Eyelash Mites

Eyelash mites also known as Demodex folliculorum, or the demodicid, are tiny parasitic mites, that lives in the sebaceous glands and hair follicles of all human beings. Usually with a size of less than 0.4 mm, these parasites in the human body are found latched on to the nose, forehead, cheek, chin and the roots of the eyelashes. Although the infestation of these mites is usually quite common, they do not cause any severe symptoms. However, in certain cases eyelash mites can be the cause of certain skin conditions. Here is more information on these parasitic mites, the causes and how to get rid of eyelash mites.

What are Eyelash Mites?

The adult mites are only about 0.4 mm long, with a semi-transparent elongated body. The body consists of two fused segments with the first body segment having around eight short segmented legs. The eyelash mites are covered with scales that are used for attaching the body to the hair follicle. The needle-like mouth-parts feed on the dead, flaky skin-cells, hormones and the sebum which accumulate in the hair follicles.

The female adult eyelash mites are somewhat shorter and rounder than males. A genital opening is present in both the male and the females of the species, and fertilization is internal. Once the mating is consummated in the follicle opening, the eggs are laid inside the hair follicles or the glands. At a time a female mite may lay up to 20 eggs in one hair follicle. It takes 3-4 days for the eggs to hatch and around seven days for the larvae to develop into adults. The lifespan of these parasitic mites can extend up to several weeks. They are transferred by the hair, eyebrows and the glands of the nose.

Causes of Eyelash Mites

While every person has some amount of eyelash mites, certain people are prone to large numbers of these creatures. This includes women who continually wear eyelash mascara and eyeliner and thus have a higher tendency to be host to more mites than others do, especially when the makeup is not removed thoroughly at the end of the day. Older people are also increasingly prone to getting eyelash mites while children have a much lower rate due to a lesser production of sebum. People with a suppressed immune system, caused by stress or illness may also have an eyelash mite infestation in large numbers.

While eyelash mites are usually harmless, a dramatic increase may result in a condition known as demodicosis. This skin disorder is characterized by itching and inflammation. Other skin disorders like rosacea and swollen eyelids caused by blepharitis are the result of an infestation of the Demodex mites. This can result in the eyelashes falling out and other eye problems. A persisting infestation may result in corneal irritation or scarring. In addition to blepharitis, eyelash mites can cause demodectic conjunctivitis which leads to conjunctiva blushing (eyelashes gluing in the morning).

Treatment for Eyelash Mites

The diagnosis of an eyelash mite infestation is made by observing individual eyelashes under a microscope and the presence of cylindrical dandruff around the base of the eyelash.

For chronic blepharitis, an antibiotic eyelash mites treatment may be prescribed by your doctor. Persistent human eyelash mites can be cured by tea tree oil which is known to control the symptoms and the heavy infestation. A weekly eyelid scrub with tea tree oil and daily eyelid scrub with tea tree shampoo for up to 6 weeks may result in effectively treating the parasitic mites. In addition to that, proper eyelid hygiene and eye care is extremely important. This should include:

• Use of disposable tissues for washing the eyelids
• Launder your paraphernalia and iron the towels and pillow covers every day
• Your shaving set and spectacle-box needs to be cleaned everyday

If the eyelash mites persist despite the treatment measures, then it is best to consult a doctor for an effective remedy.