![Two pictures: one - EXTREME close up of a Demodex mite , Two - Stylized drawing of a hair folicle covered in said mites. I'm sorry you had to hear that.](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pf-295f7874-headerleftimage.webp)
WHAT IS THE DEMODEX MITE
Demodex mites are eight-legged, 0.3-0.4 mm long, sausage- shaped arachnids that live in the pores of our facial skin. They are particularly fond of the hair follicles of eyebrows and eyelashes, and the oily pores most common on the nose, forehead, and cheeks
![Stylized crescent moon and a clock](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pf-43a95a5e-headerrightimage.webp)
The mites are transferred between hosts through contact with hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows, as well as general facial contact.
WHAT DO
THEY LOOK LIKE?
Little Known Facts
As you age, the percent chance that you have demodex mites living on your eyelashes also increases.
% of people
![text: 20 Years](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20years-2.png)
A THIRD OF YOUNG ADULTS
![text: 40 Years](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/40years-2.png)
HALF OF ADULTS
![text: 60 years](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/60-yers-2.png)
2/3 OF ELDERLY PEOPLE
MAIN CAUSES OF DEMODEX MITES
![stylized woman's face with short hair and an aura of oily skin](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/oily-skin.png)
OILY SKIN
People with oily skin may find themselves more vulnerable to eyelash mites, as mites like to feed on the sebaceous glands.
![stylized woman's face with long hair and makeup on](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/makeup-1.png)
MAKE UP
Women who wear mascara on their eyelashes or a lot of eye make up tend to have a higher prevalence of Demodex mites. Additionally, sleeping with makeup on your face can also make you more vulnerable to an infestation.
![stylized woman's face with her hair wrapped in a towel](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/hygiene.png)
HYGENE
Keeping your eye area clean is the best way to reduce Demodex mites, but regular personal hygiene products alone do not kill these mites.
75
Million
BLEPHARITIS
Keeping your eye area clean is the best way to reduce demodex mites, but regular personal hygiene products alone do not kill these mitesROSACEA
People with Rosacea often have 15 to 18 times more demodex mites infecting their eyelashes, eyelids, and face than others![two stylized pictures: one of an extreme closeup of skin covered in mites, one a picture of a girl with rosey blotches on her cheeks and nose area](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/rosacea-girl.png)
![two stylized pictures: one of an extreme closeup of skin with one or two mites, one a picture of a man with glasses and clear skin](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/rosacea-boy-1.png)
![stylized picture of a woman in a grey business jacket. She is smiling](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/girl.png)
The good news is that with the right ingredients, these creepy bugs are relatively easy to kill.
![icon of an eye](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/wife-your-eyes-daily-1.jpg)
WIPE YOUR EYES DAILY
Make sure you’re using a wipe that contains tea tree oil, the ONLY all-natural killer of Demodex mites.
![I con of lipstick and a shaving brush with an X over both](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/contaminated-1.jpg)
MAKE SURE YOUR CONTAMINATED MAKE-UP DOESN'T TOUCH YOUR EYES
Throw out and replace your eye make-up if you’re suffering from a Demodex mite infestation.
![](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/antibiotics-1.jpg)
ANTIBIOTICS FOR VERY SEVERE INFESTATION
Using over-the-counter antibiotic ointments can help prevent and treat Demodex infestations, but talk with your doctor first.
![super close up of a demodex mite. Yuk.](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/can-mites-transfer.png)
CAN MITES TRANSFER
BETWEEN PEOPLE AT NIGHT?
YES
Yes, at night mites usually comes out of the hair follicles and move at a speed… Mites transfer between people in close proximity though skin and hair contact.
![woman wiping her eyes with a makeup removal cloth](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/how-often-should.png)
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CLEAN YOUR EYELIDS?
DAILY
Healthy adults have around one to two mites per square centimeter of facial skin. People with skin or eye conditions may have 10 times more. Daily cleansing is necessary to prevent the mites from reproducing by laying eggs in your pores.
BUTT OR NO BUTT?
![side view of am extremely enlarged demodex mite. I'm sorry.](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/mites.jpg)
Demodex mites do not have anuses and therefore cannot get rid of feces. “Their abdomen just gets bigger and bigger and when they die and decompose they release their feces all at once in the pore,” studies show. When the mites are numerous, the material is enough to trigger an immune reaction, inflammation and tissue damage.
WHAT PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS DO DEMODEX MITES CAUSE?
The main symptoms of Demodex infestation are itching, burning, crawling foreign body sensation, blurry vision, crusting and redness of the eye lid margin.
![B;urry image of what appaers to be a shop interior though it's hard to tell](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/decreased-vision-1.png)
DECREASED VISION
Some people’s vision may be compromised. These mites may affect the tear film of the eyes, causing your vision to blur. However, once the infestation is cleared up, your vision will then return to normal.
![Close up of a young face with unusually rosy cheeks indicative of Rosacea](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/rosacea-1.png)
ROSACEA
According to an analysis of 48 separate studies, people with rosacea are eight times more likely to have a mite infestation. Skin mites have been connected to creating inflammatory skin diseases. It is believed that rosacea is not caused by the mites themselves, but rather the bacteria in the feces that they carry.
![a woman rubbing her eyes](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/early-morning-stiches-1.png)
EARLY MORNING ITCHINESS
Because the mites have an aversion to light, they feed and conduct most of their mating at night and crawl back into the hair follicles in the morning.
![close up of an eye with few eyelashes.](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/falling-eyelashes.png)
FALLING EYELASHES
People may experience their eyelashes falling out if there are many mites residing in a single eyelash follicle.
![close up of an eye that is red and enflamed](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/eye-infection-1.png)
EYE INFECTION
Severe cases of Demodex mites may lead to eye infection.
![close up of an eye with a swollen eyelid](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/eyelid-inflammation-1.png)
EYELID INFLAMMATION
People with an infestation of mites may experience Demodex blepharitis: reddened crusty, itchy,scratchy burning eyelids, and thickening of the skin of their lids.
![Close up of a man's face. it has red dots and blotches indicating a severe case of acne](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/acne.png)
ACNE
A 2012 meta-analysis found that people who suffer from acne vulgaris have almost 3x the likelihood of Demodex mite infestation. These people produce three times the average amount of skin oil, creating a sebaceous feast for these mites.
DOCTOR RECOMMENDED
![stylized drawing of a woman with a labcoat, stethiscope, and clipboard](https://blephadex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/doctor-recommended-1.png)
CHECK YOUR PARTNER
These mite’s bodies make it easy for them to travel from one person to the next via hair follicles through casual contact. Make sure everyone in your household has been checked to thoroughly eradicate the problem. This includes your pets, as they are vulnerable to these mites too.
BUY NEW PILLOWS AND BED SHEETS
These pesky little mites can be Hiding in your linens, so replace any contaminated sheets and pillow cases to effectively end the infestation. If you skip this step, it is possible to suffer from a re-infestation.