Demodex mites and rosacea seem to be a popular, if not controversial pairing. Even there is no proven link between rosacea symptoms and the presensce of demodex mites, many rosacea sufferers are interested in eliminating demodex mites to see if your rosacea symptoms improve.
So just how can you kill them ? Demodex mites are tiny, and live naturally in everyone’s skin. They are quite difficult to kill.
Read on if you’d like to know more about how to elminate demodex mites.
First of all, why would you want to eliminate them ?
There may be some new evidence that proteins from a bacteria that can be isolated from demodex mites cause an immune reaction in rosacea sufferers. I’m still not a believer in the involvement of these critters in rosacea. Just in case more evidence is found in the future, though, demodex mites are worth further understanding.
Demodex mites have a life cycle of 14-18 days.
Killing Demodex Invitro (in the test tube)
We know from the paper In vitro and in vivo killing of ocular Demodex by tea tree oil, that various oils and solutions can kill demodex mites quite quickly in the test tube.
| Solution | Demodex Kill Time |
| 100% alcohol | 4 minutes |
| 50% tea tree oil | 15 minutes |
| 100% tea tree oil | 4 minutes |
| 100% carraway oil | 4 minutes |
| 100% dill weed oil | 14 minutes |
Note that carraway oil and dill weed oil are toxic to the eye.
Studies have also confirmed that ether, xylol, benzene, Danish (compound polysulfide ointment) ointment can kill demodex in a few minutes.
Ivermectin
Ivermectin is used in dermatology against some parasitic infestations in humans. The drug is used in the treatment of patients with different forms of scabies, human body lice, head lice, demodecicosis, et. al. Published literature includes a case study of one patient who was treated with topical permethrin and oral Ivermectin. In another case report of one patient, the papules and pustules of rosacea were difficult to treat until oral ivermectin was included in the treatment regime.
Several rosacea sufferers on the rosacea-support email group report success in treating their rosacea with Ivermectin, but the benefits were only short lived.
Ivermectin (Stromectol, Mectizan, Ivomec, Oramec, Cardomec) has been patented as a treatment for rosacea.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil is sourced from the Melaluca tree which is native to eastern Australia. Tea Tree Oil has been shown to kill demodex mites in as little as 4 minutes. External application of undiluted tea tree oil and/or at inappropriate high doses has been associated with toxicity, including death, in cats and other animals.
There is so much interest in the properties of tea tree oil that a research group has been created within the School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences at The University of Western Australia.
In a recent study, TTO was used to eliminate demodex mites living in the eyelashes of ocular rosacea sufferers. Study participants were given weekly lid scrubs with 50% tea tree oil and a daily lid scrub with a tea tree shampoo. After six weeks all 6 participants showed improvement in conjuctival irritation and inflammation.
TTO is not soluble in water, but is soluble in alcohol, but sadly that would be unsuitable for use around the eye. Tea Tree Oil can be diluted 50% in Macadamia nut oil for use around the eyes. Lid scrubs with 50% Tea Tree Oil did produce irritation in the participants but the effect was found to be minimised if care was used to avoid spilling it into the eye.
Full strength tea tree oil should never be used anywhere on the face.
Kwellada/Elimite (Permethrin)
Back in 2000, Annette Anderson advocated using Permethrin 5% on the face to eliminate the mites. Permethrin was originally used to treat scabies. She warned that getting it in your eyes burns terribly and that the instructions mention that you should not use it on your face. A few members of rosacea-support had bad reactions to using permethrin on their face, so use Permethrin with extreme care. In the U.S., 5% Permethrin (Elimite Cream) is only available by prescription.
If you are considering Permethrin in any form it would be wise to consider Dr. Linda Sy’s advice to “solicit the cooperation and supervision of their respective dermatologists, get a KOH skin scraping to establish the presence of florid demodex population … Participants try the Permethrin on a small area of face first, to determine if any immediate severe problem exists”.
Seabuckthorn Oil
Despite claims on various internet sites, I have not been able to find any published evidence that Seabuckthorn oil kills demodex mites. If you know of some evidence, please post in the comments below. In the meantime, please disregard any claims that you find that Seabuckthorn Oil kills demodex mites.
A natural approach
For those interested in a more natural approach to treating rosacea including using Olive Leaf Extract and Tea Tree Oil see Rachelle’s Alternative Treatments for Demodex Mites.
Over to You
Have you tried any treatments to eliminate demodex mites ? Did you have a bad reaction them ? any suceess ? Feel free to leave a comment below.
Related Articles
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- Ivermectin Patents
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700 Comments over 15 pages ↓
David M,
You can try Ivermectin paste – 1.87% rubbed on your face. The first time I tried it, I had immediate relief from my ocular symptoms. I kept it up and then phased it out. Then I had another bad eye flare up and ivermectin did nothing. I figured it must not be the mites for me. I went to Super Supplements and bought raw organic honey. I rubbed it all over my eyes making sure to get it into the lashes and margins. I also started washing my face twice to 3 times a day with the honey. No other soaps. I keep putting honey on my eyes and sleeping with it on my eye. I rub it into the rosacea areas of my face and leave it on for a couple hours then rinse it off. My eyes cleared up in 2 days and my face is gradually looking better and better. I also eat a teaspoon or 2 of the honey. Some people swear by manuka honey but I have had good luck with Garden of Life’s raw honey. I recently found a good website called Dancing Bee Acres and they have a combo product I just ordered with raw honey, bee pollen, propinol and royal jelly. All are supposed to be wonderful immunity boosters as well as some sort of natural antibiotics. I also put on an oil of oregano cream called Oreganol that I noticed later has honey in it as well as many soothing ingredients. But be careful, it can sting badly if you are flaring or sensitive. But after the pain subsides, it feels really good.
I would not try a bunch at once. Start with washing with honey and the honey mask. Then add oil of oregano cream. You can also buy oregano pills by the same manufacturer. Also, make sure you use a sunscreen with no chemicals and that has a high zinc level.
Good luck.
Hello David M. At times I have demonex mites get into my eyes. What works for me is a mixture put into the eyes consisting of one teaspoon Boric Acid into four ounces of boiling water (let cool to lukewarm before applying). Hey guys, I found something that works better at night for me on my face! I first put down ZZ cream, and then I put SnoSeal over on top of it. During the day I use my other mixture (#289 this page). I have been putting off using Ivermectin (Rx), because this is working well for now. Actually, since ZZ cream costs so much I mix up my own batch. I found out the ingredents and cooked up some. It works the same. I now have enough to last for many many years. ZZ cream doesn’t work so well otherwise for me (just at night under SnoSeal (especially for the eyebrows). Mike
Tamara, how are you doing now? what products are you using?
and Marc what is the exact sno-seal product you use?
I would like to try the snoseal over the ZZ cream but (given what i’ve read of the ingredients) not sure the sno-seal is safe (unless you use the protech cream?)
thank you both,
Grace
Tamara, how are you doing now? what products are you using?
and Mike what is the exact sno-seal product you use?
I would like to try the snoseal over the ZZ cream but (given what i’ve read of the ingredients) not sure the sno-seal is safe (unless you use the protech cream?)
thank you both,
Grace
Since my last post I’ve seen another dermatologist. He looked at me as if I was mental when I talked about demodex….!
He refused to prescribe me Ivermectin, but he did very reluctantly give me topical permethrin. I haven’t yet used it, as I’m cautious about reacting to it – I’m fearful of making my skin worse with a reaction rather than better. He made it clear that his number one recommendation for me was roaccutane, something else which has potential downsides that scare me.
Can anyone share their experience of topical permethrin, including any reactions? Or roaccutane for that matter?
Also, does ‘UK ANON’ still use this site? I was very interested in your posts from this time last year. I also live in the UK, and have been using the same teatree ointment that you spoke of – I’d love to here how you’re doing now.
Best wishes to everyone here. This is an absolute b*stard of a condition, it’s been life changing for me, and obviously not in a positive way! Any sufferer has my sympathy.
do yourself a favor and try the ZZ Cream by Demodexsolutions. Give it 3 months and don’t stop no matter what. Also read the site’s forums to learn how others have used successfully (what they moisturize with, etc).
I don’t think you’ll be sorry. just don’t quit if it gets bad awhile first. not a cure but helps.
that’s all i’ll say about it.
Hi Janice,
I have heard from some of my neighbors who use niacin for their Cholesterol, but I think he uses the non-flush form which is niacinamide. Also read that high doeses of niacin can damage your liver.
Be careful.
~Maureen
Hi David,
Your story is amazing. Smoking is harmful to us all but how weird is that relationship with Benzene in regards to Rosacea.
Thanks for sharing your story
Maureen
Thanks, Maureen, I’ll be careful. I was taking the high dose niacin on the advice of my doctor for another problem. I would hope a much lower dose of niacin would be effective against mites.
I think I was one of the first to realize that I was infected by mites n the summer of 2004.
I saw a picture and knew right away this was my problem.
Six years or continual treatment has been very positive.
I think, with my method, I kill them on mass with a full assault and then paid a price for them dying in my skin.
Anyway, it depends on how long you have had them and what damage have they caused.
Just previous to my sudden outbreak I looked pretty normal, although my face and hair were changing.
Anyway I lot of dead mite and shit has to come out if they have been there long. I was 38 when I found out and had been probably had them since I was a kid.
All my old scars really flared and a tone of shit came out.
Bottom line:
I no long itch, anywhere,
I no longer has red, runny, watery eyes full of grit (know what the sandman is?),
my face has thinned, I have my cheekbones back,
I have a much thicker and fuller beard. After the dead mites came out it really filled in.
my eyelashes don’t fall out all the time,
my hair is growing back (slowly but it is).
So I say kill em’
Use whatever you can, but know it will be a long time to see good improvement. I struggled for years and only in the past year can I really see the very end of the recovery (remember: the worse you are the more you can recover).
I now use seabuckthorn soap and a tea tree oil creme overnight. SBT oil does work, all you have to do is try it when you are bad with itch (leave for a full 2 minutes and gently scrub with a defoliator) and you can feel that the itch is gone. I will be back when the next ones pop out to mate, but it did kill some.
Anyway, that’s my story.
Dex
that’s all you did Dex? seabuckhorn oil and tea tree cream?
what is the name/brand of the cream, exactly?
did you change your diet or use anything else?
thank you!
Grace,
In the beginning I did everything I could including permitherin. This is why I think I went to far to fast.
You have to be careful not to cause a die off in your skin. It is better to go slow and kill them as they come to the surface to mate. You need to gently exfoliate every time to leave the pore open for the next round to come out. If they cannot get out all the eggs hatch and an eruption will occur.
When I realized I had mites I went online looking for something to kill them. I found FaceDoctor soap and it was available in my local drug store so I used that. It took the itch away, so I knew it worked, but it is expensive and also a Chinese product and I don’t really trust Chinese products so I switched to Seabuckthorn International. They are Canadian and about half the price. I now use their shampoo bar over my whole body and head/hair.
At night I use a Tea Tree Oil skin Creme by Derma E. This has worked well, but remember this will take time.
Hope this helps,
Dex
i just have to speak up here, as one who’s suffered from this disease for 2 years after 34 years of perfect skin. I’ve seen 14 of NYC’s “best” doctors and spent thousands on RX, holistic and over the counter remedies. also spent days and nights researching remedies, diets, “cures”, medicines, etc.
if by the “Chinese cream you don’t trust” you mean ZZ Cream by Demodexsolutions let me tell you: it’s been the ONLY thing that’s helped me get a grip on my condition at all.
but one MUST get through the tough part, which usually takes a few weeks. and must find a way to moisturize while doing so, as it will dry your skin (but so do many treatments). it takes patience and faith.
thank God i had Walter (and another online friend who had used successfully), demodex solution’s superb customer service manager to get me through it. I have never experienced such incredible customer service as Walter provides. seriously.
do yourself a favor and spend the money on the ZZ cream, use it no matter what happens for a month or so (may take less or longer).
I have uber sensitive skin and it did not burn at all. it actually feels nice and cooling. i use at night over the red areas/pimples and on spots during the day.
it’s NOT a cure but the one thing that’s helped me get a grip on this nightmarish condition. at least for now.
but thank you Dex for sharing what’s helped you. I’ll probably try that, too: )
Hello again. My shift changed over the summer. So I was not able to do too much on line. What I am doing is working some #289 this page, enough to keep the mites at bay (to keep my eyebrows, keep the rosacea down, and to keep the mites out of my eyes). I did try Permethrin once and it did not work for me. Mike
Hello again. The Sno-Seal that I have been using for about two years now is from Atsko Inc., and is in a 7 oz. light blue and dark blue container. On the container it says: All Season Leather Protection. It contains mostly beeswax. Mike
Very informative blog. I’m sad about Destiny. My understending is he became too obsessed by demodex and damaged his cornea by solution he has prepared. Instead of letting his cornea heal naturally he continued treatment therefore damaged it even more.
I’m confident the idea demodex migrated into eyes is insane. It is tee trea oil within the mixture he used around his eyes that is destroying cornea.
For my acne treatment i’m successfully using borax, epsom salt, MSM and niacinamide. All of those are expected to kill mites. Epsom salt and MSM are rich in sulfid, which is used to kill them.
MSM is also penetrant, which means it can carry stuffs (borax, niacinamide) deeper into skin. Another penetrant is also apple cider vinegar (ACV) or hydrogen peroxide. However i’m usu avoiding peroxide, since it is strong oxidizer therefore your skin becames older soon when you apply peroxide.
My treatment consists of following solutions:
- 1 to 2 percent ACV + epsom salt + MSM + niacinamide (65:20:15:1)
- saturated borax solution + MSM + 5 % ACV (60:20:20)
- soap with ichthyol (tar soap)
I dedicated web pages to treatment i’m describing, they are only in czech language at the moment. However you can use google translator, it is readable enough.
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=cs&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Flecba-akne.blogspot.com%2F
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I believe that I have the holy grail of rosacea and mite medicine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My wife just came to the US from the Phillipines. She brought with her what they use to treat rosacea and mite outbreaks. It is papaya soap. I told her that I would try it. It worked for a few hours, and after that I had to use my formula. So I decided to do some research. I found that the main ingredient in the soap is papaya oil. So I ordered from ebay 100% papaya oil and tried it on my face. It works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It works better than anything that I have ever used. It even works better than Ivermectin (Rx)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is still too early to say for shure, but I really do think this is the cat’s ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I do not even put on the SnoSeal anymore at night! The mites just hate it, and there is no rosacea! If you do try it do not get it into the eyes! It burns the eyelids. If I do get it on my eyelids I get a wet paper towel and rub it off. I sincerely hope that this is the answer. I have tried everything else. If it keeps working as it is now doing this is the answer! I had to share it with you all. Mike
what is the name of the soap Mike ?
Mike, a big thank you to your wife. What brand of papaya oil did you find on ebay? I only found one kind of papaya oil, but I don’t think it would ship to the USA.
Hi mike,
I just want to ask does the papaya oil works better compared with the papaya soap? because right now i am having difficulty on getting papaya oil. also when you apply the papaya oil do you leave it overnight?
Hi Mike, Haven’t been on this site myself for a while but check it ever once in a while. I too have been searching for the 100% Papaya Oil and can’t find the one you are using. Some say to add a carrier oil too it.When you have time please give us more info.
Thanks
~Maureen
Hello again. The papaya oil still seems to be working. You can get 100% pharm. grade papaya oil on ebay from “4seasonsoils” in 2 oz bottles. Just type in papaya oil in ebay, and look for 2 ounces of oil from 4seasons. The name of the soap is “papaya soap.” I use the oil and not the soap. The oil is a lot stronger. Yes, the papaya oil works a lot better than does the papaya soap. Also, I live in the US, and it was shipped to me. I just bought some more. Yes, I do leave the papaya oil on my skin overnight. I may try putting Snoseal over the oil at night for my eyebrows. The mites love getting in there overnight to eat. I did try mixing it with the Best-Yet oil 50/50, but it doesn’t mix well at all. I have to keep shaking the small bottle (that I keep in my pocket) while using it. I even mixed in some Lavender oil to make it smell real good. By far the best way to use it is strait. Mike
do you mean the 2 oz Papaya Mango oil? its the only one they sell.
Hello Grace. Yes, that is the one. Mike
Mike, Thank you , Thank You for the info. I’m getting on to it now. I was reading a few days ago about how beneficial this essential fatty acid is for the skin. I have been taking Evening Primrose oil internally which is also good for the skin.Evening Primrose Oil contains naturally occuring (Gamma Linolenic Acid). GLA is an Omega-6 fatty acid found in Evening Primrose. Borage and Black Currant seed also contain this. Papaya oil also has this.
Has anyone ever seen the movie Lorenzo’s Oil (based on a true storyof a couple who used nutritional oil to help their mentally incapacitated son), there are other classes of oils derived from food example coconut oil. This oil contains medium-chain triglycerides and fatty acids that have very unique properties that can help people dealing with Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
Society and most of us are depleted in these essential fatty acids. This would be the happiest day of my life if this could help all of us suffering with Rosacea.
This would not be a hard day to remember, cause my husband and I are celebrating our 36th. Wedding Anniversary.
I hope our Prayers will be answewred.
Good Luck to all
A big Thank-You to your wife for sharing this important news
My Best
~maureen
Hello again. The papaya oil does not seem to be working well now. It worked great for a while. Those buggers adapted. I am now back to my formula. I hope you all have better luck with it. Sorry. Mike
I had to get the mites out of my eyebrows again, because the papaya oil no longer worked. I had to hold an alcohol (91%) soaked tissue over the areas for 15 minutes each without getting the alcohol into my eyes. Mike
This is too bad, Mike. Maybe the papaya oil will still work if only used for one day every now and then to surprise the mites.
I have been fighting rosacea for about 10 years. I have always considered myself to have a mild case because I’ve never had a red face unless I’ve just come in from the heat. The main trigger for me seems to be too much time in the sun/heat. However, even though I still do not have the butterfly rash, etc. I now have decided, to my horror, that I have entered into a more serious stage of rosacea. I noticed a swelling in the area of my right nostril which includes the crease. This is distressing because it has the potential to permanently alter the shape of my nose. I am female and I understand this stage is more common in men. After doing much research lately, I’ve decided I need to balance my ph. I think that’s the root of the problem. In the meantime, I would like to try some remedies posted here. I haven’t had a chance to read every single post here but would like to know from anyone that’s been in this stage if there is hope that these swellings can recede or am I going to be stuck with them forever, even if I figure out how to prevent them from getting worse. Thanks to anyone that can offer me hope and information on this particular aspect of rosacea.
Hello Annie. I am in that stage, but I have been able to keep my nose normal looking. (#289 this site) I also put 91% alcohol on my nose at times for 15 minutes at a time to help keep them out of the skin. This also goes for my eyebrows. I also use SnoSeal on my face at night to help keep them digging in. Mike
Thanks for the information Mike. I’ve never had the feeling that anything was biting my face at night or any other time for that matter. Are you saying the mites have made your eyebrow hair fall out? Also, have you ever had a situation where a swollen area, welt area or nodule type place receded? I so hope so. I don’t want to be stuck with these little swollen areas forever. To know what works for me I’m going to have to try one thing at a time. This is going to be a long slow process. What fun!
why not go to a dermatologist and see what they say? even though the conventional meds may not work for you after a few weeks/months they do work for many.
if no then try your own “home grown” methods.
Hello Annie. Yes, if you can do see a dermatologist, be careful not to tell him that you may have mites. Some dermatologists do not see any connection between rosacea and mites. I do know with me there is a connection. And yes, I do have swollen areas of abnormal skin at times, which I do need to get rid of. Sometimes these areas are so intense that when I do get rid of the abnormal skin it is right down to the meat. So do be careful with the alcohol when you start out. This has happened on both my nose and my eyebrows. Without the homemade medicine that I make I will feel like my skin on my face is itching at times. That is what I call bitting. This itching can at times feel like bitting. I also at times will get the mites into my eyes, but with a mixture of Boric Acid and lukewarm water I can usually keep them out. I have isolated the mites in my microscope and identified them. So I do know they are a problem with me. Mike
Hi,
I’m new to the forum, but not new to fighting demodex. I have been diagnosed with scalp psoriasis since I was 28. I’m now 42. After extensive research, I began nightly “soaks” in 1 cup of bleach or 1/2 cup Borax in July and starting in August, I noticed that the “build-up” of skin – the psoriasis – on my scalp started to slowly break apart – but then the real fun started. I started feeling the tickling on my face, crawling, itchy, biting of the demodex mites. I was destroying their “nest” and they were not happy. The last 2 months have been hell – major face acne with bouts of “attacks” 1-2x per day, but each week, I feel less crawlies, and my scalp feels cleaner. And my hair is starting to have body instead of just drooping and clinging to my scalp.
During this whole ordeal, I have seen a dermatologist (in OH) 2x. THe first time she tried to convince me it was “in my head” and reluctantly prescribed an antibiotic for adult acne. 8 weeks later, she seemed a little more open to the fact that it could be demodex and prescribed metrogel. Last week, I asked for metronidozale in a pill format because the lotion only does so much. She agreed to call it in. It is helping, but I have good and bad days, depending on the “hatching” cycle.
Recently, the mites are migrating from my scalp to my face and neck. They rarely go below my neck – but eventually, I’m hoping to push them down there because they certainly don’t seem to thrive – not enough sebum. I have a few “entry/exit” bumps on my ankle and buttocks but I can tell that compared to the face, they do not thrive in these areas.
I’m really interested in anyone who has posted on this site who feel they have cured themselves of this mite and how long it took. I know a lot of people say they continue to use a “maintenance routine” every few days, which is fine with me. I just want to know if my acne won’t completely clear up for the full 120 days, or if it will be longer. At this point I’m around day 95, but I think it’s going to take longer than 120.
My routine is nightly soak in a Borax and salt solution, change linens, bag clothes and linens in plastic bags, apply clove oil, MSM, Metrogel to face after washing with Sea Buckthorn oil soap. I use Sea Buckthorn body lotion 2x per day as well.
Can’t wait to get back to a normal life!
Continue the research, and carefully planned adventures.
The creapers have infested my back, awaken in the night feeling them wondering about. Currently apply Half TTO, and water from waist to crown of head each evening before bed. Still working on varies techniques. How long in the dark before application. Discovered 15 minutes minimum in the dark. If others using similar practice what is your success?
I have been doing some more expermentmenting on my own with some success. In addition to what I was doing I also mix a bottle of 1/3 Seabuckthorn oil, 1/3 Neem oil, and 1/3 BestYet oil. I use this in combination with my other mixture (see #289). I also put alcohol 91% on areas that give me a lot of trouble, like my eyebrows for 15 minutes at a time. Also, I use SnoSeal on my face at night after appling the new mixture. I now have much less activity. I will let you all know how well it progresses in the future. It seems that I may have backed them into a corner for now, but time will tell. Mike
So, so frustrated! I thought I was making progress, using a tea tree ointment (20%) daily. My flare up’s have been further apart since I’ve been doing this (4 months + now), but they still come – without fail. Just this morning I’ve woken up looking like rudolph for the 10000th time in my life!
Interested in #385 misdiagnosed – is metrogel effective against the mites? I’ve never actually tried it, due to mixed reports on it’s effective, also because I’ve done plenty of oral antibiotics and want something more than temporary & partial respite!
Best wishes to all.
To 388, David M,
Yes, I think metrogel is helping. 9 days ago I was having a HUGE flare up – embarrassed to leave the house. I used metrogel and within 3 days, I noticed a difference. Still not a big enough difference to do jumping jacks, but it was enough to convince me to ask for it in pill format.
I’m on day 6 of taking 250 mg 2x per day and actually went to a fun event today with friends and didn’t feel embarrassed about my skin. This is a huge improvement from just 5-8 days ago.
I would recommend asking for the pill format if you try the gel and see a difference. My prescription runs out in 2 days and from what I’ve read, taking this in pill format for more than a week or two is not healthy.
I have a derma appt next Thursday. We’ll see what she says.
Unfortunately, my hair and scalp don’t seem to be doing well. I’d really like to try ivermectin orally, but I don’t think my dr. is going to go for that.
Do you have a pattern to the flare-ups – do they occur every 14-20 days? I’m trying to follow the life cycle of these beasts.
Oh, if you do try metrogel – you MUST have a strategy for killing the mites. I think all metrogel does is kill the bacteria that causes the redness, etc… The mite and eggs are untouched. My killing strategy is clove oil and MSM and soaks each night in Borax for about 40 minutes min.
I started this all in July so I’m in month 4 too. UGH!
@Misdiagnosed: if you do not suffer from a dried skin try also epsom salt. Zinc oxide ointment is worth in any case too. I believe these stuffs make difference and are cheap and easy to acquire, so not much to loose. Some use even epsom baths, it is being absorbed through skin. Some says metrogel helps, some says it has no effect.
From day i’ve focused on demodex (instead to my acne) using borax, i noticed difference in one week and i definitely saw an improvement within one month. There were also ugly days though. But i’m not convinced it was because of lifecycle of the critters.
Now i’m on week 9 perhaps and my acne is like 90 % gone. But it is now winter coming in here, which very likely participates on improvement.
Good luck
My derm prescribed Ivermectin after consulting with a well-respected dermatologist in the area yesterday. I took four 3 mg pills yesterday evening and I’m doing jumping jacks and thanking god that this SEEMS to be working. I have no itchies, I am not miserable, my skin and hair is NORMAL, I’m not getting bit. I CAN’T believe it. It’s too good to be true. No new acne, in fact, for the first time in 5 months, my skin seems to be HEALING where there is acne. It’s not being attacked. With 1 dose, I feel 90% better.
I’ll take another dosage of Ivermectin in 6 days (7 days apart). I’m still using metrogel on my face.
I’ll keep everyone posted.
My doc said that the second dose is to wipe out eggs that are being laid by adults during these 7 days. It should do the trick.
I took these links to my dermatologist and she asked to keep a copy. If you are having problems convincing your doctor to prescribe this, show these to them.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7814280
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8561270
@misdiagnosed: I’m curious if you have had oily skin before you tried ivermectin and whether your skin is oily still.
I’m just trying to figure if oily skin is a symptom of demodex or if it is one of cause.
@Michal – interesting question. As a teen, I did have very oily skin, but through the years, it has calmed down some, but I ALWAYS used skin toner several times a day with salicylic acid in it to control the “shine”. Also, if I wore make-up, about halfway through the day, the make-up would often look smudgy, oily, etc.
And, when I woke up in the morning, I ALWAYS had very oily skin. That was a clue that I had demodex – I think that the skin produces more oil/sebum in response to the activity of the mites. Since they are very active in the night, it made sense that I would wake up with really oily skin. In fact, one of the indicators that I’m improving is that I don’t feel the need to wash my face as soon as I wake up. (I still do!) And, recently, when I have worn make-up, it is actually staying on my face and not looking smudgy any more.
I honestly think producing oil and sebum is the skin’s only natural defense and unfortunately, it allows these mites to thrive.
Hello. I have demonex, but I do not have oily skin. Also, Ivermectin also works for me for awhile. I take it every six months for two weeks at a time. Mike
@Mike – I wonder if we have different demodex – brevis vs. folliculorum. Do you know what kind you have? I’m just guessing that maybe I have brevis – D. brevis reproduces on the sebaceous glands. Maybe you have folliculorum? It would seem that activity within the sebaceous glands might cause sebum to be spread around and it might cause over production of sebum. Just a theory…
I know mine is highly concentrated on the t-zone area of my face. It loves those sebum glands.
@Mike, sorry, I forgot to ask – why do you think it only works for about 6 months? Do you take it every day for 2 weeks? or just 1x per week?
Hello Misdiagnosed. I take Ivermectin (Rx) once a week for two weeks every six months. I take it for a reprieve. It only works for me for a little while. Then Ivermectin doesn’t work quite that well. I have folliculorum. They are longer than brevis. I isolated them in my microscope. What I am doing now seems to be working well for maintenence. My nose and eyebrows are now normal, but I have to keep up with it everyday. Also, my rosacea is almost normal as well with few flareups. Mike
@Mike Marca, I see you’ve been on this thread for awhile. Thank you for sharing all your good advice.
What was the longest that you’ve used Ivermectin 1x per week? I’m wondering if the 1x per week vs. 1x every 5 days might make a difference. Did you ever try this? My first dosage seemed to stop helping on day 5. I just wonder if during day 6 and day 7 adult mites that were not in egg stage, mated on day 2 or 3 and were at a point in their cycle in which they escaped the efficacy of Ivermectin.
I am also using perm every other day for 10 minutes on scalp and hair and face. I hate to use this, but I’ve read a few studies in which the combo of perm and ivermectin seem to eradicate these creepers.
Right now my skin is great – just a few mild blemishes and a few hard bumps that I’m hoping will disappear. I took my second dosage of Ivermectin this morning. Crossing my fingers…
Hello again. I have tried Ivermectin on the first day and on the third day, and other times every other week with the same results. It will only work for awhile before they adapt. What I am doing seems to be working somewhat (#289). Mike
Hey Jay, can you give the name of that medicine from Russia please? Thanks. In the meantime I’m going to try Tea Tree Oil Salve
2 ounces Beeswax
4 ounces Sweet Almond Oil or Olive Oil
20 drops Tea Tree Oil
20-40 drops of other oils as desired (optional)