Demodicosis – a little-known disease that is very common among adults. This is because of its symptoms, which are often confused with other conditions – mainly eyes, skin and allergic reactions. It is caused by an arachnid called Demodex, located in our sebaceous glands and hair follicles. Its food consists of sebum and lipids. Infection usually occurs through contact with an infected person. What else is worth knowing about demodicosis and how to recognize it?
Demodex “inhabits” various parts of the body, especially when it occurs in large clusters: the nasolabial fold, around the nose, eyes, forehead, chin, scalp, eyebrows, intimate areas, as well as eyebrows and eyelashes.
Infection is usually caused by (not necessarily direct) contact with an infected person, e.g. by touching objects that he used, e.g. cosmetics, hairbrush, etc. This is why the risk demodicosis it also applies to places where such items are used by many people – mainly beauty and hairdressing salons. Persons professionally engaged in research under a microscope are also at risk. Unfortunately, these are not the only areas of activity of the parasite – they can be carried by air currents and dust.
This problem affects most adults, because children do not produce as much sebum. The vast range of demodex is shown by the fact that even from 70 to 100% of people over the age of seventy are carriers of this parasite. Still, it doesn’t cause demodicosis in everyone. The most at risk are:
- elderly people,
- People living under stress
- With weakened immunity,
- allergy sufferers,
- People with hormonal or lipid disorders,
- With combination or seborrheic skin,
- With recurrent inflammation of the skin.
To treat the disease, you need to use ointments, creams, preparations, mainly anti-inflammatory. Although it takes up to several months, it allows you to completely get rid of the symptoms.
How to recognize demodicosis?
Usually these are skin symptoms, although in some people it is completely asymptomatic (which is why so many people do not know that they are carriers of the parasite). Unfortunately, the symptoms Demodicosis they resemble the symptoms of other diseases, which also makes diagnosis difficult. Therefore, tests are needed to detect the parasite, which can also be done privately, and their cost is low. The most common symptoms of demodicosis include:
- itching,
- blemishes,
- red skin,
- Acne-like pustules,
- peeling of the skin,
- Blackheads, blackheads.
Demodex it intensifies the symptoms of some skin diseases, i.e. acne, inflammation of the corners of the mouth, dermatitis, etc., it also happens that it causes symptoms similar to alopecia areata (if it has affected the scalp). The presence of the parasite around the eyes causes symptoms such as:
- Sensitivity to light, smoke, dust,
- Itching, burning, redness within the eyelids,
- Scales around the eyelids,
- Feeling of dry eyes
- “Dandruff” around the eyelashes, as well as their discoloration and brittleness,
- Bacterial attacks – chalazion, barley.