Even thinking about eyelash mites can be scary. Do mites really live on our eyelashes ?! Yeah, They are creepy as they sound, but fortunately, we do not see them and have one Solution to Rule Them Out. Stay with Ozidex.
Tiny lashes sit on the edge of our delicate eyes
A small calamity on an impeccable surface
The gentlest wind had the power to disturb them
Yet it dare not to do so
Eyelashes are among the most delicate parts of our body, yet they are more resilient than they seem. They act as a miniature forest with solid roots.
Nevertheless, some rodents and worms can chew and destroy the roots of the thickest and stoutest tree. So why would you think our eyelashes are safe?
Eyelash mites are actually pests of this miniature forest. Tiny troubles that, if left unchecked, can cause severe problems for our eyes.
What Are Eyelash Mites?
Demodex folliculorum and Demodex Brevis, also called eyelash mites, can live in any single pores of the skin in addition to the edge of the lash line. But they usually prefer oily parts. That is why they are more active on the face, around the eyes, scalp, upper chest, and back. However, Demodex folliculorum appears to play a more significant role in ocular mite-related eye complications.
Demodex occurs naturally but only in small numbers. Too many of them can lead to various complications, one of which is redness and itching around the eyes and eyelash line. Unfortunately, if this complication worsens, it can lead to blepharitis. Worst of all, if left untreated, the condition can finally result in eyelash falling out and deformity, as well as vision issues. This is the point that our eyelid-based miniature forest is wholly destroyed – imagine a forest where the roots of trees are loose and deformed!
Eyelash mites are too small to be detected with the naked eye. They are less than 0.3 mm long, and their cigar-shaped body is semi-transparent. Each adult mite has tiny octopuses that make it easy to attach to tubular objects, such as eyelashes.
They live deep in the skin – inside the follicles and sebaceous glands and lay eggs to proliferate at the same place. Demodex climbs up to the surface mostly at night for eating, mating, and sabotaging, which is why the symptoms of eyelash mites intensify in the morning.
They feed on dead cells and a bit of the oil that comes along with them. For this reason, we can say that a small number of Demodex mites act as a natural cleaning system and are beneficial for the body.
Eyelash Mite Symptoms
The following symptoms, although not specific to eyelash mites, can indicate contamination with these pests:
- Red eyes and eyelash line
- Foreign body sensation in the eyes
- Scaly, rough patches of skin
- Itching of the eyes and around it
- Wet eyes
- Eye irritation
- Blurred vision
- Worsening of skin manifestations such as dermatitis and especially rosacea
As mentioned, these symptoms can worsen and lead to blepharitis if left untreated. In other words, one of the symptoms of eyelash mite is blepharitis, the condition that manifests itself with the above-mentioned symptoms, plus that two eyelids get involved simultaneously and symmetrical. This kind of inflammation tends to recur frequently and is challenging to treat.
Loss of eyelashes, strand deformation, growth of eyelashes in the opposite direction, vision problems, dry eyes, and obstruction of the meibomian glands’ ducts are other long-term complications due to eyelash mites.
How Does Demodex Destroy the Miniature Forest of Our Eyelashes?
Demodex has several ways to do this, some of which we will explain here:
Physical Tissue Damage
Tiny claws are not always harmless. Suppose a few hundred little forks are scratched to the delicate skin of your eyelids at the same time. Do you think inflammation is an abnormal reaction? I do not think so.
Micro-abrasions caused by claw scratches can lead to epithelial hyperplasia and reactive hyperkeratinization in addition to inflammation, resulting in cylindrical dandruff at the base of the eyelashes.
Then, Demodex consumes the follicles’ epithelial cells, loosening the lashes and paves the way for falling or misdirecting lashes.
When the Demodex population becomes too large, up to 25 of them fit into a small follicle. So it seems natural for the follicle space to dilate and the lashes to loosen.
In addition, Demodex bodies may become trapped in the follicles or sebaceous glands’ ducts and cause inflammation by blockage of the ducts. Furthermore, getting stuck in the meibomian oil glands ducts can cause dry eyes, blurred vision, and vision problems.
Vector for Bacteria
Eyelash mites carry harmful bacteria both on their surface and inside their bodies.
Surface Bacteria include Streptococci and Staphylococci, both of which have antigens that can cause inflammatory reactions as well as rosacea. Also, Bacillus oleronius – one of the bacteria lives inside the mite – is well known for its impact on blepharitis and rosacea.
Most importantly, when Demodex dies, both of the mentioned bacteria accrue more abundantly on the skin’s surface, leading to a critical level of antigens to trigger a cascade of host inflammatory responses.
Inflammatory Reactions
Demodex mites appear to secrete inflammatory proteins that affect the immune system and trigger inflammatory reactions. On the other hand, the host checking systems may perceive their hard skeleton as foreign bodies and react.
However, if the immune system gets stimulated by any means, the result is inflammation and allergic reactions.
Do I Have Eyelash Mites? Mites Diagnosis.
Of course, you have!
None of the mammals on earth are deprived of hosting these mites, and you are probably a mammal!!
If you are older, you will probably carry more, but kids have fewer eyelash mites anyway.
Although we all – more or less – host Demodex Mite, what matters is their population number. If you want to find out if your mites are under control, simply use the following five-minute online test:
Answer as accurately as you can! This test is not a fake one of the advertisement sites. It is a valid test that is even more accurate than microscopic observation. So you can take it safely.
In addition to the online test, your doctor may take a sample of your skin and send it to a lab for closer inspection, where, by examining the sample under a microscope, the presence or absence of Demodex is checked. In addition, observing cylindrical dandruff under a microscope can be a sign of Demodex contamination. Eggs and newborn larvae are also signs of contamination.
Answer as accurately as you can! This test is not a fake one of the advertisement sites. It is a valid test that is even more accurate than microscopic observation. So you can take it safely.
In addition to the online test, your doctor may take a sample of your skin and send it to a lab for closer inspection, where, by examining the sample under a microscope, the presence or absence of Demodex is checked. In addition, observing cylindrical dandruff under a microscope can be a sign of Demodex contamination. Eggs and newborn larvae are also signs of contamination.
Are Demodex Mites Contagious?
Yes. They are. Demodex mites can be transmitted from one person to another by close contact. Also, sharing cosmetics and other personal items can pass them from one to another. That’s why experts say that if you have eyelash mite manifestations, separate towels from others, as well as other accessories that come in contact with your eyes. For example, using shared mascara or other eye cosmetics can transmit the infection.
Risk Factors for Eyelash Mites Outbreak:
As long as the number of your mites are not large, you will not notice their existence. However, some risk factors can cause eyelash mites to outbreak by various and sometimes unknown mechanisms. Some of these factors are:
- Rosacea: Studies have shown that people with rosacea have more Demodex mites.
- Immune system defects or taking immune-suppressive medications: The natural defence is the primary system that controls the mites. When the immune system is repressed, the mites gain the opportunity to grow in population.
- Eyelash extensions: Eyelashes are a bit challenging to clean because they are surrounded by protruding areas such as the forehead, nose and cheeks. This issue is even more critical for those interested in eyelash extensions because not cleaning the fake eyelashes properly can lead to fat accumulation and, consequently, mite outbreaks.
Other factors are:
- Dermatitis
- Inflammatory acne
- Alopecia.
- Skin infections
Eyelash Mites Prevention and Treatment
The most important tip in preventing eyelash mites is personal hygiene. Try to keep your eyelashes clean, especially if you wear false ones. To do so, wash your eyelashes twice a day with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser such as baby shampoo.
Also, do not share towels or other cosmetics, especially items that are in direct contact with eyes, because mites can be transmitted between people this way.
Basically, if your doctor determines that your problem is due to the overgrowth of eyelash mites, he/she will prescribe topical ointments that can trap the Demodex in place. These treatments prevent the mites from moving and thus mating and re-laying eggs. Your doctor may also prescribe artificial tears to improve your dry eyes.
There is Hope Ahead: PROCUTiN From OZiDEX
If you need a non-chemical drug, PROCUTiN is not medicine. Rather, it is a natural and herbal product that can destroy eyelash mites.
PROCUTiN contains anti-mite, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and antifungal compounds that kill Demodex and neutralize harmful bacteria and fungi in its body. Coconut oil, glycerin and tea tree oil are some of these ingredients.
PROCUTiN is suitable for use on all parts of the body. However, for delicate skin as well as around the eyes, it is recommended to dilute it in the first few weeks. Moreover, you can use it for an unlimited period of time.
For more information about this Ozidex product, visit our store.
Kindly note that the use of PROCUTiN is not a replacement for a doctor’s diagnosis or prescribed treatment.
