A subcutaneous tick on the face causes a serious illness - demodecosis. This pathology greatly affects the condition of the skin. Moreover, not only the external appearance of a person suffers. In advanced cases, the disease is accompanied by painful itching and a sensation of crawling of an insect on the face. Such symptoms are especially disturbing for patients at night, which causes insomnia. In severe cases, the skin is covered with purulent and bloody crusts. This disease must be detected and treated on time, otherwise the pathology can spread to the eyes and other parts of the body.
What is a subcutaneous tick
A subcutaneous tick in a person's face is called demodex. It is a small parasite with a worm-shaped body shape. Its length is not more than 0.5 mm. Due to its small size, the parasite is not visible to the naked eye, it can only be detected with a microscope. Demodex is present on the skin in most healthy people. The norm is considered if 4-5 ticks are found on 1 cm 2 of skin. In such an amount, Demodex does not cause any pathological manifestations. It even helps maintain the acid-base balance of the skin. However, in the presence of adverse factors, an active reproduction of the skin tick on the face occurs. In this case, a disease occurs - demodicosis.
The tick lives in the sebaceous glands and hair follicles, it clings to them with the help of special scales on the body. Demodex eats fat, skin cells, as well as cosmetic residues. Photo parasite can be seen in the article.
Parasite development cycle
The cycle of tick development on the face lasts from 15 to 25 days. First, the female Demodex lays eggs in the hair follicles. After 60 hours, a larva appears. She is not able to move, but she actively feeds on the secretions of the sebaceous glands.
After a few days, the larva becomes a nymph. She can move freely on the surface of the skin. The nymph is an intermediate stage of development between the larva and the adult. Then it turns into a mature tick. Demodex again lays eggs in the hair follicles and dies. Further, the development cycle is repeated anew.
Provocative factors
The active development of the tick on the person’s face and the increase in the number of the parasite occurs only under the influence of additional adverse factors. These include:
- Decreased immunity. The weakening of the body's defenses leads to increased reproduction of ticks.
- The use of local and internal agents with corticosteroids. Prolonged use of drugs with adrenal hormones causes a malfunction in the immune system and can trigger an increase in the number of parasites on the skin.
- The abuse of creams. A subcutaneous tick on the face loves a greasy environment. Excessive and frequent application of cosmetics creates a breeding ground for the parasite.
- Endocrine diseases. A tick on the face often appears in patients with diabetes mellitus, adrenal gland pathologies and the pituitary gland. These diseases lead to increased oily skin, which is a favorable environment for demodex. In addition, hormonal disruptions often cause a deterioration in the functioning of the immune system.
- Acne on the skin and oily seborrhea of the head. These diseases cause increased functioning of the sebaceous glands, and in a greasy environment, parasites actively multiply.
- Exposure to high temperatures. Demodecosis often occurs among lovers of tanning and tanning beds. A too frequent visit to the sauna and bath can also provoke the disease. Demodex is a heat-loving tick, it is active at temperatures above + 35 degrees.
- Improper nutrition. Excessive intake of fats leads to increased work of the sebaceous glands. As a result, the tick begins to multiply intensively.
Is demodecosis transmitted from the patient
Is a tick transmitted from person to person? You can get infected from a patient only by contact with secretions of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles. Infection also occurs through bed linen and towels. However, even in this case, not every person develops demodicosis. The tick develops in people with oily skin and reduced immunity.
To prevent infection, the patient and members of his family are recommended to use Stop Demodex liquid soap . It reduces the risk of infection. In addition, soap helps to strengthen the skin's immunity and helps the body fight the parasite.
Cats and dogs also suffer from demodicosis. However, a person cannot be infected by them. In domestic animals, this disease is caused by another type of tick that is not pathogenic to humans.
Symptoms of demodicosis on the face
Symptoms and treatment of ticks on the face depend on the stage of the disease. In the initial (prodromal) period of the disease, hyperemic areas periodically form on the skin. They differ from ordinary facial redness in that they have clearly defined boundaries.
This symptom of a subcutaneous tick on the face is aggravated in stressful situations, after drinking alcohol and eating spicy food. Usually, at this stage of the disease, a person does not attach importance to such manifestations and does not connect them with the presence of a parasite under the skin. But if you identify the cause of redness in the early stages, then treating a tick on the face is much easier and you can easily get rid of the disease.
Without the appointment of therapy, the disease passes into the erythematous stage. Redness intensifies and becomes permanent. A person is worried about itching. This is an allergic reaction to the release of parasites. There is a sensation of crawling insects on the skin of the face. At this stage, this pathology is also easily cured even at home.
Then the pathology flows into a papulopustular form. Acne and acne form on the face. The skin becomes oily and shiny due to increased secretion of the sebaceous glands. Such symptoms of ticks on the face require immediate medical attention. Otherwise, the disease will progress. However, patients often take manifestations of demodicosis as a common acne. It should be remembered that the sudden appearance of pustules on the skin of the face can be a sign of a parasitic disease.
Without treatment, demodicosis becomes hypertrophic. Symptoms of a subcutaneous tick on the face become pronounced and greatly spoil the appearance of a person. Areas of thickened skin appear on the skin. The face is covered with growths in the form of cones and large ulcers. The nose grows in size and turns red. In such advanced cases, it is rather difficult to treat demodicosis.
Ocular form of the disease
A tick can affect not only the cheeks, forehead and chin area. There is also an ocular form of demodicosis. In this case, the parasite actively multiplies in the ciliary follicles. This is manifested by the following symptoms:
- Eye fatigue. Due to impaired functioning of the eyelashes, the patient has to constantly strain his eyes. This leads to increased fatigue of the organ of vision.
- Eyelash loss and clumping. The tick affects the cells that hold the eyelashes in the follicle. Hair loss occurs. Due to the inflammatory process, eyelids form on the eyelids, which lead to the adhesion of eyelashes.
- Inflammation of the eyelids. The pathological process occurs due to the increased work and blockage of the sebaceous glands. In addition, an allergic reaction to the waste products of the parasite occurs in the body.
These manifestations are accompanied by itching and peeling of the skin in the region of the edges of the eyelids.
Diagnostics
To detect demodicosis, it is necessary to conduct a microscopic analysis of the biomaterial from the affected areas of the skin. Before the study, the patient is not recommended to wash with high alkali products and use creams. This can distort the diagnostic results. Ticks are most active in the morning, so the tests are carried out in the morning. The following examinations are prescribed:
- Scraping from affected skin. Using a small scalpel, the upper layer of the epidermis is carefully scraped off from the affected areas. The material is examined under a microscope. Sometimes the contents of blackheads are taken for analysis, they are squeezed out using a special device.
- Tape study. In the evening, a special adhesive-based tape is applied to the affected areas of the skin. It is left overnight, and then removed and sent for microbiological analysis.
- Ciliary test. This method is used for the ocular form of the disease. In a person, several eyelashes are pulled out with tweezers and examined under a microscope.
During the study, the number of parasites per 1 cm 2 of skin is counted. If their number is more than 5, then the patient is diagnosed with demodecosis.
Drug therapy
How to get rid of a subcutaneous tick on the face? The course of therapy for demodicosis is quite long, it takes from 2 to 3 months. Usually use local products in the form of ointments, gels, shampoos. It is recommended to use such drugs, which are not only capable of destroying demodex, but also have anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and degreasing properties. The following agents have a similar effect:
- "Metronidazole". The drug is released in the form of a gel. It suppresses the oxidation reaction in the skin and creates adverse conditions for the parasite. However, it is currently believed that ticks have developed resistance to this tool.
- "Zinc-ichthyol paste". This medicine dries the skin and has a bactericidal effect. Zinc is detrimental to ticks. This element makes breathing of the parasite difficult, which leads to the death of demodex.
- Sulfodecortem. The drug is produced in the form of an ointment. The composition of the agent includes sulfur, this substance destroys parasites. In addition, the ointment eliminates inflammatory and allergic reactions.
- Permethrin. This remedy is in the form of a shampoo, it is used for demodicosis of the head. The drug has a detrimental effect on arthropods.
It is important to remember that the effect of treating a demodex tick on the face may not be immediately noticeable, especially in the later stages of the disease. Acne and acne may appear again, in which case the course of treatment must be repeated. Together with local drugs, immunomodulators are used: Immunal, Viferon, Timogen, as well as vitamins. When a bacterial infection is attached, antibiotics are prescribed.
The following drugs are indicated for the treatment of the ocular form of the disease:
- Ointment for eyes "Physostigmine". This tool paralyzes the muscles of the demodex and leads to the death of the parasite.
- Drops "Armin", "Fosfakol", "Tosmilen". These drugs act on the tick in a similar way. They inhibit the activity of cholinesterase in the body of an arthropod and immobilize it. As a result, demodexes die.
For the treatment process to be more effective, careful face care is necessary. It is recommended to use scrubs and peels to clean the skin. However, it is necessary to consult a doctor, not all cosmetic procedures are useful for demodicosis. During treatment, you should avoid long exposure to the sun, visiting the solarium, baths and saunas.
Treatment with folk remedies
Treatment of a subcutaneous tick on the face at home should be carried out after diagnosis and consultation with a doctor. You can use the following traditional medicine to help get rid of demodex:
- Sagebrush. This herb is capable of removing parasites. 2 tablespoons of the dried plant is poured into a glass of boiling water and insisted for 5 hours. Gauze is moistened in the prepared solution and applied to problem areas. The compress should be kept on the face for about 15-20 minutes. The treatment is repeated 2 times a day.
- Celandine. 250 mg of the root of the plant is poured into 300 ml of sunflower oil. The composition is kept for 2 days under the sun. The product is applied to affected skin before bedtime.
- Castor oil. This drug can be purchased at the pharmacy, it is used for the ocular form of demodicosis. A thin layer of oil is applied forever in the morning and evening. In this case, care must be taken to ensure that the drug does not get into the eyes, as it can cause scleral burns.
- Tar household soap. Birch tar has insecticidal properties and is able to destroy ticks. The soap is ground on a grater and mixed with a small amount of water. You can add a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide and 4 drops of iodine to the composition. The mask is applied to the affected area, left for 10 to 20 minutes, and then washed off. The tool is used twice a day.
Diet and hygiene rules
Treatment of a demodex tick on the face will be more effective if the patient follows the rules of the diet and follows hygiene. It is necessary to exclude from the diet spicy, salty and fatty foods, and also to avoid the use of alcohol. The consumption of sweet foods should be minimized, since glucose is a nutrient medium for the tick. Violation of these rules can lead to a relapse of the disease.
The patient needs to wipe his face with disposable sanitary napkins, not towels. Clothes should be washed every 2 days. Sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases should be changed daily. In this case, pillows with down and feather should be replaced with bedding with padding polyester. Synthetic materials are an unfavorable habitat for demodex.
It is also important to disinfect all objects in contact with the patient's face. Glasses and shaving accessories must be wiped with alcohol.
Compliance with these rules will help to avoid re-infection and relapse of the disease.
Prevention
To prevent demodicosis, it is necessary not to create favorable conditions for the active reproduction of the parasite. You need to eat as little fatty foods as possible. You can not abuse the tan, procedures in the solarium, as well as visiting the bath and sauna. It is necessary to maintain immunity at a high level.
It is necessary to timely treat endocrine pathologies. In the presence of acne and seborrhea, you need to undergo a course of therapy with a cosmetologist and use drying agents. Face creams should be applied sparingly and remove their excess with a napkin. These measures will help reduce the risk of demodicosis.