At high concentrations, tea tree oil is a potent killer of Demodex mites. The problem is that solutions of 100% tea oil, or other high concentrations, are very irritating to the eye. So one approach is to thoroughly wipe the eyelashes and eyebrows with a diluted solution of tea tree oil, from 5% to 50%.
Warm soaks of the eye lids, and thorough cleaning of the eyes and face multiple times a day, can treat most cases of eyelash mites.
Treatment for a mite infestation usually involves a cream, gel, lotion or wash containing an acaricide. An acaricide is a pesticide that kills ticks and mites. Your healthcare provider may recommend: Benzyl benzoate.
“When you put your head down to sleep, you breathe in and out, creating a humid environment, which is what helps mites grow in pillows,” Tetro says.
It has been recommended to use tea tree oil treatments for at least two Demodex mite life cycles (i.e. approximately six weeks) in order to ensure adequate killing of the parasite (Cheng 2015).
Petroleum jelly may have some effect in the eradication of Demodex mites in cases of Demodex-induced blepharitis. Its ability to induce killing of lice and nits in previous research may have similar effects on mites.
It's common for mite infestations to recur.
Wash your face two times a day, cleansing the eye area with a gentle eyelid cleanser or baby shampoo. Never share eye makeup. Avoid oily cosmetic products. Use eyelash wipes when you wash your face every day.
Symptoms include red or dry eyes, swollen eyelids, sticky lashes, itching, burning or stinging, grittiness in the eyes and crustiness around the outer edge of the eyelid. An infestation of mites can also cause dry and itchy skin, and it can even damage the oil glands at the edges of the eyelids and the lashes.
At high concentrations, tea tree oil is a potent killer of Demodex mites. The problem is that solutions of 100% tea oil, or other high concentrations, are very irritating to the eye. So one approach is to thoroughly wipe the eyelashes and eyebrows with a diluted solution of tea tree oil, from 5% to 50%.
They tend to stay in the facial area, including your nose, cheeks, chin, eyelashes, eyebrows, and scalp. They might also be found on your neck and ears. They like to get inside the upper part of a hair follicle and survive on skin cells and oil.
Permethrin is an anti-parasite medication that kills scabies mites and their eggs. Permethrin treatments are considered safe for use in adults and children ages 2 months and older.
Dermatitis and demodex mites can feel like there is something crawling on the lashes or the lids.
Direct contact or eggs present in dust as well as contact with infected towels, blankets, or sponges are the possible routes of Demodex spp. infection described in the literature [13, 14]. The use of facial creams or eyeliners has been considered as a potential route of Demodex spp.
Mascara Applicators Can Transfer Mites
It is also entirely possible that the demodex living on your eyelashes can, in fact, end up scooped onto an applicator and moved into your mascara tube. This may be why your mascara is perfectly fine one day, and then dry and clumpy the next. (Source).
The mites come out of the hair follicle at night to mate and then return in the morning. For this reason, symptoms of a Demodex infestation may be worse in the morning. Demodex mites can be transferred from one host to another through facial skin or hair contact.
Doctors may also apply a high-concentration alcohol solution to a person's face. This brings the Demodex mites to the surface. The doctor can then apply substances to the skin that kill the mites and treat the condition.
But don't freak out – almost every human eyelash contains microscopic parasitic mites. Despite their generally harmless nature and mutualism with us, these bacteria can sometimes cause itchy, crusty, red, and bumpy eyelids.
folliculorum that were immersed fully or partially in the lipstick substrate were viable for 38.5 h and 148 h, respectively. The survival time of the mites at full and partial immersion in the powder cream was 0.78 h and 2.16 h, respectively. The average survival time in the mascara was 21 h.
One study found that by the time we are in our 60s, over 80% of us will harbor Demodex mites. By age 70, every individual has at least 1000-2000 mites. Men are almost twice as likely to experience demodicosis, perhaps because women regularly cleanse their eyelids with eye makeup remover.
Many clinicians may treat Demodex blepharitis with antibiotic or baby shampoo, with no success. A tea tree oil product is the most effective treatment. In fact, the ectoparasites have a prevalence of 100% once a patient reaches 70 years of age and older, according to the study.
A diagnosis of demodex blepharitis can be confirmed by your eye doctor. Your doctor may use a slit lamp with high magnification to view the mites on your eyelashes or use a microscope to examine an eyelash sample. The most effective way to eliminate a demodex infestation is to adhere to a daily eye cleansing routine.
Women, who wear a lot of mascara and eye makeup, tend to have higher numbers of mites on their eyelashes. Not washing your face before going to bed could also be a contributing factor. Some say that 50 percent of Americans have eyelash mites because they sleep with their makeup on.
The menthol is toxic to the mites and the petroleum jelly base will smother the mites.