Antonio (Santiago, Reg. Metropolitana, Chile) on 01/16/2010
Hello,
I am not a doctor, as Ted's contributions I would also like to help out with my survey and solution for this problem according to my own experience :
a) Uncomprehensible dermatologists does not know about this...and you lose lot of time with wrong diagnosis, problem getting worse, wrong treatments, being contagious,...
b) Skin thickness is a factor on the effectiveness on treatments
c) Stage of evolution of this insect is another factor on the effectiveness of treatments
To start with:
Babies: as they have thin skin, alcohol (ideally on gel to last more over the skin) kill the mites. Apply very small amount three times during one day and they are dead. Apply them to red dot supposed to be a mite attack. Caution: as the skin is so thin any product applied is absorbed so take caution on the amount of surface covered and on the amount and concentration applied, be very conservative on this.
Adults: When the mites are only superficial on a very early stage of development you can use alcohol too to kill them. Important here is to reach the wrinkles.
As you may notice the face skin is usually more thick than the rest of the body so it will be more effective on the rest of the body than the skin.
At an more advanced stage of development of the mite:
It will penetrate more deeply and form some structures so you can not reach them with alcohol and can not reach them with most of the products. So here we have the Ted solutions and I will introduce you another one:
Have you ever wonder why the mite does not develop inside the mouth or why they are destroyed when attack our lips ?
Well it's the SALIVA that degradates them.
So a solution for Demodex attacking our face is to apply Saliva on our face... but there are more strongest saliva than others. If somebody have very good teeth without too much care effort it shall be bacause their saliva is more concentrated ... this is what we need to use. Apply it and let it dry before a new application. If you are accumulating saliva you may keep if on cold at the refrigerate in order it to maintain it's properties. (of course it's a good advice to wash the teeth carefully before accumulating saliva in order to have it the cleanest possible). A good saliva is the best solution it degradates the mites and it's structures, it's safe, no toxic, acts like a miracle...
A product that works similar are the enzymes that are sold concentrated and you dilute in order to apply to your body. As they are composed of about four types of enzimes you have to make shure you are receiving a good balance of them, I mean a well mixed products because not all of them acts nor are they all as effective.
I hope I am helping here, any feedbak will be appreciated
Replied By Ruth (Hobart, Tasmania) on 01/17/2010
Replied By Antonio (Santiago, Reg. Metropolitana, Chile) on 01/27/2010
Regarding your comment on the USA product you tried. I understand we can not post the name here, but if we are talking on the same I would like to comment that as discussed with them, they have improvement their mixing, so you may want to try another new bottled from them. Talk to them before purchasing.
Replied By Antonio (Santiago, Chile) on 04/25/2011
Just put them into the microwave oven, always with a cup of water (so you prevent a fire! ), this for 1min 30 or 45 seconds.
Replied By Alva Myrdall (Nashua Nh) on 06/01/2015
Now to add to your idea I wonder if glycerin would kill them too.The most challenging is how to prevent them from mating.The eggs are incredibly strong to dissolve. I was combing using a flea comb in front of the stove as I wanted to see if there is an odor that will elicited while they are burnt. I have a stove that is able to do this & it is on the highest setting but the eggs would not burn or pop.
To add to this idea I tend to believe that glycerin might be an adjunct to saliva to quell the enzymes that these mites feeds on.
I am not fully convinced that they are just parasitic in nature but of course nothing is exact science that is not subject to change.
Replied By Brenda (East Texas) on 06/09/2015
Alternative treatment: One thing that I found that made a huge difference with mites crawling on my scalp is Pine Tar hair conditioner. Oil your scalp with it and around your ears and eyebrows. (You can buy it at Sally's in the US or order it online from Amazon.) It smells like pine tar so you might just want to use it when you are at home and shampoo it out before you leave home to go to work. (I leave it on while I am shopping and it does not appear to offend people, but in close quarters, it will offend others.)
A better smelling alternative: Mix equal parts dry mustard with water and leave it for 10 minutes. Mix one part mustard mix with 1 1/2 parts oil or lotion. Apply on your scalp areas only, not your hair. Actually, this works all over your body.