Demodex Mites Treatment
From: “Annette Anderson”
Date: Fri Nov 24, 2000 10:59 am
Subject: Effective treatment ?
Hi, I’m new to this group.
I sought you out to share a treatment approach with you that has worked for me very well, and since then has also helped a number of others.
I’m a family doctor in Canada; I was diagnosed with rosacea 2 years ago. My symptoms were deep-red flushing with any exercise,warm environment such as a hot shower, sunny day, also when crying ( PMS 
), alcohol etc. I looked awful, like Rudolf the red-nose raindeer. Of course I was prescribed Metrogel, took it faithfully, but wasn’t impressed. I didn’t yet have the papules or telangiectasias ( permanently dilated spidery arteries ), but I sure didn’t want to let it go that far. It was also getting worse rapidly. My doctor gave me the usual spiel, how rosacea is incurable, just avoid trigger factors, etc. Well, I was upset. I struck out on my own so to speak and hit the net. I found a lot of research articles on rosacea, including on medical mebsites for doctors only, such as “mdconsult.com” , where I found the most relevant ones. The first interesting article I came across was about several children with leukemia, who developed a rosacea-like rash ( as you know, rosacea is an “adult” disease ). Skin biopsies showed — you guessed it— huge loads of the skin mite Demodex Folliculorum. Alright, I just had to emphazise this.
They treated the kids with standard anti-mite treatment, permethrin, same we use to treat the mother of all mites, Scabies . The rash cleared. I thought, aha, gotta look at more articles like this. Turns out, there were quite a number of small, independent medical studies, where skin biopsies showed rosacea patients had a much higher than usual load of the generally benign mite demodex folliculorum ( I’ll attach some studies as examples ).
So, I tried the treatment on myself. I used Kwellada on my face ( not supposed to do this as per instructions on the bottle ” use neck down ” ). I worked out that a once – weekly application ( leave on 24 hours ) does the trick.
** Please note the complete treatment instructions following below .
After 2 months I noticed steady improvement, slow but very steady. First I thought, when it was all gone , I didn’t have to use the Kwellada anymore, but in the meantime I found out I still have to do it every 3 weeks or so for maintenance, usually as soon as my nose starts up again. I measured the intitial steps of improvement by how red my face would get after a hot shower. The intensity of the redness gradually diminished, and the total area involved contracted. First, it was the cheeks,forehead, chin and nose, lastly just the nose ( Rudolf ) , then that went , too. Basically, over a total of six months, all of the symptoms completely disappeared ! And stayed away, with the maintenance treatments, for the last eight months..
Boy, was I excited about this. I had proved my original theory. Well, not a new theory, according to those studies I mentioned, but I also haven’t heard of a regular patient with rosacea being treated for the mite problem, only for the secondary bacterial problem, with antibiotic ointments such as Metronidazole (Metrogel) etc. Then I started to try it out on my patients ( it seemed that all of a sudden nearly everyone had rosacea—–selective perception is an interesting phenomenon…). So far, it worked on all but one (total patients so far 21) . I have heard things like my patients’ hairdresser tried it too and had good results. Things like that. I always say, it might NOT work, but what have you got to lose ?
The treatment is simple, available over the counter (in Canada at least), cheap ( one bottle of Kwellada lotion, i.e. Permethrin 5% , lasted me exactly a year. ), and side effects are rare and minimal —permethrin for scabies can be used even on infants ! Getting it in the eyes is not fun, it burns like heck.
I have also found studies linking demodex to animals. One study was of a boy and his dog. The boy had a rosacea-like rash, and both he and his dog were heavily loaded with demodex. Treatment for both eliminated their problem. Since then I found out that most patients with rosacea get in close contact regularly either with their own cats/dogs or with those of friends and family. I don’t want to cause undue concern about pets, but I have to report my observations.
In any case it would probably not be too difficult to treat the pets as well, on and off.
I think it’s probably impossible to eliminate the demodex from one’s environment, just like it’s pretty hard to get rid of scabies forever, unless it was picked up on one’s travels .If it developed at home, it often recurs eventually.
Therefore I think that if the original treatment works, maintenance treatments are the way to prevent recurrences.
I would like to send my self-concocted treatment outline to you to review and possibly to try it out.
As I said there are no guarantees it will work at all, and side effects are always a certain possibility….but there’s not too much to lose. And I would be absolutely ecstatic if it worked for you, too.
I would like to ask you, that if you want to try the treatment, please fill out the questionnaire pre-treatment, as outlined in the following pages. I haven’t yet had time to think up the 6 months follow -up questionnaire, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE , if the treatment works for you, also fill out the 6-months follow-up questionnaire for me, I’ll send it some other time. I would like to gather these data and maybe eventually publish a summary of the results in a G.P. medical magazine. ( The big magazines like dermatology etc. only accept scientifically and statistically sound research studies, which I found out cost upwards of 50,000 $, which I can’t afford. Organizing a study through a research agency would take about 5 years to do !). Also, of course , I would really like to know about any side effects, or if it doesn’t work for someone, even when following the once-weekly treatment guideline. I am also interested in knowing if you have pets in your lives somewhere. That would be so very much appreciated.The icing on the cake would be “before” and “after six months ” close-ups of your face, with the eyes blocked out if you want. I would love some of those, if it worked, of course.
Good luck, I hope you’ll give it a shot. Remember, I’ll append some relevant articles at the end of this, to verify that I didn’t dream this up.
For the treatment outline I use in my practice, the “ingredients” are as follows ( I’m giving you the real names because you already know you have rosacea.
A = Kwellada shampoo
B = Kwellada lotion (5% Permethrin)
C = Sulfacet face cream or equivalent antibiotic cream
DR. ANNETTE ANDERSON, B.A., M.D.
FAMILY PHYSICIAN
(Address withheld for people outside my medical group)
RE: ROSACEA STUDY
I am looking for patients with a one year + history of chronic recurrent rosacea, for a small study (N=50) involving a new treatment method . The aim is to substantially reduce symptoms. There are no guarantees, but so far, positive results.
The premise of the study is that rosacea may be caused or aggravated by an over-abundance of a mite called DEMODEX FOLLICULORUM. This mite is a common organism found in skin follicles, but in some people it overgrows, attracting bacteria which cause inflammation and the symptoms of rosacea.
Typically, rosacea develops in several stages ( not all people with rosacea go through all stages) . These stages are:*
- Flushing: periodic reddening of the face, aggravated by various trigger factors, such as hot showers ,emotional upset, alcohol, PMS, etc.
- Inflammatory lesions: papules, pustules (pimples)
- Edema may be present ( swelling over affected areas)
- Telangiectasias may be added with time ( dilated blood vessels)
- Ocular rosacea may occur (burning, stinging,tearing etc. of the eyes)
- Rhinophyma may sometimes occur in the advanced stages in men ( red, swollen nose)
Rosacea is a clinical diagnosis, i.e. based on appearance and history alone.There are no blood tests to confirm or refute the diagnosis. It is important to see how the symptoms behave when the condition is treated appropriately.
So far, the assumption is, and experience seems to show, that rosacea cannot be cured, only controlled with creams or gels. These are typically antibiotic based, such as Metrogel (reg. TM). Sometimes,oral antibiotics are also used and can be quite effective for treating an acute flare-up. Of course, it is also important to avoid trigger factors.
However, this small study, (as other similar ones ), tries to illustrate that one should also attempt to treat for the mite DEMODEX FOLLICULORUM, in order to achieve better, and more lasting results. This concept is based on a review of some of the available literature/studies.**
Basically, it might seem that DEMODEX can overgrow, attracting bacteria in the process.It may be that certain substances such as lipases result in the release of irritant fatty acids, which in turn lead to the observed skin changes.
So far, the antibacterial-based treatments reduce the bacterial, but not the DEMODEX load. So, the underlying problem, the DEMODEX ,causes further flare-ups eventually, and the whole process repeats itself.
ABOUT THE STUDY:
- Treatment is of a six months total duration.
- Topical mite therapy is in the form of cream and shampoo, plus oral antibiotics if a heavy bacterial load seems to be present also.
- Patients may continue own treatments during study.
- Short questionnaires, time 0 and 6 months, in conjunction with office visits.
- Patients are requested to supply a copy of the dermatology consult originally diagnosing rosacea.
- Please, no patients with body-dysmorphic disorder, history of anti-social behavior, unstable psychiatric conditions, or severe self-image problems.
- Please ask any interested rosacea patient to call my office to set up an appointment for the first visit/questionnaire.
Kind regards,
Annette Anderson, B.A., M.D.
* From: ROSACEA, a Guide For Physicians, Jonathan Wilkin,M.D.
ROSACEA TREATMENT TRIAL
Patient name: ______________________________
Patient’s GP: ______________________________
Date: ______________________________
QUESTIONNAIRE
* How long have you had rosacea? __________________________
* Did a dermatologist diagnose it, or confirm the diagnosis? Please provide a copy of the consultation letter from your GP’s
records.* Does anyone else in your family have rosacea?_____________________
* How much does your rosacea bother you, on a scale from 0 (not at
all) to 10 (unbearable)? ________________________
* Please list the factors that consistently seem to contribute to a
flare-up of your rosacea:______________________________
* Please tick off any factors you think might also act as triggers
for a flare-up ( if any) :
_____ hot rooms / hot showers / hot beverages
_____ caffeine
_____ alcohol
_____ sun/wind
_____ for women: PMS
_____ exercise
_____ dairy products
_____ emotional upset / crying
_____ chocolate
_____ spicy foods
_____ medications 
which ones)
_____ creams (which ones, eg. cortisone)
_____ natural herbs/supplements (which ones)
_____ cosmetics (eg. alcohol-based lotions, witch hazel, oil-based make-up… ,
which ones ______________________________
* Your rosacea usually consists of:
_____ generalized redness/flushing of the :
_____ cheeks
_____ chin
_____ nose
_____ forehead
_____ both cheeks and nose
_____ all of the above
_____ other
_____ redness/flushing plus pimples (papules, pustules)
_____ pimples only
_____ swelling over some areas of facial skin
_____ tiny, permanently dilated red blood vessels (telangectasias)
_____ eye irritation, such as intermittent burning, tearing etc.
_____ reddened, enlarged nose
* On average, how often do you get a major flare-up of rosacea?
* Which treatments ( creams or pills ) have you tried so far, and briefly mention the results:
TREATMENT RESULT
* Have you had any side-effects to these treatments?
* How effective have these treatments been in the reduction or elimination of your rosacea symptoms?
(a) not at all (b) somewhat effective (c) moderately effective (d) very effective
* Do you have any allergies?
* Are you willing to try another treatment for rosacea?
* This treatment is in a trial phase, i.e., has not yet been proven to be effective. There is no guarentee that it will work, although a number of people in my practice have tried it, and have had good results with it.
* The core ingredients used in the treatment are available over the counter. If you have allergies precluding you from using these ingredients, we might be able to find alternatives .
B) THE TREATMENT
OUTLINE
You will be asked to use three creams. ( Called for now “A, B, and C”. You will be advised of the names of these products upon receipt of the consultation report which diagnosed you as actually having rosacea, versus another skin condition. It is important for treatment success to establish the correct diagnosis.)
In order to improve the chances of success, I will suggest several additional measures, as outlined below. These are optional, but recommended.
TREATMENT PLAN
Choose a day when you are free from work or other obligations. You will need treatments A, B,and C . If you choose to follow the steps described as optional, you will also need laundry detergent, anti-mite spray, a plastic mattress cover, and a good vacuum cleaner.
1) In the morning, have a thorough whole-body cleanse.
2) Use A as a shampoo, as directed on the bottle.
3) Then, use B. Apply thoroughly to your face, neck, ears, and downwards to cover each inch of skin including feet and toes. Avoid mucus membranes, lips and eyes. Let dry for ten minutes, then put on clothes. Leave on for twenty-four hours.
Note: After several hours, you may note tingling or burning on your face in the distribution of your rosacea. This would feel worse when exposed to cold air. If needed, take two Tylenol tablets to decrease the discomfort. Try to persist with the treatment, unless the discomfort is severe (which has not happened to anyone yet).
4) Optional:
Wash all your clothes and bedding in as hot water as allowed by their labels.
Spray your furniture with an anti-mite/anti-scabies spray (available at any pharmacy)
Put a plastic mattress- cover on your mattress.
Vacuum your carpets thoroughly.
5) After twenty-four hours, wash off treatment B thoroughly, using a mild cleansing lotion (e.g. Cetaphil) , a mild soap ( e.g. Dove), or equivalent , not based on alcohol or witch hazel.
Towel off.
Apply treatment C to your face, covering every inch of skin including ears. On the rest of your body, you may use any lotion of your choice.
If your face feels quite dry and uncomfortable, after one hour you may apply a small amount of a high- quality moisturizer on top of C.
6) From now on, twice a day, wash your face thoroughly with warm water and a gentle soap (eg. Dove etc.), and then apply C. Leave C on during the day. Dab off any excess oilyness with a Kleenex. For women: you may apply a small amount of oil-free make-up on top of C, although it may compromise the treatment to some degree. (Unknown)
7) Once a week, repeat steps 3 ( this time, on the FACE only) and 5 for the rest of the six months ,or as long as needed , closely monitoring for side effects .
You may have noted some improvements in your rosacea after two months or so. Mostly, this would be noticeable through less frequent episodes of flushing, which might also be less severe. The dilated blood vessels in your face (which cause the redness) should slowly shrink further. This takes time!
The triggers you listed above may still cause flare-ups, but these should become less often and less noticeable as the blood vessels in your face keep going back to normal. It is still important to try and avoid these triggers, to let the blood vessels shrink. You might notice that the diameter of the total area involved is contracting.
In addition to the above, you might be prescribed an oral antibiotic to take, depending on the severity of your condition. This would be useful especially in the presence of a lot of pimples, which is the same concept applied in the treatment of acne. Acne also involves an overgrowth of bacteria, as in rosacea.
The significance of Demodex folliculorum density in rosacea. Erbagci Z – Int J Dermatol – 1998 Jun; 37(6): 421-5, Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Turkey.Authors: Erbagci Z; Ozgoztasi O
BACKGROUND: Demodex folliculorum has been reported in rosacea in a number of clinical studies. As the Demodex mite is also present in many healthy individuals, it has been suggested that the mite may have a pathogenic role only when it is present in high densities. Moreover, some authors have proposed that a mite density above 5/cm2 may be a criterion for the diagnosis of inflammatory rosacea. In this study, the possible role of D. folliculorum and the importance of mite density in rosacea were investigated using a skin surface biopsy technique.
METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with rosacea and 38 age-and-sex-matched healthy subjects entered the study. With the skin surface biopsy technique, we obtained samples from three facial sites. We then determined the mite positivities, the mean mite counts in both study groups, the mean mite densities at each facial site and in the rosacea subgroups, and the mite densities above 5/cm2.RESULTS: The mean mite count in the rosacea group (6,684) was significantly higher than that in controls (2,868; p < 0.05). The cheek was the most frequently and heavily infested facial region. Ten rosacea patients and five normal subjects had mite densities over 5/cm2; the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Rosacea is a disease of multifactorial origin, and individual properties may modify the severity of the inflammatory response to Demodex. We suggest that a certain mite density is not an appropriate criterion in the diagnosis of the disease; nevertheless, large numbers of D. folliculorum may have an important role in the pathogenesis of rosacea, together with other triggering factors.
Major Subjects:
.. Acne Rosacea / * Diagnosis / Pathology / * Parasitology
.. Facial Dermatoses / * Diagnosis / Pathology / * Parasitology
.. Mite Infestations / * Diagnosis / Pathology / * Parasitology
A study on Demodex folliculorum in rosacea. Abd-El-Al AM – J Egypt Soc Parasitol – 1997 Apr; 27(1): 183-95, Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology, Author Affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo.Authors: Abd-El-Al AM; Bayoumy AM; Abou Salem EA
A random sample of 16 female patients suffering from papulopustular rosacea (PPR) as well as (16) normal female healthy subjects as control group were adopted in this study to assess of Demodex folliculorum pathogenesis. It was done through determination of mite density using a standard skin surface biopsy 10.5 cm2 from different designated 6 areas on the face, and scanning electron microscopic study (SEM) as well as total IgE estimation. A trial of treatment using Crotamiton 10% cream with special program was also attempted. All subjects ranged between 35-55 years old. All patients with rosacea and 15 of the control group i.e. 75.93% were found to harbour mites. The mean mite counts by site distribution were 28.6 & 6.9 on the cheeks, followed by 14.5 & 3.0 on the forehead and lastly 6.8 & 0.8 on the chin in PPR and control groups respectively. The total mean mite count in patients was 49.9 initially and 7.9 after treatment. In the control group it was 10.7 & 10.6 respectively. The mean total IgE was 169.4 & 168.4 and 96.3 & 98.4 in PPR and control groups respectively Light and scanning electron microscopy revealed that all mites were pointing in one direction. Some of them were containing bacteria inside their gut and on their skin. After treatment 3 cases (18.75%) were completely cured, 10 cases (62.5%) gave moderate response while 3 cases (18.75) have no response. In conclusion, this study supports the pathogenic role of D. folliculorum in rosacea.
Major Subjects:
.. Acne Rosacea / Drug Therapy / * Parasitology
.. Mite Infestations / * Complications / Drug Therapy
.. Mites / * Growth & Development / Ultrastructure
Additional Subjects:
.. Adult, Animal, Antipruritics / Therapeutic Use, Female
.. Hair Follicle / Parasitology / Ultrastructure, Human, .. IgE / Analysis
.. Insecticides / Therapeutic Use, Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
.. Middle Age, Toluidines / Therapeutic Use
Chemical Compound Name:
(Antipruritics); (Insecticides); (Toluidines); 37341-29-0 (IgE); 483-63-6 (crotamiton)
Demodicidosis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia; an opportunistic infection occurring with immunosuppression. Ivy SP – J Pediatr – 1995 Nov; 127(5): 751-4, Author Affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA.Authors: Ivy SP; Mackall CL; Gore L; Gress RE; Hartley AH
We report demodicidosis in 11 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and a mildly pruritic, erythematous papular dermatitis that developed in areas rich in sebaceous glands. Dermodex eruptions were safely and effectively treated with 5% permethrin. Proliferation of commensal parasites of the skin, Dermodex folliculorum and Dermodex brevis may be an opportunistic infection of the skin in the immunocompromised host; the expected abrogation of cell-mediated immunity secondary to lymphocyte depletion predisposes some children given chemotherapy for leukemia to mite proliferation.
1. Bonnar E, Ophth MC, Eustace P, et al. The Demodex mite population in rosacea. J Am Acad Dermatol 1993;28:443-8.
2. Hoekzema R, Hulsebosch HJ, Bos JD. Demodicidosis or rosacea: What did we treat? Br J Dermatol 1995;133:294-9.
3. Shelley WB, Shelley ED, Burmeister V. Unilateral demodectic rosacea. J Am Acad Dermatol 1989;20:915-7.
4. Forton F, Seys B. Density of Demodex folliculorum in rosacea: a case-control study using standardized skin-surface biopsy. Br J Dermatol 1993;128:650-9.
5. Mateo JR, Guzman OS, Rubio EF, et al. Demodex- attributed rosacea-like lesions in AIDS. Acta Derm Venereol 1993;73:437.
6. Ashack RJ, Frost ML, Norins AL. Papular pruritic eruption of Demodex folliculitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. J Am AcadDermatol 1989;21:306-7.
7. Dominey A, Rosen T, Tschen J. Papulonodular demodicidosis associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. J Am Acad Dermatol 1989;20:197-201.
8. Banuls J, Ramon D, Aniz E, et al. Papular pruritic eruption with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Int J Dermatol 1991;30:801-3.
9. Sahn EE, Sheridan DM. Demodicidosis in a child with leukemia. J Am Acad Dermatol 1992;27:799-801.
10. Dominey A, Rschen J, Rosen T, et al. Pityriasis folliculorum revisited. J Am Acad Dermatol 1989;21:81-4.
11. Jimenez-Acosta F, Planas L, Penneys N. Demodex mites contain immunoreactivelipase. Arch Dermatol 1989;125:1436-7.
Demodex and Eye Disease
Blepharitis. Demodex folliculorum, associated pathogen spectrum and specific therapy, Demmler M – Ophthalmologe – 1997 Mar; 94(3): 191-6, Augenklinik, Universitat Munchen., Demmler M; de Kaspar HM; Mohring C; Klauss V
Original Title: Blepharitis. Demodex folliculorum, assoziiertes Erregerspektrum und spezifische Therapie.
Demodex folliculorum has been demonstrated with an elevated frequency in patients with blepharitis, and is thought to cause therapy-resistant blepharitis. This paper presents the germ spectrum of patients with blepharitis and demodex and discusses the efficiency of a specific therapy.
METHODS: In all, 3152 cilia from 139 patients with blepharitis (38% blepharitis, 44% blepharoconjunctivitis, others) and 108 persons with quiet eyes were examined for demodex. Smears n = 125, from the conjunctive of symptomatic patients were investigated for bacteria, 3 weeks of therapy with mercury ointment, 2%: Lindan, cortisone (prednisolone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, fluorometholone) or antibiotics after antibiogram (gentamicin, kanamicin, neomicin, erythromicin, ofloxacin, polymyxin-B, colistin) followed in all Demodex-positive blepharitis patients (n = 41).
RESULTS: Demodex was found in 52% (62/139) of patients with chronic blepharitis, as against 20% (3/15) of those with acute blepharitis (statistically significant difference, chi 2-test, alpha = 2.5%) and in 29% of quiet eyes (statistically significantly less, alpha = 2.5%, chi 2-test). Gram-positive cocci were isolated from 79% of 57 Demodex-positive patients with blepharitis and 72% of 68 Demodex-negative patients anaerobes in 39% and 37%, gram-negative rods in 11% and 3% (statistically significant difference for gram-negative rods, alpha = 5%, chi 2-test). Of the patients with Demodex, 25% apparently had no more parasites after mercury ointment, 2% (n = 8 ) and lindan (n = 5) and 15% after cortisone and antibiotics (n = 13). (The best and statistically very significant results (alpha = 1%) were those obtained with mercury ointment, 2%, and lindan: t-test for connected spot checks).
CONCLUSIONS: Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria grew more often in patients with Demodex. Demodex seems to be a mediator of chronic blepharitis; we recommend that mites be sought in cilia of chronic blepharitis patients. Mercury ointment, 2% and lindan proved efficient for specific therapy, the main problem being the laborious application and toxicity.
Major Subjects:
.. Blepharitis / * Diagnosis / Drug Therapy / Etiology
.. Mite Infestations / Complications / * Diagnosis / Drug Therapy
Additional Subjects:
.. Administration, Topical,
.. Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Steroidal / Administration & Dosage
.. English Abstract, Female, Human, Lindane / Administration & Dosage
.. Male, Mercury Compounds / Administration & Dosage, Middle Age
.. Prospective Studies
Chemical Compound Name:
(Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Steroidal); (Mercury Compounds); 58-89-9 (Lindane)
Okay, that’s enough for today. Please let me know what you think about this.
Annie
[Update]:
For more information see how to kill demodex mites and also ocular demodex, tea tree oil as a treatment.
Related Articles:
- Read more about demodex mites
- ocular demodex, tea tree oil as a treatment
- demodex bacteria – could that be the cause ?
- MMP-9 and demodex – the missing link ?
- demodex mites and blepharitis eye lashes
- demodex mites, ivermectin (stromectol) and its use in dermatology
- Demodex mites
- demodex mites ivermectin effective treatment
- Alternative Treatments for Demodex Mites
117 comments ↓
Interested in the results of this study as I note this was composed 7 years ago. Have had rosacea for well over 10 years and really want to get rid of it. Where is your office located?
Unfortunately even though her message sounded interesting, Dr. Anderson disappeared shortly after posting this message, following some bad reactions to Permethrin. We haven’t heard from her since. As far as I know she never collated any of the information listed here.
You can read her farewell messages: Unsubscribe please/Bye and To Rachelle :Adverse reaction to Permethrin with
Her last known address was: andersona@telus.net
DEMODEX MITES RELATED TO THE FUNGAS GNAT. THE GNATS ARE TINY AND OFTEN NOT SEEN. ADULTS GNATS MAY BE SEEN FLYING AROUND INSIDE WINDOWS. IF YOU STOP WATER SEEPAGE INTO THE HOME THE CONDITION SHOULD CLEAR.
TELL TAIL SIGNS OF GNATS ARE THE PRESENCE OF TINY BROWN SPOTS ON INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS.
I’m interested in the study and would like to make an appointment. I live in Florida and did not see any contact info.
Thank you,
Vickie
Hi, I’m trying your treatment with NIX for scabies and hope it works.
Very interesting. My father suffers from that, and I wish I knew how to tactfully tell him to seek treatment.
As for myself, I was visiting W. Ky, area, and am suffering from what the locals called Turkey Mites…am taking Rx Predisone (not helping) and Benadryl (does help). I live in SW Fl. and never get mosquito bites, but with fire ants, ammonia neutralizes that poison on contact. I keep hoping someone will let me know if anything will ease this.
Hi, I’ an argentinian doctor and I found in two female pacients a demodex related rosacea. Both responded to oral ivermectin treatment an topical metronidazol asociated with topical permetrine.
I’m interesting in more information about this issues.
Thanks.
Hi Susana,
I have 2 links to some good information about Ivermectin and rosacea –
http://rosacea-support.org/demodex-mites-ivermectin-stromectol.html
and
http://rosacea-support.org/demodex-mites-ivermectin-effective-treatment
I hope you find these lead you to some helpful information.
davidp.
i think i have rosacea. ive read so much on line and am confused by the different opinions. im going to a dermatologist for the first time in a few days.
im nervous because im reluctant to take drugs- antibiotics. i already tried metrogel and it made my eyes fell like there was something in them- could that have been the mites fleeing the scene of my cheeks and heading towards my eye lashes?
so this is my story, i noticed my face getting hotter and redder than usual january of 2006. i have a fair complexion and have avoided a lot of sun since i was a teenager. i thought perhaps looking back that it was because i started a new job in a restaurant. maybe there is something weird in the vents,but this is a very clean popular space.
so i had the flushing mildly before the start of this job. now i have red bumps that wont go away, i get tiny whiteheads constantly, i have acne. my skin is dry, when i touch my face i feel bumps. having red cheeks was bad enough to deal with but now i have acne. i didnt have this before.
facts – i have a dog and now four cats.
i also live an apartment that has leaking ceilings. iv lived here for almost 5 years.like i said i noticed a change only 22 months ago its just getting worse.
iv grown up with animals my whole life.
i stopped eating dairy anything for two weeks and it helped mildly . i dont eat meat other than fish for the last 14 years. its been worse the last 3 months before and during my periods. help . i want my skin to be normal again. tammi
Hello,
I have been treating demodex mites in dogs and the best most cost efficient treatment for demodex mites I have used has been a 90% sulfur dust powder that is labeled for use on horses,dogs,cats,chickens, etc. for mites.fleas,chiggers,lice etc.
It is also sold as a aerial crop dust for fruits and vegetables.
It is sold under the name YELLOW JACKET by Southern Agriculture Products’s.
It only cost about $25.00 for 50 pounds so its can be used quite liberally.
It is a useful treatment for fungus,bacterial,germicide,antibiotic,etc.
May cause allergic reaction.
Ask your pest control store to order the product if you need this product.
This product has saved many dogs with severe generalized demodex mites in Florida.
Follow label directions.
GOOD LUCK !
I would love to book an appointment with Dr. Anderson.
I found your article very interesting because when I first started to have problems with my face breaking out my family doctor said my rash looked something like Scabies. I am a elementary teacher who teaches 2nd grade so I have seen children have this problem. I also am the only person in my family with this problem. Rosacea was the diagnosis my Dermotologist gave me. I never noticed the “flushing” until after I put the gel he suggested I use. Corn Starch seems to help me more than anything right now!
I am a 42 yr female. Diagnosed with Rosacea when i was approx 32. Have tried every topical medication and oral /topical antibiotic but no results. I have been on Accutane 6 times to bring it under control. It does work but eventually it does come back. To top it off I get facial exczema with the rosacea. I live in florida. Can you please help
Thank You
I am 50 years old and have had rosacea since I was 21 years old. Yes it has gotten worse over the years and now I have eye problems related to this. I have been on Accutane twice and it helped for about a year. I have been on all the creams, ointments and oral medications to no avail. I am now trying things for myself. I have bleached my face–helps with the itching and calms it down somewhat for a few days but then it comes right back. I am now trying Diatomaceous Earth–sprinkling it all over my pillow at night and my covers and all over my rugs and anywhere my animals sleep. *I just read about animals being the cause–this wouldn’t be for me because when I first got Rosacea I didn’t have animals. I have just started this for the last week. I can’t see much of a difference, but then again I don’t know what the mites gestation rate is and if that will kill them all off or not. I would like to get into Dr. Anderson’s program too only now I don’ t have any health insurance at all. I live in West Virginia. Please send me information on this program. I would very much appreciate it and so would my Eye Doctor.
why do u have to leave the perm. solution on for 24 hours. the box says only 10 minutes, and that is to kill LICE which are bigger then the mites? so why a full 24 is required???
Another option for this crowd is to check out demodexsolutions.com (chinese medicine) if you suffer from Rosacea. Their products kill the mites over a 4 to 6 month program of two facial creams, an eyelash cream (for eye sufferers) and a shampoo (for scalp sufferers). The posts I’ve read about the products say that your symptoms worsen at first because as the mites die in mass, the bacteria created from their dead bodies creates more pimples, rash, redness, etc. Everyone says to continue using the products though because after about 4 – 6 weeks, their skin clears and improves from there. Many never have the problem occur of rosacea again. The mites can be in the eyebrows too or other places on the face that are not normally symptomatic. If you think you’re having a reaction just because the symptoms worsen (even when using the Permithrin) it may just be the extensive new bacteria formed by so much dead mite debrie. The mites can also live in the nose and ears.
I suspect the doctor above left the site prematurally since the person who had the reaction to the permethrin and other products the doctor advised had the very type of outbreak I mentioned was common according to the people who have used the demodex solutions products. Their comments are also posted on curezone.com.
Hi , I have been diagnosed with blepharitis ( a stye on my right eyelid and pimples along the eyelashes )
I also have been diagnosed with rosacea ( red rash on my face and nose ) I also have burning irritated watery eyes at times. I guess I have what is called ocular rosacea from what I found on the internet. I have to wonder if the mice in the building a was working at had something to do with getting it.
Would you please be kind enough to recommend a cure for my problem , I have been able to clear my eyes up with a cleanser . I’ve tried metrogel for the red rash on my face but it doesn’t help much if any at all
Thank You , looking forward to any help you can provide , David
Hello, I am fasinated by this. I have a terrible skin condition covering both arms. Also, one on my eyebrow, one on my chin. It has gone undiagonosed for 10 months. I thought for a long time that it was “dye-off” from the Candida diet. (I tried that because this began with small sores that would not heal.) The condition got worse and worse. My “candida” turned out to be a hybrid fungus condition which caused an extremely depressed immune system. The wonderful doctor who finally figured out that part of the puzzle, looked at my sores under a microscope. I begged him to tell me what these white (I was calling them spores) were that I could pull out from these sores. (sometimes as many as 50 a day). They are barely visible, but I could feel them “biting” and got very good at finding them and removing them. When he looked with the mircroscope and nudged a sore, he saw one move deeper into the sore. It was not his area of expertise, but he thought it was a mite. We have been thinking it was a scabies mite, but the Norwegian kind (which is the same, only in multitudes.) I have been using the Permethrin cream, but I have a very bad case so it is working ….. only slowly. SOme things however were just not adding up. It is suppsoed to be very contagious. Yet in all this time, no one in my family has aquired it. And as I studied the pictures, they just did not match with the scabies mites. SO tonight I have been searching the internet and low and behold …… they look exactly like this mite!!
I just stumbled on this and I am going to continue researching. I thought I would pass this on, in case it effects your understanding of the situation. Maybe you have scratched the surface of something much bigger.
I do not have ROsacea problems, although a dermatologost once sugessed I did and I never filled the script.
Do you know if this is considered contagious?
Thanks for looking out of the box ……..
The doctor states kwellada is 5% permethrin;WRONG!! It’s also known as lindane,an organochlorine! The 5% permethrin product is Lyclear dermal cream(in the UK & Australia at least).
I also have been diagnosed with rosacea. My face began itching and burning and turning red about 4 years ago. The worst areas were my nose and eyebrows. The 3 doctors that I went to see were absolutely useless and one of them was a dermotologist that I had waited 3 months to see.
I finally got so desperate that one day I applied Selsun Blue to my face and left it on for twenty minutes. I did this treatment because the redness on my face looked like a fungal infection. I was finally able to quell the itching & burning after the treatment and slowly but surely the skin on my face has improved. It has been a slow process but there is improvement. I have also changed my diet and included vitamins as I do believe a depressed immune system is a factor.
I know I had the mites discussed here because I could feel them crawling ( I know, gross!)especially at night.
I’ve been fighting with something for over 3 years, first noticed it in CA in hot weather, I’ve taken so much allergy meds thinking that’s the problem, and treated myself for head lice multiple times. Now I’m convinced it’s demodex, it has literally driven me nuts, now I’m trying boric acid powder in my shampoo left in for 10-15 minutes, and continuing to use sulfur soap bar soap, from sulfursoap.coma and zinc oxide cream.
Hi. I am reading these comments with great interest. Two comments of my own. 1) I am a veterinarian and demodex mites are EXTREMELY species specific and they CANNOT be passed from your dog to you EVER. In fact, it is not even contagious between dogs — these mites are considered normal inhabitants of dog skin and they basically overgrow when an individual is immune suppressed (either due to an illness or because of a genetic problem) I have to say that I suspect this could be a similar problem in people. No, you cannot kill them but you should have the underlying reason that you may be immune compromised addressed. 2) I, too, have had rosacea and there is large body of evidence that it is an immune mediated rash secondary to Helicobacter pylori infection in the stomach which causes signs of recurrent/persistent heartburn. If you have heartburn, get tested and treated for H. pylori! (Several weeks of amoxicillin and metronidazole or tinidazole with prilosec or similar acid inhibitor.) It has been extremely effective for me and my rosacea COMPLETELY resolved to the point that I use no medications to treat it anymore — no metrogel, no topical steroids, no sulfa cleansers. Over the years I have occasionally had the H. pylori return — a few little rosacea spots will appear about 3 weeks before the hearburn starts and then there it is. I have treated it about 3 times now with identical results. I was very lucky that both my dermatologist and my osteopath were educated on this and treated me. This is an immune mediated condition and the underlying cause must be treated — if demodex (which I have learned is normally present on all us as they are on dogs and they belong there except in very small numbers) is involved in some people, then that also fits because there is immune dysfunction. Here again I can imagine ivermectin could limit the symptoms but unless the immune system dysfunction or underlying infection (H. pylori, etc) then it will persist. Good Luck!
I really would NOT recommend using head lice treatments on your face. Not without a patch test, anyway. I stupidly didn’t patch test and now have a chemical burn all over my face. I think I’d rather rosacea than a chemical burn :S
Debbie,
I think you should read up a little on the Diatomaceous earth. It may be linked to cancer. I work with it some times and there are warnings on the bags.
Here is a link to a material safety data sheet on it.
http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/d1288.htm
Be careful and good luck
G
. . . Do not under any circumstances use the topical pesticide called Lindane (Kwell or Kwellada — however Kwellada-P with the “-P” is Permethrin) as this has caused 17 deaths in the US according to the FDA and will probably soon be taken off the market. Australia already has a ban on Lindane use for scabies along with 7 other countries. There are several other countries that have banned Lindane for agricultural use (i.e. the entire EU).
Expect increased itching and red bumps for the first week after taking any medication for scabies. The dead mites do not leave your skin for 30 days. They will come out with your natural shedding process. During those 30 days expect
new bumps and itching.
Do not use topical pesticides more than directed.
There are several medications to treat scabies. I’m listing them in the order that I think of as the worst to the best.
1. Worst: Lindane (Kwell, Kwellada). Up to 40% of this pesticide is absorbed into the bloodstream. It has been linked to 17 deaths by the US government FDA (3 were positively caused by Lindane). DO NOT USE. THROW AWAY! From the website: http://www.safe2use.com/scabiesboard/2005_06/3002.html
I read Dr Andersons trial, thought it sounded ok. I live in the U.S.A. so I used Nix. I found out that I was loaded with the little buggers in my eyebrows. Never had any problems until I put the Nix on my nose tip – that is my problem (red nose area). Some how it
brought out the eyebrow dwellers. So I applied some their. I used the instructions per the box for how much and how long.
My eyebrows are wonderful now. But my stupid nose tip is still full of the little buggers.
I have this 10X mirror and use a very fine tweezers to pick them off my nose. Ugh, I cannot stand knowing that I have mites on my nose. And the pictures of them are enough to give me the chills. I have to get them off of me. I am picking every nite, anyone else like this?
So what do I do now, my dermatologist does not believe me. I have a glass slide full of these mites in various stages of development (size) that I plucked off my nose tip.
Has anyone else ever pulled the buggers off there face?
Anyone know why the Nix killed the eyebrow mites but
not the nose tip mites?
Please help, Rudolf tip nosed woman.
I also think this article should stay on the web, I believe
the mites are my problem. Not their bacteria, poop or my inflammatory reaction to them. I wish Dermatologists would read these boards.
Hi,
I’d love to be able to ask you a question…My 19 year old son has been ill for nearly 6 weeks with hives (multiple times daily), and has been given the diagnosis of cholinergic urticaria. I keep telling the docs that the rash does not look like typical hives to me, they are very tiny and round, rather than large and oddly shaped. He’s getting this rash several times a day, when his temperature rises (sweat, hot bath, any heat will set him off). Here’s the kicker. We have an Old English Sheepdog with terrible demodex. He went undiagnosed for several months, and is still undergoing treatment. I have mentioned this to the docs, but they mostly say they don’t know what demodex is and they write it off. Is it possible this is demodex? He’s breaking out horribly on his entire torso, front and back, and down his arms and chest. How do I verify? Thanks.
Hi All,
I just put up a new article on how to kill demodex mites. Hope you guys find it interesting.
davidp.
I would like to buy ORGANIC Tea Tree 100% Pure Australian Oil (100ml+),
culled from the leaves of a tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), Pharmaceutical Grade of less than 5% cineole and over 35% terpinen-4-ol
which qualifies for “Pharmaceutical Grade”, as established by the Australian Tea Tree Oil Industry Association
and ORGANIC TTO PRODUCTS to Contain the Natural Benefits of Tea Tree Oil (can contain other organic ingredients like Aloe Vera, etc.) but having difficulty to find it free from SLS/SLES, Parabens, phthalates and artificial fragrances etc. or it does not state: PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE and its percentage- I need at least 50% TTO in all products: facial non- soap cleanser, shower gel, shampoo, lotion, cream, deodorant, toothpaste (e.g. 50% tea tree oil with Macadamia nut oil, applied with cotton tip applicators, after one drop of tetracaine, then 20% and 10% tea tree oil ointment for dry inflamed eyelids on Demodex Folliculorum/ Brevis. TTO Products on face- mild pustular ROSACEA).
Anyone there could help (UK London based, it is needed by this Sunday 12/10/2008), please?
Many thanks for any suggestions
Dear Jennifer Armstrong,
I am in the exact same boat as your son. I was diagnosed with rosacea at 21 years and have been dealing with the ups and downs for almost 5 years. Incedentally, i was a veterinarian assistant and began getting flare-ups 2 weeks post handeling a dog with severe demodicosis. I performed my own skin scraping and saw demodex. I must have an infestation. I have seen approxiametly 20 doctors, and a pannel of dermatologists and all diagnosed me with either acne or rosacea. I have never encountered a single doctor who knew or was willing to investigate the possibility of demodicosis. The microscope does not lie. Rosacea, or demodex (whatever the medical industry choses to call it), is a life altering condition that deserves more attention.
Hi,
I am french and I am 28. I have rosacea since about 2000-2001. I’m completely upset because nothing works to treat it. I would be interested in testing kwellada but I would prefer have some more information about it.
Could you help me ? Kwellada all over the face ? For 24 hours ? It seems long to me no ?
Thanks
more info:
http://www.rosaceagroup.org/The_Rosacea_Forum/showthread.php?t=16551
My dad is currently suffering from this disease.
Thank you so much for your work.
I wrote down all the cream names but I’m not too sure if I can get it at a regular drug store.
If you have any information that might help my Dad,
please contact me through my e-mail.
once again, thank you so much.
I have decided to visit a naturopath to help me determine any underlying medical problems that might be causing demodex to favor my skin, and have also decided to get laser treatments on my face. Laser is also proven to kill demodex mites. So far i have done two laser treatments and despite the down time (2 days or so) and pain, the results are fantastic. I am also washing my pillows, sheets, mattress, and make-up brushes with tea tree oil, borax, anti-bacterial dish soap and warm water. So far, diet, and laser treatments have given me the best results. I haven’t felt this good about myself since it all began over 4 years ago. Anyone who has tried all the potions and lotions out there might want to consider laser. It will save you time, money, and many tears.
All the best to all who are going through this too.
“Demodex and Eye Disease
..
3 weeks of therapy with mercury ointment”
– Is that a joke? I’m sure there are safer alternative than intentionally putting Mercury into your body. Yikes.
How about a mite-enzyme killer or some diluted vinegar and borax.
I have had rosacea for about 15 years and while a few things have helped, nothing has cured it. My entire face is red all the time, even upon arising in the morning.
I saw this facial soap in a natural health magazine and found it on Amazon, “FaceDoctor – Rejuvenating Soap.” I have ordered it. I hope it works!
You need a comprehensive strategy.
#1 kill the mites in your body… Niacinamide(Vitamin B-3) is an insecticide in plants. This kills them. (Note: you might get a flush-face, because that’s where they live… got to be careful with doses… should lessen over time).
#2 kill the mites on the outside of your body, hair, face. Tea Tree Oil or Borax or Kleen-Free will do this.
#3 kill the bed bugs and bugs on your towels.
#4 kill the bugs on your rug… Nature’s Miracle.
#5 if you have a yard, insecticide spray.
#6 if you have a pet, make sure it’s flee-dipped.
#7 Oily Hair and Oily Skin are your protection against the mite.
#8 So is a healthy body, increase Vitamin C. If you need to mega-dose, Sodium Ascorbate is the way to go. To much normal C(Ascorbic Acid) will upset your bowels. Linus Pauling mega-dosed on C for 50 years, and lived until 93. Perhaps just once in a while; a week here or there when you are healthy.
Do those 8 things and your rosacea will clear up and you’ll feel healthier.
Demodex mites cause staph. Surely having a chronic staph infection on your face can’t be healthy.Look up Demodectic Mange.
Talk to a vet how they treat this stuff. Take a bath with a cup of Borax. This stuff is awesome, kills fungus and bugs. Anything that lights up like a christmas tree on your body is infected (so do this on a weekend). Vets have a shampoo that is 1% Vinnegar and 1% Borax to treat “Dandruff on Dogs”. Or you can put a teaspoon or 2 in your existing bottle of shampoo.
As your pores start to come back online, the mites get pushed out by your oil, and their eggs. It’s like your shedding insects… a little gross, though. Your cheaks will be less puffy, too.
So there you go:
Nature’s Miracle for the rug (10 bucks)
Borax from the supermarket(4 bucks)
KleenFree (15 bucks)
Sodium Ascorbate (20 bucks)
Niacinamide(10 bucks)
Total $60
That’s how the aids guys treat this “insect disease”. Plus you may add 5 years onto your life to boot, clear some “tinea” or “liver spots” or a twitchy eye to boot.
Also, no fish oil, staph likes fish oil.
“Or you can put a teaspoon or 2 in your existing bottle of shampoo.”
Or you can put a teaspoon or 2 of borax in your existing bottle of shampoo. Borax is a common ingredient in acne medication.
Has anyone here tried Pilocarpine Gel to treat eyelashes for suspected demodex? Thanks.
Hi all, does anyone know if this stuff could help kprf?
hi everyone, please do some reading about tea tree oil – it is a hormonal toxin.
i have not used Pilocarpine Gel on eyelashes, however i did use Brolene drops and Brolene gel. the gel worked .. used it for ten days at a time, a week off in between … four series of ‘treatments’ … and it worked.
my eyelids were very red, 90 percent of the time before the gel.
then, after each session, 25 percent of the redness was gone, and the eyelids were clear in that area. started from the outside corner to the inside corner. symmetrically, both eyes. i used a lot of gel, in the hope it might suffocate the mites too.
ironically, i went to buy some more at the chemist (in byron bay australia) .. and it turns out the manufacturer is taking it off the market.
they still sell the Brolene eye drops (which actually didnt really do much for me except support the action of the gel .. it was the gel that fixed things on the eyes).
i did get a slightly yellow sty in my right eye which has reduced about 40 percent in the six subsequent months .. my eyes are nice and clear on the lids ..
my personal view is that perhaps they found something of concern about the gel?
i don’t know whether to feel lucky or upset. the ocular rosacea has gone … and yet, i thought it would be nice to have some gel in store, just in case, because i had ocular rosacea from about age 20 to well six months ago around age 35. however i suppose it is best to look to the future with hope.
This Kwellada…is this available anywhere??
where can i get these kwellada shampoo and lotion products. i’m in the uk cant seem to purchase them anywhere and the us and canada online sites dont sell online to uk residents?
waiting in anticipation to shake off this progressive rosacea
Look for said product. They are listed. Good luck!.
Borax is toxic! Look it up on wikipedia!
In addition, tea tree oil is very powerful, and should only be used on the skin in high concentrations under medical supervision.
The ingredient in Hedrin is called Dimenthicone, which is a silicone oil. It can be purchased at Walgreens in LiceMD. I read on a .gov website that the results of one study indicted that it is nontoxic and cannot be absorbed throught the skin due to the molecule size. It is also odorless. However, I have a hard time believing that anything you put on your body is not atleast somewhat absorbed, and I am wonder whether silicone can be excreted. THE DAYS AFTER I USED IT I GOT PAIN IN MY FINGERS AND MY REFLEXES WERE SLOWER. Scary stuff. But I figure I’d mention it.
Also, if you look up scabies medications that are used for rosacea/dermodex (which are very effective) on drugs.com, you can see they work by attacking the nervous system of the scabies/mites. I was using Eurax, and they don’t even know whether it’s carcinogenic or not.
I have used so many rosacea treatments (Metrogel, oral prescriptions, the list goes on). I had an allergic reaction to hair dye one day and my body stayed in “allergic mode” long afterwards. All of my medications started poisening me, so I had to stop.
HERE’S THE FACT:
All these medications that we usually use just help the symptoms. I know demodex are the culprit on my rosacea because on Eurax my acne and redness magically dissappeared. Demodex are on almost all people. An overabudance of demodex are caused by IMMUNE SYSTEM INSUFFICIENCY. I am determined to heal my body and until then (which will probably quite some time), I will try to keep my symptoms to a minimum. I have done a ton of research and here’s my protocal:
1) Drink Cordiceps sinensis and Ganoderma lucidum powder everyday. This is traditional Chinese medicine and it’s benefits on the immune system have been demonstrated through Western research and how, for example, white blood cell count is raised.
2) Use sea buckthorn oil (which kills demodex) soap all over the body (I bought mine from facedoctor.ca because of the high sea buckthorn oil content).
3) Buy skin creams from demodexsolutions.com. I bought the sulfur treatment about four years ago, and it worked very well. Since my body is overloaded from chemicals, I am buying the fulio acne cream.
Hope that helps!
After trying many products to rid myself of demonex roseca mites I found what really does work!!! I tried Metrogel from the doctor, and this did not work at all. I have tried anti-bio., Kleen-Free, Tea Tree oil, Seabuckthorn oil, Eurax, China ZZ cream, Permithrin, and many other products which claimed to rid myself of the Rosecea and mites that I was diagnosed for having. “Sno-seal” will rid yourself of demonex mites. It is product used for leather goods. It is beeswax with petroleum products mixed therein for pentretration into the leather. This product healed up the leasions associated with these mites, and kicked the mites out of their beds. It works great on my face without any problems. It is also cheep to buy. I also use “Best Yet” to help with the bacteria under the skin associated with Rosecea. This is 10% Cedar Oil with a skin pentretant. This is also cheep to buy. Also, “OCuSOFT Plus” (found in most drug stores) helps to keep the mites away. But Sno-Seal is the only product that I found that kicks the mites out of their homes. I hope that I may have helped someone who is in misery like I used to be. Mike
After many years of perfectly clear skin to a sudden breakout of rashes, “rosacea”, pustules and pimples, I am glad to say that i no longer feel like hiding inside my home. I know i had demodex because i worked at a vet clinic with many dogs that had mange and broke out overnight after working with a dog riddled with the critters. I even did my own skin scrapping and say them under the microscope. I was unable to find any doctor who even knew what demodex was. No one believed me and no one cared. It took a lot of research and a lot of work but now I am able to take my daughter everywhere, I don’t feel embaressed and i can go to bed at night knowing that i will wake up without the symptoms i once suffered.
What i tried that DIDN”T work:
antibiotics, clindamyacin, Stevia, metrogel, Sulfur ointments, Metronidazole pills, masks, steaming, ice etc………….
What i tried that DID work:
Face doctor soap, only use every three days for 2 weeks. then stop because your skin need to eventually find its own balance. Don’t use everyday, unless really bad.
ZZ cream worked for a while but i had reoccuring breakouts
Hydrocortisone at 2.5% used lightly on the skin mixed with Uremol cream is excellent for immediate results, but use sparingly because hydrocortisone thins the skin. 1% will not work! Needs to be 2.5% at least. Even though i no longer have a major problem with breakouts i do use this rx when i feel a rash is going to begin.
Laser skin therapy was pricey and expensive but i would suggest to anyone who has not had any results and has tried everything. The Laser light does kill demodex mites. Beware that your face will be sore to the touch and swollen for 2-3 days. And this is not a permanent solution.
The most effective Rx i have tired to date is to take an antihistamine such as Aerius or Benadryl. I went to a highly specialized doctor and he spent a lot of time listening to my history and symptoms. Eventually he ended up informing me that my immune system was in a highly overreactive state due to a prolonged sinus infection that may have even started with a cold as long as 6 years ago. My overreactive immune system was causing the rashes and breakouts and thus creating a favorable environment for demodex. Made sense because i had a terrible flu the week before i was handeling a dog with demodex. Anyhow, He took a little stick and lightly ran it up my arm and i had a large reactive swelling in that spot. Such a simple test has made a huge difference in my life.
He suggested I take a non-drowsy antihistamine everyday for several months and was told to eat a simple diet. I avoid caffeine alltogether, limit sugar intake, and eat a very small amount of fruit due to sugar content. I don’t eat mustard, spicy food, pepper, and use a small amounts of vinegar. Anything that tastes good i tried to avoid.
Along with diet and antihistamines, i occasionally use hydrocortisone 2.5% (1% doesn’t do the trick) and urea cream if i have even a small spot and it goes away overnight.
I have stopped taking the antihistamines and have been able to eat a less strict diet for several months and am amazed with the results. I was so desperate when all of my problems were going on. I really hope someone tries this rx of mine and gets their self-esteem and life back too. I never thought i would see this day!
More advise:
Use borax and detergent on a really hot setting to wash your sheets, and especially pillow cases and pillows on a regular basis. I think demodex mites can live for 3 days without a host. So was them regularly and often until your symptoms subside. I now still wash my pillows using this method every two weeks.
Also,Keep it simple. Less is really more. And be gentle ( your skin loves gentle non-perfumed products the best, so don’t use abrasive scrubs). Use paper towel to dry your face with to keep the bacteria away. Wash, tone, and moisturise very gently. The more harsh you are with your skin the more you damage your skin and the more favorable environment for bacteria and little critters like demodex to live. Things will get better in due time. Remember…………… usually the simplest solution works the best.
Good luck!
Christine
For an even better treatment try:
1.) Apply “Teatreeoil” strait. (E-Bay)
2.) After about an hour apply “Sno-Seal” (They use it
for leather products. It contains beeswax and other
ingredients.) (E-Bay or area stores)
3.) After about an hour apply “OCuSOFT PLUS” foam
(especially at night). (Drug stores)
I have found that by doing this throughout the day Rosecea Demonex Mites will eventually become less and less upon me. I have tried many products and found this to be the ONLY thing that really does work. I recently had a flareup and found this to be the cat’s ass. But it is not a cure, and never will be. Mike
Chris DVM,
I finished a week long treatment for H. Pylori about 9 days ago and have not seen any difference in my facial flushing. Just wondering if that was a long enough treatment and when I should expect to see results? Also, i didn’t do the breath test for H. Pylori so it wasn’t confirmed that I actually had it but my doctor prescribed the treatment anyways. I suffer from heartburn by the way and it went away on the treatment but came back 3 days after I finished the treatment. I am going to try and kill the demodex mites by using tea tree oil and any other safe recommendations.
Please note that I no longer use Tea Tree Oil strait. Because of precautions I use it only half strength 50%. For the other 50% I use “Best Yet” cedar oil which contains a skin penetrant to reach the mites. Just tye in “Best Yet” in your search engine, and you will find the place that sells it. Tea Tree Oil can be found on E-bay. I found that “Sno Seal” helps as well.
Look into Sea Buckthorn. This is a oil from fruit and seeds of this plant which is known to kill Demodex.
I am about to start a regimen of the soap, shampoo, cream, and capsules internally.
Hi Steve,
Seabuckthorn oil may be good for you, but it has not been demonstrated to kill demodex mites. Here is an article on what has been clinically proven to kill demodex mites.
davidp.
Thanks, Dave, but I don’t always go by clinical proof, which is usually lacking on products that can’t be licensed or patented.
There is plenty of personal success stories out there using Sea Buckthorn that seems to point to it being quite successful at it.
I’ll see what happens after I start using it.
I’m not `sold on only things that can be patented get proven’. Things just don’t seem to be able to be described so simply, I don’t believe.
One online SBT Oil retailer touts demodex eradication as one its benefits and one would assume would dearly love to be able to prove it to boost sales. Alas so far there is no such proof, just sales material.
There is no shortage of companies wanting to sell products that are going to help your skin.
We need both proven therapies and personal success stories – in an ideal world that is!
Check out this link, it looks like some have had success:
http://www.keratosispilaris.org/treatment-options/5830-sea-buckthorn-treatment-guide.html
I have tried Seabuckthorn Oil, and it does nothing to kill the mites, nor does it do anything for my Rosacea. I have tried so many cures, and found only one topical mixture that works for me (my mixture). It is: 55% Teatree Oil (ebay), 40% “Best Yet” (1-800-842-1464), and 5% Pine-Sol (do not use too much or it will burn the skin). Before I go to bed I put on “Sno-Seal” after the mixture to prevent mite activity while I sleep. The Teatree Oil will help to kill the mites, the Best-Yet will penetrate the mixture deep into the skin where they are, and the Pine-Sol will burn them out of their beds. Do shake the mixture before using. The only other thing that may work for me is Ivermectin (Rx), but my doctor will not subscribe it to me, saying that it is only for worms and other parisites. I only hope that my mixture someday might help someone else out of the anguish like I went through with these mites. Mike
I have had rosacea for about 4 years. I had papules on my cheeks and my cheeks were red, slowly it started to move to my chin, nose and forehead. I spend a lot of money on the dermatologist, to laser my skin. The only thing that worked. The papules got to be a lot less because of it. My skin never really got to be like before though. Then i run out of money to get laser treatment. I also have hair loss, and because of that i got the Hairmax laser comb premium (about 2 months ago) , against hair-loss. As i was doing my hair, my skin on my chin was itching because of some papules that were there. I thought i would try the laser comb on that spot, if it would not help, it would not harm. It felt good afterwards, so since then i have done it 3 times a week, also on my cheeks and nose. My skin looks beautiful now. Every time i see myself in the mirror i can’t believe my eyes. No more red cheeks or nose, my papules are almost gone. It is amazing how it looks. I never thought i would see my skin like this again. I can not say how others will respond, so far i have never heard anyone about it, but it works wonders for me. If you do want to try, be aware of the eyes. You need a laser eye cover, because the laser can damage the eyes when shining into your eyes. Also so far it has not helped with my hair. But then, i am very happy with my skin.
Dear Mike Marca,
I read somewhere that it takes 4 years for you to keep this under control ? Why that freaking long , i also tried everything for years now but nothing helped a lot . Sometimes you feel that it works and then a few hours later you’re whole freaking body is crwaling with these bastards. also my arms are a bit red and i feel them almost everywhere . So if you cure you’re face they’re almost everywhere in you’re body how can we end this sh*t ? Maybe ivermectin also ? Are there succes stories here with Ivermectin ? The reproduce every freeking day it almost looks like that morgellon’s from chemtrails and other heavy metals-us government-i’ll make you all sick-diseases.
You feel them reproduce eggs every hour it looks like it is very very annoying and depressing for so many years .
sorry for my bad english
thought everyone should see this:
http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/rosacea_questions.html#Question_1015
Rosacea has made my life a nightmare the past year–one that feels like i’ll never wake up from.
Hi, Doctors in the UK know Jack Shit about Dermodex mites. I have been to the doctors and then onto a Dermatologist at St Thomas’s Hospital in London. On both occasions all I wanted was a cream for the Dermadex mites in my eyelash folicules that were getting into my eyes at night. All other symptoms I was treating successfully myself. In both cases they recommended a hydrocortisone cream like Betnovate RD Ointment. Grrrr, any fool knows that you do not put hydrocortisone creams on your face let alone your eyelids.
Anyway, the cure.
Mix up a solution of 1% hydrogen peroxide and then saturate it with Borax.
How, Wash out a large 2ltr coke bottle, buy a bottle of 9% hydrogen peroxide add it all to the coke bottle, fill the hydrogen peroxide bottle with clean water and add it to the coke bottle 8 times. Now you have the base 1% hydrogen peroxide. Next, using a funnel keep adding tablespoons full of Borax Powder to the coke bottle and shaking it until no more will dissolve. (you will see little bits of Borax powder in the bottom of the bottle).
Next, take the hand pump off of a household cleaning spray bottle and was thoroughly. Fill the hydrogen peroxide bottle with some of the solution from the coke bottle (this is your working sprayer)
Keep both of the bottles of solution in the dark as light deteriorates hydrogen peroxide.
Now for the ~ Action Plan:
Adult mites come out at night, around 15 minutes after you settle down so its pointless trying to kill them at any other time. We will come to the eggs later on.
Turn the lights out and calmly wait until you get the maximum itch from the mites crawling over your face and body. Then using the sprayer, spray and rub the solution into every part of your body, all the cracks, crevices and folds of skin. Then stand with your arms extended and legs open for around ten minutes for the solution to air dry, sorry no towels allowed. Now you can go to bed (clean sheets and pillow cases)
Next, daytime attack, using the solution damp dust the whole house, add Borax to the floor washing water and wash all the floors. Using the sprayer, lightly spray all soft furnishings including your beds and bedding (don’t drench them) . Leave for the rest of the day to dry. You can also spray the inside of your coats and suits if you cannot wash them beforehand.
Now for the eyes, get some cotton wool pads and a training headband. After your nighttime spray, spray some solution onto two cotton wool pads, lay down in bed and place the pads over the eyes and secure with the training headband. Try and have good nights sleep.
Now for the eggs:
I have it on authority from other forums that common garden cloves are deadly to the mite eggs. So crush 10 cloves in a mortar and take the powder neat four times a day throughout the treatment period and after if you want to keep them away.
How long is the treatment period.
Dermodex Mites have a 10 day life cycle from egg to mature adult mite. Unfortunately they do not breed in synchronisation so you will have to keep the treatment going for 120 days minimum.
Improve your immune system by taking a high doss of Vitamin ‘B’ Complex say 100mg a day. Eat lots of green leafy veg and fresh fruit as well.
Acne sufferers will see a marked improvement in their condition within a couple of days. Pustules will be completely gone within 10 days and the great thing is they wont come back if you complete the treatment.
Moisturisers and face creams:
Don’t use moisturisers and other face creams on your face as the oil in it may provide food for the mites.
WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING
Never confuse BORAX with BORIC ACID they are two completely different products.
Borax as prescribed in here has no more toxicity than table salt.
BORIC ACID very toxic and harmful to your skin.
Hi, further to my last comment.
Dermodex mites have been successfully breeding and suviving in nature for some 2 million years.
They are experts at what they do and are determined to suvive.
You must be more determined than them to get rid of them.
The fact is, Dermodex is a body to body transmitted desease.
It is transfered between adults and from parent to kids and between humans and pets both dogs and cats.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY NO USE TREATING JUST ONE MEMBER OF A FAMILY.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY NO USE TREATING JUST ONE PART OF YOUR BODY.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY NO USE TREATING JUST ONE PART / ROOM OF YOUR HOME.
SAME GOES FOR YOUR CLOTHES.
THE TREATMENT OUTLINED ABOVE WORKS.
It also works for all other types of mites such as scabies, itchy mites and also all forms mange in animals.
THE THREE KEY AREAS TO CONSIDER IS
1) MAKING UP THE FORMULA
2) APPLYING THE FORMULA CORRECTLY
3) PERSISTENCE (EVERY DAY)
If you decide its too much trouble and leave it out for a day, the mites will breed like hell on your body.
THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO GO BACK TO SQUARE ONE AND START THE TREATMENT OVER AGAIN FROM THE BEGINING.
IF IT AINT WORKING FOR YOU ITS YOUR FAULT.
Dear stephan ,
I have 1 question about spraying you’re bed and cleaning you’re house, is that only with Borax or with some peroxide 1 % in it ?
I use the h2oh Borax for some time now but i think you’re right about sleeping time is the best way to kill them ,
thanks by the way for you’re instructions .
And you can also put 1/8 teaspoon Borax in you’re water to drink i’ve red on earthclinic i do that for 2 years now i think, it helped some but i also red that demodex mites don’t live in the bloodstream. But what’s so depressed about these mites is what you’ve mentionend that if you quit one day they are all coming back that’s a terrible thought isn’t it ?
Personally, I do not clean very much in reference to the mites. I just use my formula, and I seem to keep them under most of the time. I also plan on trying the laser comb as Anna has described. Perhaps, I can hammer them down all of the time. Mike
My first “acne rosacea” showed up 24 years ago when I was 38. My GP here in Vancouver, BC said it was caused by nerves, or diet , or something, and the only thing to do was to hide it with cortisone cream! Ten years later when I was living in Mexico, the condition was diagnosed at the Instituto Dermatologico, a teaching hospital in Guadalajara, as demodex folliculorum, and I was prescribed a long-term, low-dose treatment of topical and oral metronidazol which worked!! When I returned to Vancouver (same city, different neighbourhood) ten years after that treatment in Guadalajara, the skin condition returned mildly. It was very difficult to convince my GP in Vancouver to prescribe the oral metronidazole (in part because the time-release version is not available in Vancouver, and partly because she did not believe me), but she finally grudgingly agreed and I cut the pills into little pieces which I took four times a day. It worked for three years, but here I am again with a bit on my cheek. There must be something about the combination of me plus demodex folliculorum plus Vancouver that doesn’t work.
Needless to say, I am thrilled to read your advice about Kwellada (I promise I will not try it internally!).
If you want me to participate in your study, as a long term rosacea sufferer and a convert to considering it to be a problem of skin parasites, I will be happy to do so. Let me know soon because I am not going to wait long before I go out and try the Kwellada.
Thank you for getting on to this, and trying to make it public here in the north. I think there is more knowledge about this condition in warmer areas where there is more interest in and need for research into parasitic conditions.
Yours truly,
Merrilee MacGregor
Id been afflicted with rosacea, ocular rosacea and bad acne for almost 4 years when i found this webpage about a year ago. I used the website Demodexsolutions.com to buy a face cream and eye lash cream formulated to kill demodex. My long standing constant acne cleared up within 2 or 3 weeks and the pores in my skin tightened. I had laser surgery done to clear up the redness so i dont know if it would have helped that or not, but the eyelash cream improved my ocular rosacea and meibomian gland dysfunction by probably 50 percent. It was a huge difference. I stopped using the creams several times and the acne started gradually returning after 2 or 3 weeks and my eyes became dry again, so now i just use the products infrequently. Just wanted to let you know that you’re definetely on the right track, and that i think that far more problems can be linked to demodex than many doctors would acknowledge.
Hello again. I just had a case of demonex that my formula would not kill on my face. I took care of the mites that infected my eyebrows with my mixture, but another area on my face did not respond well with my formula. I then took out the big guns and applied 91% alcohol to the area for 30 minutes. This did kill all of the mites, but it also took up the affected skin that the mites took over. I now have a big scab on my face, but the mites are gone for now. I guess if I am going to use the alcohol like that I need to do it when the mites first infect the area so that less skin will be destroyed. An area of skin that was not affected with the mites also received the 30 min. treatment and nothing happened to that area. Then again perhaps I should go to 20 minutes instead for this treatment. Mike
Also, I have been using the laser comb like Anna said (the same laser comb) for one week now. I do not, as of yet, see any improvement, but I am hopeful. Mike
Hi Mike,
Great to hear how you are doing with it.
It is difficult for me to be consistent in using it, which of course is not good.
Also i have been on vacation for some time, in which i did not use it. Because my skin looked so good i thought i did not need it for some time, which was not true unfortunately.
At the moment my cheeks look really great (nice pale , and smooth) , but i seem to be unable to get rid of the red bumps near my left eye , and on my chin.
I did try to use it for a longer session on my face, which seemed to do the opposite from what i wanted. At first i also tried to do it 3 times a week as you are supposed to use it for your hair. Now i am trying to use it very briefly every day. I have done this for about a week now, it it seems to work the best .
Let me know how it is going for you.
If it has any affect on my hair, it is bad, i it seems to work on my skin in a good way.
hi all well im convinced i have deomotex all over my body and im misserable. my arms legs stomach back all over . bumps white things comeing out of my skin. im broke so i cant afford any of what you are saying to do. i do have some old eurax from 2007 should i use it u think. i thought i had morgellons or maybe i do. i dont no. if this is so contagious why doesnt my boyfriend have it. the only one that is showing any signs is my daughter 19 but she dont belive that its bugs. help me please im lost and so ready to give up……………
thanks
dawn
hi all well im convinced i have deomotex all over my body and im misserable. my arms legs stomach back all over . bumps white things comeing out of my skin. im broke so i cant afford any of what you are saying to do. i do have some old eurax from 2007 should i use it u think. i thought i had morgellons or maybe i do. i dont no. if this is so contagious why doesnt my boyfriend have it. the only one that is showing any signs is my daughter 19 but she dont belive that its bugs. help me please im lost and so ready to give up……………thanks depressed
Hi Depressed,
We all can relate. Having your skin change for the worse on you is really scary and depressing. Especially when there is no clear cut cure for the problem. Have you gone to see a doctor? You should try to seek out a diagnosis before you attempt to use anything on your skin. You may have a simple problem that could be cured with a simple prescription. The last thing you want to do is use something completly wrong on your skin that could make things worse. Do you have a diagnosis?
Rosacea dx 10 years ago.and metrogel seemed to take care of it. It has now come back with a vengeance and several members of my family have pustule outbreaks on face never before experienced. Did I mention that we have a new dog and my cat sleeps on our pillows at night. Well I’ve written down all of the suggestions and I’m going to Dermo tomorrow and asking for skin scrape test to see if I have demodex infestation/infection. the one thing that got my attention was the fact that the critters start to activate just after retiring at night. Wow I thought the itching was due to blood pressure or sleep apnea or other physiological reason..we’ll see tomorrow. Then I’ll start on the journey of clearing those little buggars out.
Hello depressed. Just so you might know, people like us who have rosacea are much more likely to have demonex symptoms than normal people, and this can become very severe for some. It has to do with our chemistry. Most people do not understand this concept. Even most doctors do not quite understand this. Yes, it is very depressing. If you do get depressed try taking some Saint John’s Wort medication. It is over the counter. That is what I do, and it works. If your depression is too much to handle see a doctor for stronger medication. We are doing the best that we can do in an otherwise unbearable situation. We understand your frustration. Mike
thanks all , yes christine i have been to numerous docs they havent helped me at all , i need them to do a skin scaping. i no this has to be a mite of some sort.
thanks
ill be checking in on all your posts.
To Dawn
Not all people infected by deomotex show signs. It’s controlled by gene. That’s why your daughter(same gene) has the same problem while your BF dosent.
Try antihistamines for one week, Did your GP…….?
In a very humble like to share with those who need a voice of encouragement to know that this ugly disease that has given us many of us, rosacea, it is incurable.
I’m already 2 months into treatment and I convinced myself that I’m so good, my skin has a wonderful texture Suavecita, NO THE RESEQUEDADES, GRANITE, INFLAMMATION OR Redness INTENSE!! I put this in capitals because I would like to know that is true, I’m getting better …. recently sent some pictures of me Mary to see my previous and my current state … it’s amazing the change, she asked me permission to put them on the web, but I would put myself once completed all my treatment in any case, I put faith in dealing with the cream of Mary Diam, and power of God and his support throughout this treatment have made really a miracle. Thanks Mary, God placed in your hands how to help so many people who were desperate!! All I have is words of deep gratitude to you and all your equipment, especially for Carina always, always there for his loving words and advice help!!
jerry whats a gp? i really need help this is getting worse. i have more and more white stuff comeing out of my skin every day. im loozing it.
also one more thing do these things bite, i feel biting too.
christine
like i said ive been to numerous docs and they said they dont belive its bugs. took biopsys and no bugs, no skin scraping yet. i live in a little town of 600 with no car. and broke so i cant even try any treatments you all sugessted. im doomed
thanks
dawn
dawn
GP for General Practitioner. As you feel someting bite you, mightbe you can try Lyclear(AU,UK), it’s known as Elimite in US. Generally its used to treat scabies and it could elimite other mites. It’s OTC so you can get it directly from the pharmacy.
Keep 24 hours, Wash sheets, clothing with boiling water. ( not have to follow the instruction, anyway there is no serious side effect)
Wish it helps you a little
I have tried Elimite about three times, and it only works a little for me (not enough at all). Also, demonex mites are different than other mange mites. They stay on the body. So I really do not mind myself so much with the washing. Twice a week is plenty for me. I use a mixture using teatree oil and a hand held laser (watch eyes) to treat my rosacea and demonex mites now. At least it is keeping them at bay right now. I hear that Ivermectin (Rx) works best. My doctors will not prescribe it for me. It is hard to find one which will. Mike
I also noticed that when I used the hand laser that a lot of affected skin came loose. This showed me that the laser worked where the mixture that I use does not, but the hand laser alone will not do the job. By using both the mixture (Teatree oil 50%, Best-Yet 45 %, and a touch of Pinesol) and the hand laser I am able to get the mites to behave sort of. I still have outbreaks at times (about once a week or two) , but I am able to get the outbreaks under control in a relatively short time (usually in a day or two). I will see the doctor again in three weeks. I will ask him if I can also get Ivermectin (probably not though). Mike
Also note that demonex mites are a lot different than mange mites. Demonex mites are like ten times harder to get rid of, and the medicine that is used for mange demonex mites just laugh at! Demonex mites actually bury themselves into the skin. That is why I use BestYet which contains a skin penetrant with the mixture that I use. Mike
Ivermectin could be available from vet.
You want me to see a vet?
i have some best yet the spray stuff do you think i could take a bath in it? i have apple cider vinegar do yo uthink it will help im lost my skin is so bad all over just junk comeing out in groves…..help me please before i have a brakedown
The only thing that I found works for me is what I am doing. My mixture, SnoSeal, and a hand lazer. Even with this I still have outbreaks at times, but at least now I have it somewhat under control. Mike
In doing a search of recent scientific journal articles regarding rosacea, I came across something that was published even within this year (2010) regarding Demodex mites. I think you should be able to read it from this link (due to the original link being 856 characters long – according to Word – I’ve created a ‘tinyurl’. There’s a preview tinyurl link following it if you want to see the link before going there):
http://tinyurl.com/yhqgez2
http://preview.tinyurl.com/yhqgez2
In short, the piece concludes: “… at present, clinical description alone is insufficient to confirm a diagnosis of demodicosis, and the mites still have to be demonstrated in excessive quantities, whether by skin surface biopsy or scraping. So, there are still many questions to be answered, and yet there seems to be sufficient evidence at least to consider Demodex as a possible culprit when treating an otherwise unresponsive follicular rash”.
Dave
hi, check out face doctor products on http://www.facedoctor.ca
these products consists of soap and cream which kill the demodex mites, also demodex solution is another company providing products for mites and rocacea suffers.
some people claim that these products makes their face worse as they brake out in pimples or make their face go redder! this is meant to happen. when the mites begin to die they leave bacteria infecting the skin causing more redness or a brake out. this is called purging and it is important to continue to use the products and the brake out with subside and your skin will slowly become white after all majority of the mites are dead and the bacteria has left the skin. while on these products you should also drink lots of water at least 10 glasses a day, this will help with the purging and the water will flush alot of the toxins and bacteria out of the body. also find yourself a good brand of supplements to take, this will help boost the immune system and help fight the infection and bacteria.
i would like to hear from any one who has used these product with success.
My family and I bought a dog from a woman with severe rosacea. Weeks later we developed it too. That’s me, my 1.5 year old, and my 4 year old. I am trying to find something while the doctors tell me I am crazy about the demodex mites. What will these treatments on here which claim to work do to a little child? Meanwhile I can’t stand by and let her beautiful face scar up with this stuff. HELP!!!
Comment via email from Robert;
hi megan
yes dogs do carry these mights which can spread to humans. You need to book an appointment with a dermatoligist or a skin specialist and get a skin scrap test on you and your children, that test will tell you wether your children have mites, sometimes they use an eyelash and a microscope to discover mites. Your children might even have scapies which is another form of mites. As for using the face doctor product you can call them on
1-866-595-6497. i live in australia and facedoctor is in canada so you have to put the area code before the number so we in australia dial 001118665956497, they will tell you if its safe to use on young children. the scabies cream wich is sold all over the world but under differenr names contains 5% permethrin on the box it states you can put this all over a baby even on the face. be very careful with what you but on your kids skin i am not a doctor. as for your doctors telling you your crazy thats no suprise, not alot of doctors know about demodex mite and how it may cause rosacea. get ride of the dog and clean the hell out of your house, steam clean the carpet, and get ride of as much fabric as possible, mites love fabric and live in fabric, wash the bed sheets and pillows daily with hot water and put them in the dryer for a while, you can even buy mite proof pillows and sheets, buy some saught of mite and flea spray which kills mights for the house, but be careful because of the kids, you might even need to move out of home for a while find a good teratment for the kids and see if things get better. you dont have to listen to what im saying, like i said im not a doctor but im only trying to help.
first things first find a good skin specialist and get a test done, i know it sounds strange but your kids might have some other saught of problem or desease thats why you need to find a good skin specialist who may discover the true problem, its not going to be easy to fond a good specialist but keep looking. be very careful what you treat your kids with and put on their skin, keep them clean although do not use any average soap on there face, these saops contain harsh chemicals, dont use any creams unless your doctor says so or face doctor says so, average creans contains harsh chemicals which may worsen the condition, stay out of the heat and away from other people as it is catchable, and eat healthy foods and drinks, fruite, water etc. do not stress and stay calm, you do need to act fast and get the right answeres before things get worse. a good source of information is the internet, google demodex mites and rosacea and scabies and you get alot of good info. when treating youself and kids be patient, you may only see results within months, sometimes the condition will get worse when being treating this is ok, sometimes things get worse before they get better.
be very careful, find youself a good specialist before you do anything.
reply back if you need anything else.
I just found another Demodex research paper I missed that was published in 2006 by the British Journal of Dermatology:
http://tinyurl.com/y9bgta5
Its getting much worse. My face, ears, and neck are turning bright red and cracking. So are the kids. I can’t get in to a dermatologist until Friday. And if I get the you contracted Roseacea and it can’t be treated I am going to die. This is painful. And itchy. And now our dogs have this even though I got rid of the other dog. And our eyes are turning pink on the sides from being dried out I can feel itchy stuff in my scalp.
comment: I have rosacea and think it to be demodex, as well. I have noticed some characteristics about its behavior and think if the life cycle can be disrupted then adults will not mature etc.
I think an imperceptable cobweb is used by demo when laying its eggs. The eggs are attached tot he skin using the hair shaft on the face or neck as hitching posts of a sort. If one can disrupt the web and clean away the eggs then no new hatchings will occur. The eggs are very small but can be seen with the naked eye. The webbing is well hidden in dead surface skin cells.
The hatchlings move into the pore mature. They are sensitive to dessicants after hatching and while gestating I think. Once they have acheived maturity they tunnel into the skin deeply forming red canals that we see as capillaries. Bad infestations most like cause rhyoma(sp) wc fields nose.
I have tried a mixture of white vinegar and table salt to disturb the web and then packed my skin in table dalt before bed. In the morning I used a mild permethrin, one percent solution, in NIX hair rinse. I massaged it into the facial skin until the outer layer rolled and sloughed off. My skin was certainly clean of debris and dead skin cells but it is unknown if it will rid the skin of the demodex through attrition and if the cobweb is being removed.
I agree that the treatment with a five percent cream will work in combination with laser treatment. I am a little concerned about poisoning.
I have read the Eurax is effective also.
I think the demodex is misunderstood and can be seen as the honey bee using human skin pores as cells and also as a spider in its activity.
thank you for the treatment advice and will try it if this does not work.
Comment via email from Robert:
“hi,
get ride of all pets or take them to the vet to get cleaned, but the mites will continuesly come back so you should just get ride of them.
you can go to the doctors and ask for permethrin 5% cream which is scapies cream. this cream kills demodex mites, they should allow this on you and the kids, there may be a reaction or they may not but yourve got nothing to lose, maybe they have another cream to use (Sulphur). if you get the scabies cream use it once a week continuesly. skin may get worse while using this but this is common you may have to keep using it and things shall soon calm down. ask your doctor before you do anything and make shure its suitable for the kids. “
I got the kids to the doctor and they have seborreic dermatitus apparently. However I did order some items off of demodexsolutions.com. As soon as they arrived the web site is gone and I can’t get ahold of anyone to discuss return. Has anyone ordered this stuff or worked with the company? Is it a rip off?
Dr. Anderson says that demodex was found in children with blood disorders etc-may I comment that the ill health may cause an increase in parasites of all kinds. To suggest demodex is responsible is irresponsible. Bacterial and parasitic infestions of the immuno-compromised patient is probably common and not the cause.
Demodex is particulary difficult because it is of the arachnid group-a spider cousin. Spiders are not insects and require a differect pesticide-permethrin for humans is simply permethrin. Dog and cat shampoos have an esterase component and until demodex is taken seriously as an arachnid, and an additive to permethrin causing a disruption in life cycle then no effective treatment will be found in my opinion.
The elderly, the immune compromised, the allergy patient all have particular difficulties with this parasite. Dermatology needs to step up quickly and outside of dog wash I know of dnothing that will cure the problem-this is an arachnid and specialized poisons are needed. I am amazed that scabies responds readily to permethrin.
A simply cure is at hand if someone would find an interest. Demodex can cause illness and disfigurement. I am unsure the reason no treatment is available because we have known of this problem and I would think that any drug company would find it lucarative because it might very well be a cure for baldness in many cases. Cosmetic reason over health is always a good reason to do something?
Effective miticide w/butoximide?
OK y’all, here’s my thoughts. I have had worsening eye problems after Dx of ocular rosacea. Already knew I had rosacea on my face before that. Had punctal plug put in my tear ducts and that helped. Eyes kept getting worse. Started my research and found that by mixing TTO in shampoo, put a dab on a cotton ball & scrub my eyebrows & lashes 2x daily. At night I put castor oil on lashes & brows. Use an eye oint at night too. Simple as that. If I miss one day of my routine the burning starts up in my eyes. My eye doctor does believe that these demodex mites are a problem with some people, he believes it’s a reaction to the excrement of the mites. I have rheumatoid arthritis & take a lot of meds, 2 are weekly injectable, so I for sure have a compromised immune system. He said that’s the kind of problem that will cause the mites to overgrow. The mites are considered to be normal skin flora. So we’re never going to get rid of them forever. The idea should be to keep them controlled. BTW, you can buy ivermectin at Gebo’s here in Texas. But it’s injectable and that would be an awfully dangerous thing to mess with. I have friends that titrate it for prevention of heartworms in dogs. That kind of thing scares me. If u will keep looking I think you will find a dermatologist that would try ivermectin on you. I know it’s been done in humans. Just be careful. Melanie
hold on yall-one, you are probably all allergic to mites; two:Oracea holds promise from a bacterial point and may interfere with the reproduction cycle of mites; three: you are all probably allergic to staph bacteria even sterilized staph bac?; four: maybe avoid bee products as well for now;
Some do not live easily with this common pest and Oracea is probably the best thing going for now. Topical pyrerithins with butoxide maybe if doctor supervised only on both counts. Do a sebum biopsy with dermatologist to see what is present. Whatever you do do it with a very good doctor supervising.
my opinion-If you are exposed and have allergies wash in one percent NIX maybe if doctor says so…
best luck
Melanie, who the heck told you to put castor oil on your lashes? These guys will love it and castor oil can be a poison to humans I think. Did your doctor suggest that demo would NOT like the oil? It loves oils….
best
I am wondering if a possible link may exist between the people who have Demodex problems & the amount of sunlight (or lack) they are getting.
I have never had any allergies or any serious health issues, but I am now working indoors and for the past few years have not been getting very much sunlight.
I have read that Demodex does not like light (sunlight or artificial) so I now wonder if there may be a link between Demodex overpopulations & lack of Sunlight…
Are there any readers that get a lot of direct Sunlight and still have Demodex problems???
The seborehic dermatitis meds aren’t working and kids are getting swollen eyes and veins protruding in their cheeks and flushing red on their ears and cheeks. My whole family thinks that I am crazy now but I’m sure its these mites. Can anyone please help? How do we get rid of this when everyone thinks I’m nuts. I am actually in pain, my face stings, my eyes sting, the kids are in pain too. Please, I am desperate, almost suicidal here. I need help. Does anyone have something that will work on a young childs skin?
hi megan, i left my thoughts on the demodex mites above with a response from “ted” saying that these mites loved oil. well, i’m of course no scientist, but as an old country girl, i’ve been putting olive oil in my pets ears for 40 yrs to kill or at least control ear mites (oil – any- suffocates the mites) and i read on another section of this website about the castor oil. castor beans are toxic, deadly if eaten, but the oil isn’t dangerous. it’s what people took 50-60 yrs ago as a laxative. anyway, with small children, i’d try the Nix or Kwell from the drug store, even on skin. then the castor oil. that would be a pretty non-irritating routine. i’ve also read on here to dilute tea tree oil with macadamia nut oil (the only thing you can dissolve the TTO in) 1:1 and use on skin. put it on your skin first and make sure it doesn’t burn, just a little area on your arm. dilute more if it does. use that on the kids if the Nix/Kwell doesn’t work. i’ve learned to wash my eyes/eyebrows with shampoo with TTO and i swear by it. sometimes i mix up my own and i’ve also used the men’s TTO shampoos. Paul Mitchell shampoo with TTO is good. i have RA and am on Humira and Methotrexate shots weekly, so i have a very compromised immune system. my eye doctor said this mite problem worsens particularly in people with poor immune systems. he agreed with the routine i’ve been doing with the eyewashes and the castor oil. he didn’t say anything against the oil. hope you get relief from this, i know you are more worried about your kids than anything. Good luck and let us know how y’all are. melanie
I have just posted the ‘Solution’ to my Demodex Mite problem on the “Just How Do You Kill Demodex Mites” Forum (March 4, 2010).
Hey Guys,
This blog post is getting really long.
Can I tempt anyone over to the Rosacea Support Community Forum to store these discussions in an easier (and faster) to read way ?
You could try the new Demodex Mites Eradication sub forum. Feel free to start a new thread there.
Also, each person who registers for the forum can even create their very own blog to write their story and theories. See Want your own Rosacea Blog ? for info on how to do this.
Any takers ? Your thoughts would then be so much easier for others who come after you to follow.
thanks so much,
davidp.
Hey, I’m dor.
The doctor said that I have Demodex on my face or something,
He gave me lyclear… Is it safe to use it on the face?
The cream says that it used for Crab lice Scabies…
So what should I do?
And I forgot to mention that I have seborrhea and my face peeling in a weird way…
I found that oil applied to the face,in my case it was coconut(unscented) oil. Made the redness of my face clear up real fast,I’m starting on week 2 and it has reduced about 75-80% easily .
I mentioned this to a friend and her 90+YO mother uses vasoline,it works well for her ,she was told by her father…… Is it possible that the Oxygen to the mites is blocked enough to kill them …or something else ??? I am impressed to discover this by accident and to hear that it has been an old time remedy. …..David
Hello Dr. Anderson,
I came accross your article by researching demodex cures & I actually have purchased some sulfur based soaps & creams from a Dr. in China whom claims to have a cure for demodex mites. In researching different sites I read your article & it just feels good to know that I’m not hallucinating or better yet, that there IS light @ the end of the tunnel & that I WILL wake up from this nightmare….
I’ve seeked professional help through the past 10 yrs. I’ve been told I’m allergic to the sun(heat irritates my sking), that I may have eczema, not roscea. According to different dermatologists my case is mild & they have treated me w/ nystatin(antifungal), triamcinolone(anti-itch), bacitracin(antibiotic) ointments & they seem to contain the condition however as you might have guessed, the mites have become resistant & they re-occurs & have begun to spread more & more through out my face!
I’m am willing to take before & after pictures & become part or your success in diagnosing & treating this condition in lieu of helping myself & others to propertly diagnose & cures the desease once & for all…
Where can I find “Kwellada” & other ingredients & how do I administer them?
Pls. contact me at your very earliest convenience!!!
Desperately,
By the way, here’s the website where I purchased the sulfur based creams & soaps!
http://www.demodexsolutions.com
Here you will find face, body, hair & more treatments whom claim to either cure or maintain results…
Best of luck to everyone…!
Hi everyone,
Got a little confused also about the comment about not using oil on the skin. My mother has a friend who is in her 70’s and has had rosacea for many years. Her Daughter-in-law is a Derma Dr. and she has used nothing on her face but vasoline.Her skin looks really good. Need to talk to her and see if she has none other treatments. I’m sure everyone’s essential fatty acids are so out of balance and these mites have takenup home on our weak skin.
I’m so glad and greatful to everyone who has given info on what has helped them.
Take Care===
Maureen
Maureen, demodex lives on just about everyones skin-they are little cleaners in a way. The sebaceous glands in rosacea people may be overactive it seems. Try vitamin A and retin A perhaps if your dermo recs.
Not everyone has overactive sebaceous glands and rosacea it appears. Combinations of oily, dry, red etc types.
Live demo alone for the most part and work on clean skin and health overall. Good foods will help, water and exercise.
hi everyone, well i went to the derm the other day, told him about the demodex mites, and showed him my skin. again, third time i saw him, he looked at me like i was nuts, gave me the perethrin 5% and some steroid cream , i put it on last night, i really dont think this will help me….. i told him i wanted invermectin, he said one or the other , it cost 20.00 which i dont have. so i took the cream because my insurance paid for it. i keep seeing little white specks all over, im suspecting eggs. and i feel them crawling in my hair. ive been using tea tree oil too, and neem, not helping at all. its just getting worse. what a nighmere……..
well thanks for listening.
take care
dawn
I sat with a friend on a park bench, after a while we both felt an itch. We saw some dermatologist and tried Permathrin 5%, my friend is now cured after 2 months and never had much visible rash. None of us had any itch at night. I still have the problem after 6 months, it’s mostly on my legs with many tiny spots where my hairs grow or are supposed to grow. My legs become a bit swallen. It’s also visible as a few pimples in my face, but it took 5 months to reach my face.
I guess this is not really demodex? Dermatologists have no clue what it can be, tried 4 different ones.
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