How to Treat Hair Mites in Humans

Hair mites are most commonly found on a person's eyelashes and eyebrows, and don't usually cause any symptoms. However, in people with deficiencies in their immune system, they have been linked to various health conditions, including acne, dermatitis, rosacea, and hair loss.

Demodex folliculorum and dermodex brevis are the two main types of hair mites in humans. They live in the hair follicles, and in the sebaceous glands (oil glands) respectively. They are both refered to as demodicosis 1. Depending on which form of hair mite you have, and what symptoms the hair mites are producing on your face or in your hair, you can opt for a number of treatments for your demodicosis 1.

Hair Mites Treatment from your dermatologist

Visit your dermatologist. They will be able to diagnose what kind of hair mite you have by putting one of your eyelashes under a microscope.

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If you have hair mites, the dermatologist will lure them to the surface of the hair follicle with a chemical agent, and then treat your eyelids and brows with a 0.5% proparacaine solution. After five minutes, they will apply a solution of 70% alcohol.

Repeat these treatments at the dermatologist for three weeks.

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Continue to treat the hair mites at home in between visits to the dermatologist.

Home Treatments For Hair Mites

If you have a diagnosis of hair mites, discard all your eye makeup. Do not wear any during the duration of the treatment, approximately one month.

Disinfect all sheets and towels to prevent re-infection. Buy new pillows.

Check your domestic partner and children; if everyone has a hair mite problem, all will need to be treated.

Check pets for any signs of mange, and treat them accordingly.

Scrub the eyelids and eyebrows twice daily with baby shampoo diluted with water to yield a 50% dilution.

Apply 50% tea tree oil with 50% Macadamia nut oil carefully to the lashes and brows with cotton tip applicators. Get the oil into the lash roots and along the lashes to kill any eggs. Treat the eyebrows as well.

Apply the antibiotic ointment you have been prescribed until the symptoms clear up. Mercury oxide 1% ointment, pilocarpine gel, or tetracaine are the most common treatments for hair mites.

Use tea tree oil soap to wash your face daily.

Continue with all treatments until the symptoms disappear. A return trip the the dermatologist will determine if you have successfully removed your hair mites.

Tips

If inflammation is present, the dermatologist may prescribe a combination steroid-antibiotic ointment for one week.

If the hair mites have caused severe skin symptoms like acne or rosacea, oral antibiotics like tetracycline may be prescribed. Complete all doses of the ointments or oral antibiotics to clear the hair mites.

Tea tree oil is a natural antinflammatory with antiseptic properties, and excellent for discouraging acne.

Warnings

Be careful when applying any strong solution along the eyelashes.

Don't forget to treat the eyebrows as well.

For men, these treatments should include treating the facial hair, such as moustache, beard and sideburns. They might want to consider shaving facial hair closely.