Demodecosis (demodex) is a fairly common disease of the skin and eyelids. It causes a number of unpleasant symptoms. At the same time, the skin looks extremely unaesthetic. To begin the treatment of eyelash demodicosis, it is necessary to conduct the correct diagnosis. Only after this, the doctor prescribes suitable drugs. What features, complications and consequences may the presented disease carry will be discussed below.
general description
Demodecosis in humans is manifested by a number of unpleasant symptoms. It provokes a special microorganism. This is a tick called demodex. He can live quietly on the eyelashes of a healthy person, without showing himself. However, when creating favorable conditions, this microorganism begins to multiply actively. As a result, the products of his life lead to negative effects on the skin.
Tick clogs the ducts of the sebaceous sacs. The secret contained in them begins to thicken. Sebum and dead epithelial cells begin to form plugs. The pores also create conditions for the favorable development of pathogenic microorganisms.
Often teenagers are subject to demodicosis. Sebaceous glands at this age are more active, which increases the likelihood of developing parasites. Also, a similar ailment is often found in older people. If a person suffers from frequent skin diseases, such as rosacea, he is also at risk.
At a temperature of about 30 ° C this tick feels especially good. Demodecosis often develops in the spring precisely for this reason. It also affects vitamin deficiency. With an increase in temperature in the summer, after taking a hot bath, a prolonged stay in a room with warm air, the disease begins to develop more actively. Areas of skin with a large number of hair follicles are especially attractive for ticks. For its life, sebaceous glands and a sufficient flow of air are needed. Therefore, foci of inflammation develop on the face.
Causes of occurrence
Before you begin treatment for demodicosis of the eyelids, you need to know the causes of its occurrence. Experts do not have an unequivocal opinion on why this disease occurs. However, a number of factors are known that provoke it. A change in the activity of the tick can be affected by a change in the acid-base balance of the skin. However, household infection is not excluded.
A number of factors that affect the production of sebaceous secretion by the glands are also highlighted. They also provoke an increase in the activity of parasites. Among these factors include failures in metabolic processes, as well as in the digestive system. Also, diseases of the cardiovascular system, which are accompanied by circulatory disorders, can affect the development of pathology. The list of internal causes includes diseases of the respiratory and nervous systems, chronic inflammatory diseases, acute intoxication of the body after drinking alcohol, drugs.
The development of the disease is possible due to tissue injury, violation of the integrity of the epithelium. Reduced immunity leads to the development of many diseases. Demodecosis is one of them. A similar disease affects people with oily skin. Also, when taking certain drugs, a similar ailment may appear.
External factors
Demodecosis in humans can be caused by a number of external factors. They are divided into three groups. The first category of external factors includes products that provoke increased production of sebum. This activates the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms. This category includes sweet, fatty, salty, high-calorie foods. It can also be a food rich in spices, coffee, chocolate.
The second group of factors includes adverse climatic conditions. These include elevated air temperatures indoors or outdoors, high humidity. Also, solar radiation can cause the process of tick development.
The third group of factors is insufficient, improper body care. This category includes neglect of personal hygiene rules, the constant use of cosmetics. It is especially dangerous if mascara, eye shadow or cream is not washed off before bedtime. Some cosmetic procedures can also damage the skin or stimulate the sebaceous glands. These include peeling, grinding and scrubbing.
How to treat demodicosis? First of all, it is necessary to remove adverse factors. Without this, treatment would not be effective. Perhaps demodicosis is the cause of a more serious internal disease (for example, hormonal failure, decreased immunity, etc.). Only after this can you use medications that will reduce the tick population on the skin.
Symptom
Demodecosis on the eyelashes in a child and an adult is manifested by a number of symptoms. When the first signs appear, you need to urgently consult a dermatologist. The skin of the eyelids turns red. Such symptoms can occur only in some areas of the epithelium.
The skin in the affected areas becomes thicker. It takes on an earthy hue. Another common symptom of this disease is severe itching in the evening and at night. The tick is less active during the day. He wakes up in the evening and is awake at night.
Purulent acne with subcutaneous liquid secretion appears on the affected areas. After squeezing them, pits and erosion appear. Such traces do not heal for a long time. In advanced cases, a papillomavirus may appear. The epidermis is peeling.
Eyelashes begin to grow more slowly. In some cases, the disease is present on the eyebrows, where the same symptoms are observed. A person begins to scratch damaged areas, injuring them even more. The surface of the skin becomes bumpy due to subcutaneous formations. The pores are constantly expanded.
In advanced cases, the symptoms of eyelash demodicosis become very noticeable. The eyelids turn red, swell. Hair in the affected areas falls out. The appearance of a person varies greatly. Crusts appear on the eyelids, which itch and peel. This disease is also dangerous with a number of complications that affect the eyes.
Complications
Treatment of demodicosis of the eyelids should be timely and as effective as possible. Otherwise, various complications appear. A number of other manifestations are added to the unpleasant symptoms. With severe skin lesions, scars form. They are interspersed with calcium deposits. The structure of the skin varies greatly. It becomes extremely difficult to remove such defects even after cure.
A tick affects the sebaceous glands. In these areas, the structure of the walls of the vessels changes. Exchange processes are also undergoing changes. The skin loses its protective function. Over time, facial expressions develop. Mite waste products can lead to allergies. Eyes become susceptible to inflammatory, infectious diseases of various types. Self-medication in this case is extremely dangerous. Intoxication of the body can occur due to the uncontrolled use of drugs.
One complication is blepharitis. Eyes begin to tire quickly. Pustular formations, discharge appear.
Treatment for eyelash demodicosis should be immediate. In advanced stages, this disease leads to the development of nervous pathologies. The mental state of a person can worsen significantly. Especially negatively, such a disease affects pregnant women. Significant complications can also occur in childhood, adolescence. Stress, nervous breakdowns can occur much more often, since the psyche reacts differently to external pathogens.
Diagnostics
How to treat demodicosis? Like any other disease, this condition requires proper diagnosis. Need to seek help from a dermatologist or ophthalmologist. At the reception, the doctor will conduct a visual examination. He will determine how the skin looks. The eyelids look swollen, and mucus accumulates in the corners of the eyes. There are also signs of eyelash loss.
The patient is then questioned about the symptoms present. After that, material is collected for research under a microscope. For analysis, the patient collects mucus in the corners of the eyes, and also take 4 eyelashes from the upper and lower eyelids. If more than 2 ticks are found on them, the diagnosis is confirmed. In this case, appropriate treatment is prescribed.
The treatment regimen for demodicosis of the eyelids and eyelashes includes several techniques. This is an integrated approach, which includes a number of steps. First of all, the patient conducts special hygiene procedures. The following is the use of medications. If the stage of the disease is advanced, antibiotics are used in the form of eye drops. Physiotherapeutic effects are also prescribed.
It is very important to pay attention to the rules of hygiene. This disease can be contagious. Therefore, a sick person should use an individual towel, bedding. Medicines act both on the tick itself and on the secretion of the sebaceous glands. It is very important to create the necessary conditions for quality treatment.
Medicines
Treatment of demodicosis on eyelashes with ointments is possible with unreleased stages of the disease. Also, the lesion should not be extensive. In this case, local medicines will be effective. Ointments and creams are used in combination with other methods.
Almost all ointments reduce the parasite population. At the same time, they stimulate the regeneration processes in the tissues. Apply the funds strictly according to the instructions. Before use, cleanse the skin with an ear stick and special degreasing compounds. This reduces the risk of complications.
A doctor can prescribe for a person an ointment for demodicosis of eyelashes “Yam”, “Blefarogel”, “Demazol”, “Amitrazole”, “Teagel”, “Glycodem”, etc. The choice of a drug depends on the degree of the disease, the extent of the lesion. In the presence of complications, therapy should be more effective.
Your doctor may prescribe a number of other medicines. These can be drugs with antiparasitic action. It is especially important to take orally similar tablets with reduced immunity. With the development of pustular foci, antibiotics are prescribed. When a fungal disease appears, the use of appropriate medications is also required. For children, drops are preferable.
Together with medications, vitamins are prescribed. This allows you to strengthen the immune system. It is especially important that in such complexes there is a sufficient amount of vitamins A and E. This stimulates the regeneration of the skin.
Physiotherapy
Some patients are interested in whether it is possible to color eyelashes with demodicosis of the eyelids. The answer of the doctor will be unequivocal. This cannot be done. In addition to medications, it will be necessary to create conditions for the rapid healing of the skin. In this case, it is necessary to cleanse the pores of accumulated sebum, to strengthen the nutrition and access of oxygen to the epithelium.
In combination with medicines, a number of physiotherapeutic effects are used. This contributes to the speedy healing of the skin. Physiotherapy involves the use of electrophoresis. At the same time, medications are also used. Electrophoresis enhances their effect. This procedure helps to suppress the inflammatory process in the acute stage.
Physiotherapy allows faster healing of scars on the skin. This restores the natural hairline. The appearance of the eyelids, eyelashes and eyebrows quickly returns to normal.
Other impacts
In addition to physiotherapy, a number of other effects are used. There are many modern methods. One of them is cryotherapy. This method is suitable for targeted exposure to an area of skin with a large accumulation of parasites.
After suppressing acute inflammation, the doctor may prescribe microdermabrasion. This is necessary to remove the overgrown deformed skin layer.
A bactericidal effect is exerted by ozone therapy. Chemical peeling may also be performed. It has a cauterizing effect.
After the main course of treatment, laser therapy is used. It helps restore skin, prevents the development of complications.
ethnoscience
Treatment of demodicosis of eyelashes can also be supplemented with alternative recipes. Most often used infusions of medicinal plants. To do this, brew calendula, yarrow, golden mustache. Sometimes skin rubbing is carried out with alcohol. However, in the eye area this action is unsafe. Alcohol tinctures can only be used in the eyebrow area. In this case, a skin sensitivity test is performed. Otherwise, the product can provoke a burn.
Having examined the features of the development and treatment of eyelash demodicosis, we can conclude the need for timely diagnosis. The presented disease can have many complications. To avoid this, you need to take appropriate action on time.