What is Demodex?
Demodex mites are a common companion that can exist unnoticed on your skin. They snack on sloughing skin cells and snooze in surrounding hair follicles, which is why your eyelids are a popular hangout spot. They don’t cause any issues, unless their population rapidly multiplies. If their numbers start to rise, you may notice inflammation of your eyelids that can cause irritation along the lash line and even a few flakes in your lashes.
Your eye doctor will make sure that if Demodex mites are present then they aren’t causing any issues. A thorough examination of the front surface of the eye will show signs of a Demodex mite problem. Some signs may be so mild that they can only be seen under a microscope and the irritation can be so gradual that it goes unnoticed until your doctor points it out. Luckily there are treatments for all issues that are caused by the Demodex mites.
Demodex Treatments
One quick way to keep Demodex mites under control is eyelid cleansing wipes. It’s as easy as a few swipes with a cleansing wipe to remove any makeup, oils, or debris from your lids and lashes before going to bed. Our office trusts Blephadex Wipes because of their natural ingredients
We also have an in-office eyelid cleansing treatment that can give your lashes a deep cleaning! These treatments will be performed in an exam chair and take less than 15 minutes! We use a Zest kit provided by Zocular, which contains a plant-based gel to gently scrub your lash line. Our staff will apply the gel using a foam tipped applicator and scrub it into a foamy lather to help remove any stubborn debris.
If lid cleansing isn’t enough to keep pesky mites away, there is a prescription drop that will target and kill Demodex mites. Xdemvy is used twice a day for 6 weeks to eradicate all ages of the Demodex mite. After the drop regimen is complete, you will use Blephadex wipes to keep the mites from returning.
Takeaways
We hope this blog hasn’t made you too itchy while you learned about the Demodex mite! It’s important to stress that the presence of this mite does not indicate any suggestions towards personal hygiene. Is there a Demodex party on your eyelids that we need to crash? Don’t hesitate to call the office and schedule an appointment! We are here to help keep your eyes healthy inside and out.
