based anti-Demodex cleanser.
- Proper eyelid hygiene is critical! But use a cleanser that does not feed on Demodex parasites.
- A gentle cleanser, based on herbal ingredients, anti-inflammatory and without side effects.
- Free of harmful substances such as SLS, SLES, paraben and silicone
- Formulated according to the latest European standards
- Can be used on other parts of the skin in addition to the eyelids
- Smart formula that acts to combine technology and science with application to outsmart Demodex mites
2. Wash your eyelashes
Dampen your lashes with warm water and massage them with a small amount of cleanser. Use top to bottom and vice versa movement. Avoid rubbing the lashes horizontally as it can damage the extensions. Finally, rinse them thoroughly with warm water and finish with cold water. Coldwater stops Demodex mites from developing. In contrast, the warmth helps them to multiply faster.
Avoid using cotton pads or balls to clean the extensions. Their fibres get stuck between the lashes and can damage them.
If you wonder how frequently you should wash your lashes, you should know individual skin conditions greatly influence the number of washes. It is usually recommended to wash eyelash extensions between 2 to 3 times a week to twice a day. If you have very oily skin and are constantly exposed to impurities, dirt, oils, or use cosmetics, do this twice a day. Otherwise, washing two to three times a week is enough.
Note that over-washing extensions does not help control mites and may even make things worse. Excessive washing of the skin makes it dry and vulnerable to pathogens, including Demodex parasites. This is especially applicable for eyelid skin that is very thin and more sensitive. So use the cleaner as needed and not more.
3. Drying Eyelashes
Do not use cloth towels to dry your eyes. This may damage the extension hairs. On the other hand, Demodex parasites grow well in the fabric of towels and can return to the eyelids or other parts of your skin upon subsequent contact.
Wait a while, or gently touch them with a paper towel wrapped around your finger to absorb the water.
Do not let your lashes air dry. As extension strands are denser than your natural eyelashes, moisture remains in them, setting the stage for Demodex mites to grow. Instead, use a cold-setting blow dryer to dry them. Do not hold the hair dryer too close to your face, and just keep it on each eyelid for only a few seconds.
4. Comb Them Out
Gently comb the lashes with a clean, dry mascara brush. This helps to separate the strands and prevent dust and dirt from getting trapped between them.
The eyelash brush must be clean. Dirty, greasy and unwashed brushes can provide the nutrients needed by Demodex parasites. Brush your lashes regularly and keep them dry.
Other Measures to Prevent Eyelash Extensions Mites
Fortunately, measures you should adopt to maintain your eyelashes and those that prevent Demodex overlap each other. So by adopting the following rules, you can both protect your eyelashes and stay safe from Demodex mites.
Skip Oil-Based Products
Oil causes the adhesive to break down prematurely. This grease can have different origins:
- Oily cosmetics
- Creams, cleansers, toners and any oil-containing products
- Oils for lash growth such as castor oil, argan oil, almond oil, and emu oil
- Oily skin
- Environmental pollutants
- Waterproof cosmetics
On the other hand, the leading food of Demodex mites is grease. They colonise in oily areas, lay eggs and multiply rapidly. By using oily products on your eyelids, you provide them with what they require and help them expand quickly.
Don’t Pick Or Pull Lashes
As tempting as it may seem, you have to resist the urge to rub your eyes or manipulate your eyelashes. If you keep fiddling with your eyelashes, you will soon lose them, and your technician might charge you extra in touch-ups. On the other hand, rubbing or pulling at your lashes makes them look clumpy and they will no longer be as beautiful as before.
Furthermore, note that Demodex mites can spread through direct contact. By rubbing your eyes, you may infect them with the parasites or expand them to other parts of the skin.
Do Less Makeup.
The benefit of eyelash extensions is that they give you full, long, and black eyelashes. So you do not need to use mascara and other cosmetics like before. Cosmetics can provide the necessary nutrients for Demodex parasites, even if they are oil-free. Vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other nutrients commonly found in cosmetics and skincare products are used by these parasites and help them increase their population.
Avoid High Humidity.
If you go to the pool regularly or work out in humid environments, you will probably lose your eyelashes sooner than usual. In addition, humidity provides a suitable environment for Demodex parasites to grow and infect you.
What If I Get Eyelash Extension Mites?
- Swollen eyelids.
- Prickling or burning eyes, particularly in the morning
- Crusty eyes
- Red, irritated eyes
- Tearing
- Blurred vision or Diminished visual performance
- Losing eyelashes
- Infected eyes
These are some of the prominent symptoms of Demodex infection on the eyes. If you undergo these indications and they do not go away by cleaning the extensions, you may have eyelash mites.
The bad news is that you have to say goodbye to eyelash extensions for several months, and the good news is that Demodex mite infestation is curable.
How can I tell If I have a Demodex infection?
After a full eyelash extension removal by your technicians, adopt one or a combination of the following methods to see if you are infected.
- Take a magnifying hand mirror and hold it above your lashes. Slightly pull down the upper lid of your lashes for one eye using your fingers so that you can see their base with your other eye. If you see cylindrical dandruff at your lash line, it’s a great chance you have Demodex. Using their tiny paws, these mites scratch the dedicated skin around the eyelashes. Skin cells grow at the site of these micro-abrasions and form cylindrical dandruff.
- The second way is to see an ophthalmologist familiar with Demodex. They will probably pull out one or more of your eyelashes and look under a microscope. Demodex parasites usually attach to the roots of the eyelashes with the face down and the tail up.
- Use the Demodex online diagnostic test. Contrary to what it may seem in the first place, this test is highly accurate. This five-minute quiz estimates your Demodex population based on your symptoms and the opportunities you have provided for Demodex mites to develop and finally suggests the right solution.
How to Clear Out Demodex Mites from Eyelashes
As long as you are not infected with a large population, you can handle them easier. But once you get demodicosis, you need to take more serious steps to get rid of it. Even though you have removed your extensions, following the same hygienic measures you used to protect your eyelashes is necessary. This helps control the mites’ density by providing them with a hostile environment:
- Skip cosmetics. This also includes oil-free grades.
- Avoid using any skin care products on your eyelids.
- Ease up on the eye cream for a few months.
- Avoid eyelash growth oils.
- Keep your eyelids dry.
- Whenever you need to clean your eyelids, use a DDC shampoo explicitly formulated to combat Demodex.
- Rinse your eyelids with cold water after each face wash.
- Use toilet paper or disposable towels to dry your eyes.
- Avoid touching and rubbing your eyes.
Although the above measures help to eliminate the Demodex, they are not sufficient. You need a smart formula that combines technology and science with application to outsmart Demodex mites and reclaim your skin from these uninvited guests. Trust PROCUTiN for this.
PROCUTiN Rich Features
- Unique Aussie-made product from the Ozidex
- The latest anti-Demodex technology
- Gentle with eyelid skin, rough on Demodex
- Natural, herbal-based ingredients
- Removes Demodex mites from both skin and surfaces
- Suitable for use on all external areas of skin where you are experiencing mite activity.
- Free of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES), silicon, paraben, and gluten.
- Contains anti-mite, antiviral and anti-bacterial compounds
Why Not Tea Tree Oil?
Although tea tree oil can hit Demodex parasites upon contact, it is not gentle on the eyelids for long-term use. It may cause dryness, irritation and damage to the eyelids’ delicate surface. The process of eradicating Demodex mites takes at least three months. Using this oil for such an extended time damages your eyelid skin, leading to various new concerns. Even diluted forms are not suitable for long-term use.
How to Apply PROCUTiN on Eyelids
To slowly introduce your skin to PROCUTiN and prevent any possible side effects, mix the product equally with water during the first few weeks of treatment.
- At night, spray a small amount of PROCUTiN directly on your eyelids.
- Do not rinse.
- Keep doing this for 3 to 4 months.
If you see signs of Demodex activity in other parts of your skin, you can use the product in the same way.
When utilised on the desired area, PROCUTiN covers the surface in a light mist that remains active, destroying mites as they climb up the surface throughout the night. When employed nightly, mite populations diminish in numbers and slowly reduce symptoms until populations are eradicated.
References :
I unfortunately started with the eyelash demodex infestation and never having had to deal with acne as a teenager almost a year went by before I sought medical attention. Since I didn’t know what the breakouts were on my face abd neck I became a picker and now I’m at 2 years and it’s spread allover. Doctors will not diagnose correctly! One dermatologist treated me for shingles without letting me talk! I have an almost empty bottle of your product should I just continue using? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Hi Sharon, thanks for your question. For continuing the treatment, you should know you have to use Demodex products at least for 3-4 months to be sure Demodex mites are gone. So please keep on using them.
Thanks