Your prized eyelashes and eyebrows could well be teeming with microscopic spider-like creatures with a taste for dead skin. Here’s how to tell when it’s become a worrying issue
While many of us dream of having fluttering eyelashes and well-shaped eyebrows, there is actually a far more pressing reason to keep on top of your most visible facial follicles.
Indeed, few may know that their lashes and brows could well serve as a breeding ground for tiny cigar-shaped arachnids, known as Demodex mites or eyelash mites, that thrive in hair follicles and oil glands, where they feast and flourish on dead skin.
Commonly found on a person’s eyelids and eyelashes, and elsewhere on the face, these eight-legged parasites cannot be seen with the naked eye and are usually harmless in small numbers. However, should an infestation grow out of control, this can result in issues with your skin and eyesight.
So, how do we know when there’s an issue?
As explained by MedicalNewsToday, given that eyelash mites occur in healthy people, many may not even know that their eyelids are providing food and shelter for a miniature population, with symptoms only arising once an infestation really takes hold.
Symptoms may include blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelids that can result in itching, burning, dryness, irritation, watering, and blurred vision. Sufferers may also experience the sensation of having heavy eyelids.
As well as blepharitis, these mites could result in conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the delicate membrane covering the eyeball, or Keratitis, the inflammation of the cornea.
Findings published in the Indian Journal of Dermatology also determined that infestation can result in madarosis, or eyelash loss, due to hair follicles becoming inflamed.
According to Healthline, if left untreated, vision problems can occur. You should seek out a doctor if you experience any changes, to rule out any additional causes.
Your GP may prescribe a medicated ointment to trap mites to stop further spread, while addressing any underlying skin conditions, including dermatitis, inflammatory acne, and alopecia
Some studies show that 50 per cent diluted tea tree oil is effective at banishing mites in the eyelash area and reducing inflammation. You can pick this up over the counter at your local pharmacist; however, do make sure to consult your doctor first before applying this, bearing in mind the sensitivity of the eye area.
In order to keep mites at bay, there are a few daily habits you can implement into your existing hygiene routine. Firstly, make sure to avoid sharing mascara or make-up tools, and steer clear of oily or greasy makeup.
Make sure to wash your face twice daily with a non-soap cleanser, taking care to gently cleanse the eye area with just water. Periodic exfoliation, thus removing those oh so tempting dead skin cells from the reach of parasites, could also work wonders.
Given that Demodex mites are widely underdiagnosed, it can be tricky to know if those around you have them. If you suspect this to be the case, however, do make sure to avoid close contact, as these pests can very easily jump to another hospitable-looking host, should they wish.
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