Although it may be disgusting and horrifying to consider, crusty and inflamed eyelids might be an indication of mite overgrowth. And, when you live in a damp, tropical country like Thailand, such a situation is surprisingly common. According to AAO.org, eyelids that are itchy, inflamed, or constantly red could point out that you’ve got a mite problem.
Another telltale sign of a mite overgrowth is of waking up to crusty eyes or the presence of a yellowish, exhausting, discharge round your eye. As all people have mites on their pores and skin, it’s when they overpopulate that they turn out to be a problem.
Such a mite overgrowth can cause blurred vision and eye-watering in addition to other signs talked about. Demodex mites could be discovered dwelling inside your eyelash follicles and are sometimes related to the pores and skin situation rosacea. These nasty mites also can cause blepharitis. In truth, latest research present that around 40 to 80% of these with blepharitis also have an out-of-control mite population on their eyelids. No risk ? If you’re already repulsed, don’t fear, so are we.
Even more disturbing is that the mites have eight legs and measure only .three millimetres long, making them much more horrifying. Gerami D. Seitzman, a corneal and exterior illness specialist at the University of California San Francisco says virtually everybody has some amount of Demodex mites. Seitzman says the bugs feast on lifeless pores and skin cells and sebum. In case you haven’t personally witnessed how a moist local weather could cause extreme sebum production (think whiteheads and pimples), trust us as the situation is all too actual for so much of who search medical help.
How is a Demodex mite overgrowth diagnosed?
An ophthalmologist will determine when you have too many of these creepy critters by pulling out a few eyelashes and looking at them under a special microscope. But, in case your doctor doesn’t have the correct microscope, they may normally look for signs of the mites, corresponding to a cylindrical sleeve on your eyelash. The sleeves are made from waxy debris that’s clasped tightly to the base of the eyelash. If you aren’t about to vomit, then you might get a rubbish bin prepared as it could be sickening to listen to that the sleeves are partially made of mite poop.
So microscopic, mite crap resides on your eyelashes, and naturally, the mites themselves. But, what are you able to do as soon as receiving such a nightmarish diagnosis? The first line of remedy for ocular Demodex is usually an over-the-counter topical medicine with a low concentration of tea tree oil or hypochlorous-based acid. Some medicine names might include Cliradex, OCuSOFT, or Oust.
However, in case you are into DIY treatments, a easy Google search will reveal that a 50% diluted tea tree oil and water combination applied fastidiously to the eyelid can do the trick. As tea tree oil has antifungal, antimicrobial, antiseptic, acaricidal, and antiviral properties, the bugs must be worn out after utilizing the oil one to 2 instances per day for a interval of one to 3 months. If the issue persists, anti-parasitic drugs may be prescribed. These meds may even be really helpful for the treatment of rosacea. Common anti-parasitic medicines for Demodex mites include ivermectin and metronidazole..