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
186 Comments over 4 pages ↓
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.
It is good to find some support, here in the U.K. dermatologists look at me as though I am raving mad. I have another appointment at the Royal London on Monday.
Six years ago, we had several pets including 2 pet rats and a rabbit. We allowed the rats in the rabbit run outside. The rats caught something itchy from the straw. We found that all the pets and all the family were itching with crawly things. The beds, the sofa’s, clothes, shoes… The pet’s were treated by the vet with Ivermectin jabs. We were told by Doctors “I can’t see anything” and to go home and forget about it.
We use a glug of Dettol disinfectant in the bath, dilute Dettol on a cotton pad for face and body. I add bleach to white laundry loads and steam clean anything I cannot bleach. We find Olbas oil rubbed into the skin helps a lot.
While our bodies are much better, I have found nothing which works on my scalp. My head, face, eyes, ears are truly terrible with things walking around itching, biting etc. I have something like grains of sand coming out of the skin on my scalp. My pillows are a source of real problems – if I lay my head on the same pillow, itchy things drive me nuts.
After reading your advice, I intend to try Peroxide with Borox powder, ground cloves and some vitamin B. Thanks.
It`s insane that this (demodex ) problem is not considered solved yet! i just read 118 comments over years and all you have is some people try this and some try that! i thought the Topic was from Dr.Anderson and he said to try
A = Kwellada shampoo
B = Kwellada lotion (5% Permethrin)
C = Sulfacet face cream or equivalent antibiotic cream
and post results! what happened??? i read so many people saying “help” or “i am going to try this…” very few people said if the 3 listed solutions worked or not! this is insane i can not understand, its like a completely dysfunctional family. one guy post #22 a “VET” said” demodex is not Contagious from animal to human” another insanity. has he studied mites for years and he knows if they can or cannot mutate?he maybe is in the same category as a dermatologist who think you are crazy for finding the cause without having a certificate stating your a “know-it-all” in your field , when they are dead wrong! and your on the right tract to fighting the disorder. i am glad the VET was healed although his treatment was never discussed as proven to work on others yet either. i personally think the love of money is preventing the cure to be know , imagine the loss of sales if this mite were to be rid and was the cause of all sorts of acne, the problem rather is in the pharmaceutical/drug/ industry/etc! another guy post #25 fires a “DO IT AND DIE” BLOW TO DR.ANDERSON by stating some stupidity like “Kwell, Kwellada caused 17 deaths! the US government FDA (3 were positively caused by Lindane). DO NOT USE. THROW AWAY!” LOL-YOU FOOL! About 53,000 bicyclists have died in traffic crashes in the United States , so why dont you tell the WORLD THAT instead of ruining peoples possible solution of killing off this mite!?
Lets get back on track and see if,
A = Kwellada shampoo
B = Kwellada lotion (5% Permethrin)
C = Sulfacet face cream or equivalent antibiotic cream
works or not!
Out of all i read besides the MAIN solution
These seemed to be helpful but A,B and C should be tried first and post results.
Borax(also can add to shampoo),Niacinamide(Vitamin B-3)Sodium Ascorbate(viatimin),
and what about coconut(unscented) oil, or the guys grandama who uses vasoline that possibly cuts Oxygen to the mites? has anyone tried that?
i dont have very problem skin like many here, i just want to see people getting closer to the cure for this mite rather then more confused. you must post results for A,B and C!
i mean no disrespect to #119, but i am going to post my findings so far and i am not using any of the 3 items the original poster is testing.
my condition first began developing about 3 years ago as standard facial rosacea (diagnosed about 2.5 years ago). it progressed to chronic “non-responsive” folliculitis about 2 years ago, becoming very troublesome in the past year.
when originally diagnosed, the standard doctorly response for rosacea was to stay out of the sun and avoid hot showers, coffee, chocolate & spicy foods.
i am not trying to speak for all sufferers, but none of the above have been trigger factors for me in the least. i spent most of my life in the desert sun and only developed this condition 3 years after moving to the grey & drizzly pacific nw. i have consumed coffee & extremely spicy foods my entire life with zero issues- until 3 years ago- and abstaining from any of them has made zero difference in the condition. it flares and recedes at will. and i have found hot showers to be really quite soothing to my skin (the hotter, the better)
as a result, for some time i really did not take my rosacea diagnosis very seriously, thinking it was probably misdiagnosed and it was mild enough to hide under makeup & mostly ignore, even after it progressed to the bumps and pustules of so-called “adult acne”. i simply chalked it off to having reached the hormonal changes of mid-life. i also ignored the continual tickly sensations, as ive tended toward itchiness my whole life.
but in the past year, when the blemishy flareups began increasing to several new ones every day, and then to ulcerate and feel as though they were on fire, i realized i needed to face up to it (pardon the pun
and figure out what was going on.
let me tell you all, its hard finding good info when you dont know exactly what you are searching for! i found so many conflicting, or somewhat matching possibilities, but i kept ruling one thing out after another as thankfully nothing matched up completely- Thankfully, as a lot of what i found sounded truly horrible and scary!!
Finally, i discovered the term Demodex, saw immediately that everything i was reading matched what i am experiencing, and from there have been able to learn what exactly is going on under my skin (…ew), along with a new arsenal of possible solutions.
over the past year, ive tried out a lot of things, with varying results. altho, not antibiotics or prescription rx, preferring to reserve any of that for a last resort if all else fails. i believe i may have finally hit on a remedy that is right for me, and i will post it at the end of the list.
here is my list of different home remedies that i have gleaned off the net, posted by people for whom they have worked very well. i do not believe there is any “one-size-fits-all” solution as we all have highly individual constitutions and sensitivities… for anyone who is interested, i would suggest keep trying until you hit on one which truly works for you. also, i dont have any idea whether any of these truly kill the infestation off for good, or whether they are best used as long-term maintenance in the same way as the prescription rx is prescribed.
*HEAT (as in hot baths, hot weather, sunlight)- seems to deactivate, possibly reduce the overall numbers of mites for some people (as it has for me). for others, it only seems to stir the buggers up worse.
*DRYING (as in astringents, peroxide, sulfurs/sulfides, diatomaceous “fuller’s” earth, milk of magnesia, baking soda, calamine lotion, etc)- seems to kill off some, and many people report good success. unfortunately most of these are also very irritating to allready sensitized skin. none worked long term for me and i turned out to be extremely reactive to several (especially anything sulfur-based!) However, i LOVE baking soda as a substitute for deodorant/antiperspirant- and no more break outs in the ‘pits!
*SUFFOCATING (as in oils of any kind- coconut, olive, jojoba, etc, or even mineral oil or petrolem jelly)- believe it or not, oil tends to be very soothing in this condition. it smothers the little kreeps and helps keep them in check. my skin began doing better after i tossed out all my formula products in favor of plain old olive oil. some people report rave reviews of coconut (unfortunately, i reacted- altho, that could have been to sulfite residue from processing)
*ANTIMICROBIAL (as in TeaTree or menthols, Pine Tar, castor oil, red cedar, Sea Buckthorn oil, or NEEM oil, stevia, garlic, colloidal or seasilver, etc)- now here is where my personal success story starts. altho my skin reacted very badly to tea tree, pine oil and menthols, and nothing happened when i tried red cedar, when i hit upon blending olive oil with castor oil i began to notice real improvement. i am still using that on my legs and have not had any recurrences of the folliculitis there.
unfortunately, my face and scalp only got worse with each success elsewhere (i guess ive been chasing them ‘north’?), so i have kept searching and testing various remedies.
stevia cured the burning sensation, which was evidently secondary bacteria setting in, altho it seems to do nothing to the mites themselves.
i’ve not been brave enough to rub garlic on my face or scalp… and i would suspect silvers could be toxic so i placed them in the same camp with prescription medication, following my personal sense of caution.
that left Sea Buckthorn oil and Neem Oil for me to try…and guess what??? BINGO!!! IMMEDIATE RESULTS!!! ohhh are they ever stirred up, i feel the tickling a whole lot more… and i seem to be experiencing a ‘die-off’ reaction with swollen glands and vague flu-like symptoms, but every day my skin looks and feels soooo much better. yippee!!
now i am NOT claiming that this is a miracle cure-all. what i am saying is that 2 years of research and a year of intensive effort is finally paying off, i have found the things which work for me. YOUR solutions may be different- but KEEP WORKING AT IT. Neither Rosacea nor Chronic Folliculitis necessarily has to be irreversible. At least for some of us, it is due to Demodex mite infestations that have spiraled out of control… which means, it can be brought back into control. we probly all live with demodex, just like we all have yeast and bacteria. its when it overwhelms your body’s protective mechanisms that the problems arise. so KEEP TRYING, keep testing, keep researching… good things often come to those who persistently wait
CHEERS
btw… not sure how long the treatments have to continue, once you do find one that works for you…
i have had- and continue to have- great success with the protocol which works for me (washing face with Neem Soap, followed by Witch Hazel toner, then Sea Buckthorn + Ester-C oil, repeated morning & evening, plus the Sea Buckthorn applied anywhere there is any discomfort. plus washing hair with Neem soap at least every other day)
As long as i maintain this routine, i am having less and less problems with the buggers…
BUT- i had to go out of town this past weekend. and i didnt pack everything, thinking maybe i could get by just washing with whatever cleanser the hotel provided plus following with the Sea Buckthorn oil. an interesting experiment, with interesting results- by the time i got home 2 days later, my face had flared up and was red all over again! with several tingly new spots and even burning sensation in my chin! i could tell my body was fighting hard too, a gland under my chin became puffy and tender feeling, and the skin on my face just felt hot. so, a lot of inflammation.
thankfully, it receded quite well as soon as i was able to resume my usual protocol, in some ways i actually think my skin may even be looking better than before the weekend away – so, yay!
but it does appear that i am not close to being done with this yet. i can see that i need to learn more about the life cycle of the little kreeps, and how neem/witch hazel/sea buckthorn actually affects them. for me, its a protocol that has proven very effective- at least, so long as i keep it up with no variation…
would love to read the stories of others of you out there who have discovered your own successful methods of reducing or even eradicating Demodex- please post what you have learned in your journeys!
here is a link to another similar board with more good info:
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/12858/scalp-condition
good hunting to all!
This website saved my sanity once I found it after my cosmotologist confirmed mites during a facial. The first thing that I did was buy a new bed and sanitize (or throw out) all my bedding, including pillows. I vigorously vacuumed my bedroom and wiped down all surfaces. For my face, I narrowed down the suggestions posted to using tea tree oil and macademia nut oil in equal portions (and a few drops of something aromatic like lavendar). BUT the main reason that I no longer struggle with mites is that my cosmotologist used a facial treatment originally developed to remove facial hair. The alkaline wash therapy by Danne (with accent mark on the “e”) removes facial hair but it also kills mites and helps rosacea. I had to have a treatment every two weeks for a total of 4 – depending on the severity of your investation, it might take fewer or more. Check the DMK manufacturer’s website(http://www.dannemking.com/) to locate a clinic in your area that uses these products. The alkaline wash therapy works! Periodically I have the treatment now just for the peace of mind (and it’s very effective at toning down the rosacea)! Please note that I have absolutely NO connection to Danne other than being a fan of their products as used by my cosmotologist.
Thank you for your posting of this problem. I have felt like I was going crazy. Several nurse practitioners and a couple of MD’s threaten me with psychiatric diagnosis if ‘their’ treatment failed in spite of the biopsy results being positive. I am a nurse practitioner myself and studying for my PhD, so I said, ” I will find a solutiona myself”. I researched medical journals, the internet, the library and found limited practical information.
Special considerations in treatment choice: I have an enlarged liver with fatty liver disease, lots of allergies and asthma.
My symptoms: painful pimple eruptions on my scalp (especially on left side), forehead, ears, neck, back, and abdomen. Most of the eruptions have been in my scalp. A tickling sensation like something crawling across my skin which was followed in a few days with a new eruptions. My scalp became so infested at one point I ran a fever, had nausea, and nerve pain. I started having allergic rhinitis and asthma. Symptoms began in July 2010 while on a long road trip around the USA.
Treatments: Started with Rid shampoo every 7 days which reduced the population, but did not eradicate. Next I tried Permethrin cream every 7 days times 3, but again only reduced the symptoms, but did not stop them. Used tea tree oil in baby shampoo, approximately 2 to 5% solution, 50% solution in baby shampoo, and 100% solution. Finally, I had considerably reduced my symptoms. I bathed my entire body starting with my scalp with the 50% solution every 3 to 4 days leaving the solution on for 15 minutes. On the off days I would use the 2-5% solution. I would use the 100% solution directly on active sores applied with a cotton swab. I used this regime for 3 weeks, but still had some symptoms. I started shampooing daily with T-gel with the first shampoo, then followed with the tea tree 50% the second shampoo including the rest of my body. I initially would get wet then turn off the water and let the tea tree shampoo sit 5 plus minutes depending on symptoms. I continued with symptoms in my lashes and eyebrows. I started applying petroleum jelly to my eyes and brows before bed and would sleep with it on. I have been doing this regimen for 2 weeks with almost no symptoms. However, every time I lapse one day, miss a treatment or have increased stress, the symptoms return. I have been changing my pillow case daily and my sheets every 3 days, washing in hot water. I put on a mattress cover and pillow covers to prevent allergies and mites about 2 weeks ago. Also to note my symptoms decreased significantly when I cut my waist length hair to 1/2 inch about 2 1/2 weeks ago.
I don’t know if this will help anyone, but it has helped me.
hi jeanne,
was wondering about all that TTO…im so glad you have landed on something that works, and believe me i well understand how frustrating the search for healing is! but- and i am not clinically trained so maybe i am totally misunderstanding the research- but, can’t tea tree compounds build up in the liver or kidneys as a result of being absorbed through the skin? (likewise the Rid, Nix or Permethrin) …could you be at some risk of potential toxicity? especially with a liver condition already?
i cant use TTO meself, i seem to be allergic to something in it. i have the same problems with anything Sulfur or Salicylate based as well, it just causes the whole problem to flare up amazingly worse.
the one that has been the most consistently beneficial for me personally has been Neem Oil, altho i understand it too is recommended at 3 weeks on/1 week off. a naturopath suggested i try Black Walnut for the in-between times but i havent done it yet…
Sea Buckthorn worked wonders for about 3 weeks, then gradually diminished until it seemed to have no lasting effect, likewise the Witch Hazel once seabuck started to go. so ive had to keep experimenting
users on another website recommended soaking in a bathtub of hot water, with varying amounts of 20 mule team borax (NOT boric acid) and 1%-3% Hydrogen Peroxide. that has been very soothing and ive noticed that my hands and arms look like my own again, instead of belonging to some 80 year old lady (i am only 40+)
i’ve also started rinsing my hair (after i wash it with my Neem bar) with a solution of about 1Tbsp Borax or Baking Soda plus 1c. 3% Peroxide, diluted with 2 more cups warm water. i am LOVING the way my hair and scalp look & feel right now! (even seeing new sprouts- hooray)
anyway, just wanted to offer these as possible ideas for switching over if you do get where you feel that the TTO is losing its efficiency or worse, building up internally
wishing you all success- cheers!
You are exactly right. It probably isn’t a good thing for long term use. I have been able to back off quite a bit. Petroleum jelly has done a good job of slowing them down if you can stand it. I slathered the areas of most activity with it at night. Those little suckers can’t move very well in all that petroleum jelly. Because they have to come out of the hair follicle to reproduce and their life cycle is only two weeks, essentially, if you are consistent for two weeks, their population should be considerably less. I am feeling much better.
I have type 2 rosacea on my nose, and read about demodex folliculorum with interest. I found a website which suggested a herbal remedy.
I have problems with these; they come in two classes;ineffective, but a nice little earner for somebody; or, effective but untested and therefore unsafe. However, the stuff, tea tree oil, actually had a literature , and seemed to be a safe insecticide and antiseptic if applied to fairly small bits of skin.
For me, it works, and is brilliant. It took a month, and I imagine that the life cycle of the weevil must be about a month; perhaps their eggs can lie dormant.
In the UK, a 15% ointment costs £4 or so, and lasts and lasts. This may be too strong, as there is transitory discomfort if it gets on your lip.
Hi There,
just found your website and very curious. I was diagnosed with rosacea a couple of months ago by my dermatologist.
I thought it was the condition but wanted it confirmed and went for a consultation. For 4 moths I had been trying everything natural under the sun without any improvement.
I received a prescription for metrogel and erythromycin, metrogel $189.00 erythromycin $10.00. Anyway within a week pretty much got it cleared. However not wanting to stay on antibiotics was curious and did a web search.
I found a stray cat who has moved in and I adore but have had impetigo from her twice and was wondering if my skin issue might be related. i wanted to know where to get the Kwellada from. I also know that a couple of plants are high in pyrethrins chrysanthemum and marigolds due you think these might work?
I truly wish you the best I think you are onto something here.
With best regards
Simon Nicholson
Los Angeles California
Hello. Human mites and cat mites are very different! When I first started having demonex I put my cat down thinking that he could have given me the condition. I found out later that that could not have happen. Mike
mike, i am very sorry that you felt you had to put your cat down… that must have been such a hard decision…. i expect your poor kitty must have also had other health problems you didnt mention here, for you to feel that euthanasia was the only option…
but while it is uncommon enough that most vets and human drs assume it cant happen, there actually is a certain amount of crossover under circumstances that are conducive enough… mainly when there is low enough immunity in pet or in owner.
theres more than one person on this board who have no doubt whatever that they got the condition from their pet, and in my own case- i seem to have given mine to my cat!
you see ive been fighting my own demodex overgrowth for quite awhile (i developed rosacea about 2 years ago). my 3 year old cat on the other hand had absolutely NO health problems until some brainiac in our neighborhood poisoned all the voles. my kitty the vole hunter managed to recover from her secondary poisoning, but has been itching & scratching non stop ever since
all i can figure is that the opportunistic little buggers left one sinking ship for another… my kitty & i are forever rubbing noses, she is very affectionate and always right in my face so there was always plenty of opportunity… but it took her immune defenses being so badly damaged by the vole poison to allow crossinfection to occur.
right now i am just keeping an eye on her to see if her defenses become strong enough again to kick the infestation on her own, but plan to get help from the vet as soon as a bald spot appears, or even a thin patch really.
meanwhile, im having great success with my rosacea with the treatments i mentioned in my last post- the redness and pustules are totally gone at this time, nose still swells a bit but only in the mornings, and the secondary bacterial lesions (demodex carry bacillus which gets released during die-off) are FINALLY clearing up- HOORAY!! my reflection actually looks like someone i know again!
dont know how long this treatment will have to be maintained but i plan to start experimenting with days off once the last 4 lesions finish healing….
for anyone interested, here’s the therapy that has been so successful for me:
**WASH 2X/day, on rising & before bed, with either Neem oil soap, or pure olive oil soap with a few drops Neem oil added. Rinse very well & blot dry (dont rub)
**SCRUB: but not every day- about 3x/wk i added a bit of 20mule-team Borax (NOT boric acid!) to my wash- it really destroys the little kreeps. but too much is very hard on your skin so be careful not to overdo it with this.
**TONE: a mild astringent is needed at every wash until your skin stops producing so much oil. you will know when it starts to feel too drying. Witch Hazel is what i use most, but for awhile i was using 3% Hydrogen Peroxide diluted to 1% (3-1 ratio).
**OIL MASSAGE: this part is absolutely essential! yes, i do know it goes against conventional western medical wisdom. i actually appealed to wisdom GOD gave the ancients for this one… plant & animal oils from our Creator have been used for skin healing since the very beginning. we just forgot. The oils i have come to rely on most are: Neem & Rosemary in a Castor/Olive oil carrier. there are lots of others, such as Bitter Almond, Bitter Orange, Black Walnut, Clove, Oregano, Sea Buckthorn, Myrrh, RedCedar etc. many people really find relief in Melaleuca/Tea Tree oil tho i personally react quite badly to it. be forewarned, a number of these oils are very powerful, so educate yourself on the properties of each & use wisely. The key to success with this is to find the ones that benefit YOUR skin the most, and massage, massage, massage. its got to really get into the pores. i have been doing this since September, and had fewer & fewer pustules since i started… currently ive had no demodectic/rosacea papules or pustules in nearly 2 weeks. and no facial itching either. however, if you do develop the secondary bacterial skin problems like i did, oils do nothing for that. instead, you need:
**HEAT: i dont know if this part would be a good idea to try before the demodex inflammation has gone, but it has worked wonders for the bacterial part. once the demodex started dying off in serious numbers, the released bacillus bacteria caused a whole new kind of skin problem- big fat red blood-filled things. there is a fancy medical name which i cant remember at the moment, but basically my body was trying its best to encyst the bacteria but the bacteria seemed to be infecting the cysts. yuk! Rosemary oil helps some, but aiming a blowdryer at my face until its hot as i can stand it once or twice a day- thats done the trick. the next day after i first did this, the bumps were down by half. now they are almost flat, smaller, and much less painful. and no new ones since i started heat treatment 5 days ago, yippee! some people ive read use steam instead. for me, the dry heat has been most soothing and healing.
also, if the buggers are spreading beyond your face (mine did): rub oil EVERYWHERE you itch! demodex die off quicker below the neck but they can really make you crawl all over first. an old home treatment for Scabies (another mite) is hot baths with 3% Peroxide and 20MuleTeam Borax, soak at least 20 min, 3x week or more if needed.
if they get in your ears (mine are still)- go ahead and swab daily with one of your oils, ie Neem, Rosemary or Castor. DO NOT use Clove in your ears tho, it is much much too strong.
if they get in your hair (mine have, and caused a lot of hairloss) forego shampoo and wash your hair with your Neem bar. several times a week apply a cleansing scrub made with 20MuleTeam Borax and diluted 3% Peroxide, leave on while you soak, then rinse very well. unfortunately, you might hate the way your hair manages but remind yourself that at least you’ll be killing off the ‘roots’ of your problem
finally, think about INTERNAL PARASITE CLEANSING: if your infestation is as bad as mine has been, what you see on the outside may be mirroring more going on in your insides! nothing i tried was very effective until i began taking cleansing herbs to kill this problem from the inside out. there are a number of different protocols, but here is what seems successful so far for me: concentrated Neem caps 2x/day, alternated with BlackWalnut/Wormwood tincture 2x-3x/day, plus a high potency probiotic to rebuild good gut flora. and lots and lots of water to flush the system! again, these are powerful herbs, so whatever you try, be sure to thoroughly educate yourself first.
Above all, Listen to your body, and Seek Wisdom- we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made” and our Creator surely knew what HE was doing when HE put a multitude of plants that heal us into the same world where HE also placed us.
blessings, all!
btw, when i said i was alternating neem caps2x/dy with blackwalnut/wormwood 2x/dy, i meant ALTERNATING DAYS, i wouldnt recommend anything more powerful than that unless you’ve really done your research first…
for anyone thinking that internal parasite issues really may need to be addressed in order to heal, i highly recommend the following board, lots of very knowledgeable folks there:
http://www.curezone.org/forums/f.asp?f=649
These tips sound like a God-send. I am having terrible problems with the demodex mite on my face, in my hair, and then seemingly falling off and biting me on my feet and back. Does this sound plausible to all of you?
Help !
At this time I am trying something completely new, and it seems to be working! I must give it time before I can say for shure. I mean what I was doing was working for maintenance, but what I am doing now seems to be eradicating them. Mike
What I am using is: 25% Treetea Oil, 25% Cedar Oil, 25% Lemongrass Oil, 25% Best Yet (for penetration), and a touch of Lavender for smell. It works!
Hello again. It is still working. The bad areas in my eyebrows have scabed up, and are drying up. I believe it is the lemongrass oil plus the “BestYest” oil that is doing it. I am also taking Vitamin B-2. A lot of people with Rosacea are also Vitamin B-2 deficient in their skin. Vitamin B-2 helps in the metabalism of oils in the blood. The mites feed on oils under the skin. Actually, the formula that I am right now using is: 25% Lemongrass, 25 % Teatree Oil, 37 % “BestYest,” 13 % Pure Cedar Oil, and a touch of Lavender for smell. To buy “BestYet” go to cedarcidestore.com, and the rest of the ingredients can be bought on Ebay. You can buy a small spray can of “BestYet” (4 oz.) for $9.95 plus shipping. Everything is very inexpensive, especially since we all spent hundreds on other products! I am very hopeful that this is the ticket! Right now it is working better than even Ivermectin. Mike
It still seems to be working. Mike
Hello again. Not only am I taking Vit. B-2 twice a day, but I am also appling Vit. B-2 to the exterior skin as well. I must say that I am having phenomenal success with all that I am doing right now. I hope that it stays this way. Mike
It still seems to be working. I am also using Snoseal on very troubled areas, where mites feed, all day long with the formula. These areas are becoming normal. Mike
Also, I have added lemon oil with the formula. This is working.
It is still working, and the mites are becoming less and less. Mike
Ocular Blepharitis is what the ophthamologist said I had after I got a bad eye infection post op cataract surgery. He also said I had rosacea. Once I was diagnosed with demodex on my akin. So treatment starts tomorrow. These articles have been very helpful. I am convinced that I have demodex blepharitis & rosacea. For another condition I need to take a tylenol & codein for pain. Within a half hour my skin gets itchy & crawly and my stomach burns with hunger. My eyes itch as does my head and eyebrows as well as lashes. I wonder if those little mites are getting stoned on the codeine. Any comment
Hello Barbara. Many things that I have tried have made my mites misbehave, but do nothing in so far as to eradicate them. Mike
I have read extensively on this subject over the years given my layman’s interest in science, medical reporting and dermatopathology. There are several studies that need to be conducted in addition to the necessary proposed study stated above. (I will state them below as a suggestion to anyone in the established medical community as I do not believe that this condition is incurable and will also state that I believe that the erythema that occurs in patients may be attributed to an allergic reaction to the mite itself. As you may well know, the majority of humans have demodex (except for newborns) but because the mite originates in the intestinal tract and many people who have rosacea may have high yeast loads which increase sebum production in the sebaceous glands, it may also be worthwhile to run a study that focuses in on Gastroesophageal reflux disease patients who have rosacea given that a significant number of rosacea patients do test positive for Helicobacter Pylori. What I am implying here is that our intestinal tract plays host to so many microorganisms that may or may not have a connection to rosacea. I’d love to see an indepth study on this subject of yeast and h-pylori to see if it correlates to demodex humana mite activity. Another study that would be beneficial is to see the elimination of all oil based products and glycerin and soaps (to be substituted with a soap free/ glycerin free/ alcohol free hypoallergenic cleansing alternative) from patients with rosacea to see if the skin of rosacea patients can adjust its ph on its own and to see if there are histamine reactions in the skin occuring from mite activity that may be decreased by removing allergens far more intensively. It is my belief that after a certain period of time the sebaceous glands would produce less oil if topical allergens which may disrupt ph are reduced. Mites need their oil to live in the sebaceous glands but if people can find Borage Oil 1000 mg capsules (without glycerin)to take internally… that may cut down on sebum production. (yet another study there!) So for the kind doctor who took an interest in actually thinking outside of the box, you are thanked in this forum…
Thanks Bonana,
I, too, believe God always has the cure. I’m going to follow up on your (after my dad already told me) suggestion regarding olive oil. Interesting, he likes Vaseline Intensive Care lotion too (petrolatum indeed helpful perhaps). He doesn’t “seem” to have rosacea but he’s very good about doing whatever God tells him to do so maybe he’s prevented any symptoms.
God Bless You.
Jesuslove,
Jeanette
best medical options for facial demodex mites:
1. metronidazole 250mg 3X/day for 2-3 weeks (can be combined with topical metrogel .75% 2X/day)
2. topical permethrin 5% 2X/day-6 weeks
3. topical crotamiton 10% 2X/day- 1-2 weeks
4. ivermectin 9-12 mg single dose which is repeated in 7 days
A search on Pubmed will bring up many articles referencing the above treatments. Doctors all over the world recognize the role of demodex mites in Rosacea/ rosacea like facial eruptions. Antibiotics other than Metronidazole may seem to help temporarily because they decrease the Bacillus bacteria associated with the mites. However, Metronidazole is the best option if you are going for complete remission. Obviously some people may prove resistant to Metronidazole and Ivermectin is another option.
After using any antiacarid treatment you need to strengthen your immune system and overall health to avoid a relapse. My own personal experiences have taught me that these mites love sugar, moisture, sebaceous oil, and a weakened host. The demodex are always present on our skin but there must be a shift in health or skin condition that leads to an increase in numbers or the level of your reaction to them. Use of corticosteroids (systemic of topical), sever illness, malnutrition etc can be precipitating factors.
A good sleep schedule, low sugar/whole foods diet, and regular excercise goes a long way in the fight. I have also found that saturated fats are far better for cooking and consuming (stick to butter, coconut oil, and MCT oil). Avoiding processed foods as much as possible is vital. Demodex mites love when you eat potato chips, fried food, and other oily snacks as well as anything high in sugar. We will always be a host to parasites but you must tip the balance in your favor by eating and living in a healthy manner.
Hi everyone.
I am from Ukraine and have the same problem as most of you do. Its name is Demodex.
I’ve been trying to get rid of it for 2 years, had some improvements but then again I found my face itching and covered with acne.
I am going to try the A, B, C treatment and I need your help, guys.
Can anyone tell me what is ‘C = Sulfacet face cream or equivalent antibiotic cream’?
I mean I live in Ukraine and I really don’t know how to find it here.
I also buy some stuff from the UK eBay, so if anyone could tell me the names of some creams I can find there I’d be very greatful!
Thanks!
Kate.
I was diagnosed with GERD a couple of years ago because of my stomach problems that the above writer wrote about. I have for the past ten years suffered from demodex mites, but did not know what it was. I do know if you let it go it goes from external to internal. I have been losing hair, wake up with junk in my eyes that take a warm washcloth to get out. Large pores on my face. Red bumps on my face that are NOT acne. I find what feels like sand granules on my body at times. It started with the itching at nighttime. The horrible, kill me now itching. Diagnosed incorrectly with dermatitis. Dr. Ortmeyer said there was nothing she could do. It was incurable. I cried for days. I have been researching on my own and have found things that seem to reduce the symptoms. Seabuck Thorn Soap (any brand, but I use Aubrey’s). Something that really helped me was Epsom Salts. One cup in my bath water. They really hate that stuff. I’m not sure why. I think it’s some sort of drying agent. A couple of important comments. JP mentioned not getting enough sun might be part of the problem. I tend to agree. This disease does not affect children as much. Why? Because they are always playing outside. I seldom go out in the sun, especially now because I have developed a sensativity and it feels like the sun is burning my skin now. Also, my boyfriend developed the same problem and it went away when he moved to florida and started working outside. He said he was sweating and itching for three days and then nothing. It was gone. My two sons are constantly working out and riding bikes. They have exprienced minimal problems. I think that demodex mites hate salt. When you work out and sweat they cannot live long in that environment. Anyway, this has felt like a curse to me and I thank God for you all. I promised God I would write to let everyone know of things that helped me. Here’s to a pest free life! PS Will try Neem soap and that 20 mule power stuff.
PS Was tested for hpylori and was found negative numerous times. Also negative for intestinal parasites. Tested positive for gastro peresis. Seeing a chinese medicine doctor who seems to helping with those issues.
I read your post. You do not have demodex mites. Have you ever found one with a microscope?? You have morgellons disease.
Hi, Simon Nicholson here,
I am not really good at writing so please forgive my english grammer mistakes.
I posted a while back on October 21 2010,….. that was a while ago … and have to date for the most part cleared the Roseacea.
So in a nut shell this is what I did ……. tried many cleansers, but my skin got dry, tight and itchy, reviewed natural products ( that is my thing ) but the metrogel really helped.
After all my trial and errors I ended up using Aubrey Organic Sea Buckthorn cleanser for dry/combination skin. Gosh so soothing and non tightening. I also tried Aubreys Rose Mosqueta cleanser for dry skin but it just made me itch. I tired the Sea buckthorn toner ….. to drying ….. they said it was not …. and the moisturizer …. too greasy. THE CLEANSER WORKED FOR ME. Truly this is a place to start.
I then researched carrier oils for problematic skin and ended up at a website in the U.K that specialized in organic plant oils. It might be possible that Rosacea is a skin condition where there is an inability to process and utilize essential fatty acids. Sea buckthorn is loaded with them!
So I bought ….. Kiwi seed oil and Arctic blueberry seed oil from the U.K. , and organic Hempseed oil from Whole foods all loaded in omega 3 oils ( they are oxidative sensitive ) so need to stabilized with vitamin E . I mixed a combination of anti inflammatory essential oils, helichrysum, lavender, blue tansy, and manuka essential oils and my skin loves it.
I am pretty clear now, on occasion I get an itchy bump and use my metro gel on the spot, I also made a clay mask from green clay, green tea ,white willow bark, adding essential oils. If I think I am going to get a flush and itchy episode i mix this with oils and a hydrosol and make a very gentle mask.
In the initial stages of my problems I thought that it might be to do with demodex bugs ( doctors told me this was not true ….. I didn’t believe them at the time ) but now believe this is an internal, … inappropriate …. inflammatory response that i am dealing with. Gosh am I defensive and angry, who knows!
So todays date is April 30th 2011, Skin was slightly itchy this morning used my oil and have used an essential oil hydrosol every couple of hours, …… looking good. Skin is looking perfect and great.
Not sure what tomorrow may bring but today …. skin is good ….. no metro gel …
Truly I will keep experimenting and keep you all posted
I am going to document my journey ,with this …. lets say this skin condition is an inconvenience but there is a lesson here that I guess I have to learn it………
I want to and will share whatever I find, together we are a a circle that has a beginning and can only find the end
Thanks for listening to me
Simon