The demodex parasitic tick, localized in the hair follicles and fatty ducts, causes a pathological process such as demodicosis. Infection occurs when the protective reactions of the body to the introduction of a parasite are reduced. A tick provokes several diseases at the same time, so doctors set themselves the task of diagnosing a pathology in time. Scrapes for demodicosis can diagnose pathology at an early stage, as well as determine the type of tick, prescribe the correct therapy.
Indications
Analysis for demodex is prescribed for chronically occurring pathologies. In this case, the following manifestations are observed in the patient:
- irritation of the skin of the face, as well as rashes that are localized in the eyelids, eyelashes;
- the patient complains of redness and itching of the affected areas;
- pathological rashes appear in the face and head area, which are similar to acne;
- the skin has a pale or grayish tint;
- when the eyelids are affected, their edges turn red, conjunctivitis develops;
- the edges of the eyelids are covered with scales.
If the patient is concerned about a rash with severe itching in the face, then this is the first sign that there is a need for diagnosis and treatment procedures.
Where to take tests?
Demodecosis proceeds with severe clinical symptoms, however, for the diagnosis it is necessary to pass a scraping. You can get tested in the laboratory of the medical institution, in the dispensary.
You can take an analysis for demodex in a budget clinic only in the morning. For commercial organizations, the patient may be scraped at any time. Demodex bothers the patient most often at night, and during the day hides in the layers of the epidermis. Therefore, the delivery of biological material for research is recommended in the evening. At the same time, the advantage of a paid organization is obvious.
If the patient noticed skin rashes, accompanied by itching, redness of the skin, then he should contact the following narrow-profile specialists:
- if the localization of the parasite is observed on the eyelids, affecting the ciliary bulbs, then the ophthalmologist is engaged in the treatment of this disease;
- with lesions of the hairline - trichologists:
- with inflammatory foci on the skin, a dermatologist treats the disease.
Many are interested in how to prepare for a demodex analysis. We will tell about it below.
Analysis preparation
To get the most reliable laboratory analysis results for Demodex, you need to carefully prepare. Before passing the scraping, taking the eyelashes for examination, the patient must adhere to the following rules:
- do not wash your face for 24 hours;
- do not use cosmetics, ointments and creams;
- when washing your hair, avoid contact with cosmetics in the eyes;
- cancel the use of eye drops.
If a patient develops a serious eye disease, then it is necessary to notify a specialist about this when passing laboratory tests.
Diagnosis for the presence of a demodex tick is aimed at studying biological material from scraping, studying the structure of hair follicles and eyelashes. The diagnostic procedure itself does not deliver pain to the patient. The patient can receive an interpretation of the results after 72 hours. There are some ways to pass scraping to identify the parasite.
Eyelash analysis
The analysis of eyelashes is a rather informative technique for identifying the causative agent of demodicosis. At the same time, doctors pull out several eyelashes from the upper and lower eyelids. The material is placed under glass on special reagents. After that, the laboratory assistant conducts an examination: examines the biological material under a microscope.
This is the analysis.
Demodex skin scraping
Scraping is carried out with inflammatory processes on the skin. Biomaterial is collected from damaged facial skin. If there are no significant signs of damage to the skin, then the biomaterial is taken from several places: from the head, face, ears, thigh, etc. Using a scalpel, the specialist separates a small fragment of the epidermis, takes a purulent discharge from the inflamed follicle. After that, an alkali solution is added to the collected material. After this manipulation, the specialist evaluates the area of the skin under examination under a microscope.
With positive results, the doctor is prescribed a treatment regimen, this allows you to quickly get rid of this disease. During the study, a specialist can identify two varieties of parasites:
- long demodex;
- short demodex.
In a sense, it is more difficult to cope with a variant of a short parasite, since it can penetrate into the deeper layers of the epidermis, where they also reproduce. Negative results are set not only in the absence of a tick, but also traces of their presence in the body. Positive results are given if the specialist noticed the shell of the tick, the parasite itself or its egg.
In addition to laboratory diagnosis of demodex, you can conduct a study at home.
Home collection
If the patient does not have the opportunity to analyze in a specialized institution, you can take the biological material yourself. Rules for scraping for demodicosis:
- preparation of adhesive tape and slides, which can be taken in advance in the laboratory;
- in the evening the tape is glued to the skin of the body and face, then glued to the glass;
- the finished biomaterial should be taken to the medical laboratory for examination.
If the patient has rashes that are accompanied by itching, then this is the body's response to the defeat of Demodex.
Causes of the disease
The most common factors leading to the development of pathology are:
- disturbances in the work of the liver and other digestive organs;
- hormonal cosmetic preparations;
- dysfunctions in the sebaceous glands;
- dysfunctions of the nervous system;
- depressive states;
- frequent stresses.
The pathological process is accompanied by symptoms of discomfort, therapy is prescribed after examination of the affected areas.
What are the symptoms of demodex on eyelashes and other parts of the body?
Symptoms
Manifestations that indicate tick activity:
- itching in the scalp;
- hair loss;
- discomfort in the auditory organs;
- acne eruptions;
- youthful acne;
- pustules and sores on the face;
- itching in the eyelashes;
- gray complexion;
- enlarged pores;
- excessive oily skin.
Most often, the visual manifestations of the disease are noted on the face, and with advanced stages of the disease traces of the parasite are noted on the chest, back and hips. Eye damage is accompanied by foamy discharge, tearing, eyelash loss, swelling of the eyelids.
How to cure demodex?
Treatment
With the medical treatment of this disease, drugs such as Delex-Acne Forte, Delex-Acne are prescribed. As a supplement, a variety of creams with anti-inflammatory properties, antiviral, immunomodulatory, antibacterial agents are used. The selection of medicines is carried out individually, based on the data of diagnostic studies. When conducting therapy, special attention should be paid to cosmetic procedures, which include:
- cryomassage using liquid nitrogen (the procedure removes redness of the skin);
- mesotherapy, in which the vascular walls are strengthened;
- lymphatic drainage massage, which eliminates the bumps and spots that accompany this disease.
Home Therapy
There are many methods that will alleviate the symptoms of the disease and show high effectiveness.
Folk recipes:
- Juniper berries are crushed in a mortar or passed through a coffee grinder, poured with a glass of boiling water, infused for about 7 hours. This infusion makes lotions on the affected areas. The procedure should be carried out 2-3 times a day.
- Linden blossom is poured with boiling water, languishes in a water bath for 10-15 minutes. Such a solution is intended for rubbing the skin of the face, the procedure is carried out twice a day.
- Buckthorn bark is poured with a glass of water, after which it should be boiled for 15 minutes under a lid. Infusion is recommended for compresses on the skin of the face. Before lotions you need to wipe the skin with alcohol tincture. The procedure is carried out twice a day.
- Grind the wormwood grass into a powder mass, add alum, honey, vegetable oil, crushed viburnum berries, after which the mixture must be mixed to a creamy consistency. Such an ointment is applied to cotton pieces of tissue, which must be applied to the face for two hours, after which it is washed with salted water.
Now it became known how to pass a demodex test, what it is, how to treat it.