Demodecosis - an unpleasant and common disease, belongs to the group of acariases. It causes its conditionally pathogenic ciliary mite, the size of which is not more than 0.5 mm, so it is simply impossible to detect a parasite without a microscope. By itself, it is not harmful, but the products of its vital activity are very toxic to the human body and can cause many unpleasant manifestations.
basic information
The ciliary mite, which is also called acne iron, is a conditionally pathogenic parasite of microscopic size. It lives, as a rule, in the sebaceous and meibomian glands, as well as in the mouths of the hair follicles of humans and other mammals. In this regard, traces of his life can mainly be observed on the eyebrows, in the ears, eyelashes, nasolabial folds, chin and frontal part of the face. Much less often it can be found on the chest or on the back. Normally, he is able to dwell on the skin of a person, eating dead cells and without causing any disease.
Consider how the ciliary mite is transmitted.
Reasons for its appearance
The causes of its occurrence are mainly associated with a weakening of human immunity. Demodecosis can develop as a result of hormonal changes, metabolic disorders, increased oily skin, diseases of the digestive system and so on. The causes of ciliary mite are interesting to many. The factors that can provoke this disease include the following:
- Exposure to extreme stress.
- A sharp change in climate.
- Corticosteroid treatment.
- The appearance of seborrhea.
- All kinds of cosmetic procedures.
- Tendency to allergies.
Ciliary mites can be detected only after microscopic examination.
Symptoms of demodicosis
The first signs of ciliary mites are the following symptoms:
- Redness of the eyes.
- Noticeable eyelash loss.
- Release of sticky fluid from the eyes.
- Peeling of the skin along the edges of the eyelids.
- Swelling of the eyelids.
Symptoms of the ciliary mite are important to identify in a timely manner. With the disease, the mucous membrane of the eye is affected in people, it becomes very dry, and at the same time sensitive. Eyes begin to tire quickly. In the initial stages, severe itching is observed, especially after sleep. Against the background of demodicosis, there are such symptoms as:
- Marked visual impairment.
- The frequent occurrence of barley.
- The presence of a sensation of sand in the eyes.
- The appearance of photophobia.
- Redness of the eyes.
What other symptoms of ciliary mite are there? The disease is diagnosed by the presence of plaque around the edges of the eyes and adhering eyelashes, which are surrounded by a crust. Often, the presence of a ciliary mite can be accompanied by acne. Often the vital products of such a tick cause other diseases, for example, allergies and blepharitis.
Demodecosis is a chronic disease with pronounced seasonality, peaks of its exacerbation occur mainly in autumn and spring, which is explained by a decrease in people’s immunity during this period. The tick is well transmitted from one person to another, especially when hygiene rules are not followed.
Pathology treatment
How is ciliary mite treated? In the event that the tick was actually the cause of the disease, therapy should be comprehensive and should be carried out according to a certain scheme. As part of the fight against this parasite, as a rule, anti-mite agents are used in the form of ichthyol and mercury ointments. Various drops along with gels, solutions, which include benzyl benzoate, also help from ciliary mites. The principle of action of these drugs is based on paralysis of the muscles of the tick and, as a consequence, its death. Used for treatment and tablets that are aimed at suppressing the vital activity of the parasite.
In addition to anti-mite agents, mechanical cleansing of the skin, eyes and ears from the parasites present there is required. From the eyelids and eyelashes remove the crust. This is done with the help of alcohol tinctures of eucalyptus and calendula, then ointment or any other suitable medicine is applied to the edge of the eyelid.
Vitamin Course
The treatment regimen for demodicosis necessarily requires a course of vitamins designed to enhance immunity and treat concomitant diseases, such as dysbiosis, allergies and hormonal disorders. In the event that the disease is accompanied by purulent lesions of the mucosa, eye drops with an antimicrobial effect, for example, “Tsipromed” or “Tobrex”, are used for treatment with ciliary mite.
The therapy process takes a rather long period, which can be from six months to two years, depending on the neglect of the case. At the first stage of treatment, worsening of the condition is likely along with an increase in rash and burning. This is an absolutely normal skin reaction and therapy against this background should not be stopped.
Ciliary mite is an infectious parasite, in this regard, the first thing to do is to protect yourself, as well as others from infection. The rules of personal hygiene are very important. All patient's underwear should be machine washed at high temperature and ironed well using steam. Chlorine can be used as part of a disinfection. In the event that the patient wears glasses, then their cleansing must also be carefully taken care of.
An equally important aspect in the treatment is proper nutrition, which should be enriched with vitamins. At the time of treatment, you need to abandon fatty, smoked, sweet and spicy foods. For more effective therapy, experts recommend physiotherapy, for example, eyelid massage, cryotherapy and so on.
Alternative treatment of ciliary mite
In addition to traditional treatment, folk remedies will not be superfluous. Below are the most popular and proven methods:
- In order to prepare a solution for cleaning the eyes and eyelashes take 1 tbsp. l dried eucalyptus and chamomile and brewed in a glass of boiling water. Infusion cool and wash their face. The procedure is carried out twice a day: in the mornings and evenings.
- Against itching and burning, a special decoction will help. Take 1 tbsp. l oak bark and dried linden leaves. Pour water and keep on fire for 5 minutes. The resulting broth is used to rub the eyes - this reduces itching and relieves inflammation and swelling.
- Brew very strong tea, cool. They should wash their face 3 times a day. This speeds up treatment and reduces the severity of symptoms.
- Effective tincture of calendula. The flowers of the plant are placed in alcohol or vodka (10 g per 0.5 l) and insisted for two weeks. Tincture is rubbed eyelashes, eyelids and ears in the morning and evening. This will destroy ticks and relieve inflammation.
Hygiene
The main preventive measure in the fight against this parasite is compliance with hygiene requirements. A person suffering from demodicosis must have his own towel, washcloth and facial care products. With all this, it is recommended to store such items in a separate place so as not to infect other members of your family. In particular, this rule is relevant for families with small children.
It is very important to often change bedding for a person suffering from demodex. It is best to use pillows and blankets based on synthetic winterizer. Experts recommend giving up feather pillows for a while. Old bedding should be disinfected, and then cleaned in a closet until the patient is completely recovered.
In the event that a person suffers from this ailment, he should always carry clean disposable handkerchiefs with him, so that he often wipes his eyes when there is no opportunity to wash. This is especially true for people who have poor eyesight.
You should also temporarily refrain from close contact with healthy people and the use of cosmetics. This is especially true for girls who love to do makeup on their faces every day. It is required to stop applying the creams and gels to the eyelids at least temporarily, since the oily base of such products serves as an excellent nutrient medium for the tick.
It is required to keep glasses and hats clean at all times. Hands should be washed with soap as often as possible. You can’t just touch your eyes. This can lead to the fact that the ciliary mite spreads to other parts of the face: eyebrows, auricles.
Prophylaxis
People with ophthalmic problems, especially those who use contact lenses and do regular makeup, should be more afraid of infection with this parasite. In order to prevent its occurrence, it is required to eliminate the negative background:
- It is very important to keep your hands clean.
- Touch the eyelids as little as possible.
- It is very important to increase immunity, taking vitamins and minerals, it will not be superfluous to take strengthening drugs, including those based on herbs.
- You should normalize your metabolism - this will reduce the production of subcutaneous fat, which these parasites like to eat.
- Diet adjustment is important. It should include more natural fiber, along with vegetables, fruits and cereals. It is necessary to refuse (at least temporarily) from pickles and marinades, sweets.
- Allergy sufferers should not neglect the regular use of antihistamines.
What can I say at the end
Ciliary mite is a rather dangerous parasite, bringing people a lot of all kinds of inconveniences of aesthetic, physical and psychological nature. Fighting him is quite difficult, but possible. All that is required is to be patient, as the duration of the therapeutic course can reach up to two years. In order to avoid infection with this tick, as part of preventive measures, it is necessary to strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene, carefully monitor the general condition of your health. Also, do not use other people's towels and other personal accessories of other people.