Treating Demodex Blepharitis with Cliradex
Blepharitis is an inflammation or irritation of the eyelid that produces uncomfortable symptoms like burning, itching and watery or dry eyes. Demodex mites, which commonly live on your eyelids, can be a cause of blepharitis. If you have a weakened immune system or are a senior, you may have a greater chance of developing the demodicosis, or overgrowth of Demodex, that leads to these irritating symptoms. However, it isn’t always clear why you might be more susceptible to Demodex blepharitis than someone else. What matters most to you, of course, is how to overcome the condition. A convenient eyelid cleansing product like Cliradex towelettes can help you avoid a continuing overpopulation of troublesome mites.
Demodex Mites, Blepharitis and Cleaning Your Eyelids
Demodex mites are tiny parasites that eat epithelial (skin) cells. You will almost certainly have at least one of the two most common Demodex species living on and around your eyes and other parts of your face. Demodex folliculorum like to inhabit the area around your eyelashes, while Demodex brevis mites are more commonly found in the sebaceous (oil) glands on other parts of your face.
Blepharitis is the name for a condition where your eyelids are inflamed. The results of eyelid inflammation are similar to any other type of inflammation you might see on your skin: redness, itch, pain and a feeling of heat or stinging. The discomfort and disruption of having itchy, dry or watery eyes can interfere with your daily activities like driving and reading. You may also be distressed by the effect blepharitis has on your appearance if your eyelids are swollen, red or crusty. Blepharitis can be caused by several things, from bacteria to allergies. However, many eyecare professionals believe that Demodex mites are often overlooked as a source of this inflammation.
Demodex mites can irritate your skin in several ways, from feeding on your skin cells to laying their eggs in your eyelash follicles or in your oil glands. Your skin might also be irritated by the waste products that Demodex mites release after digestion. Even after they are dead, these bothersome mites may still be able to irritate your skin. That is because substances released from the Demodex once they die can provoke inflammation.
When all the products of the Demodex mites’ feeding, digestion and reproduction clump together along your eyelash follicles, they can form “collarettes” that are a hallmark of Demodex blepharitis. As disgusting as all this sounds, a simple eye cleaning solution like Cliradex towelettes or foaming cleansers can remove mites and their waste with regular use.
How Do You Know If You Have Demodex Blepharitis?
Several indicators may suggest that the source of your eye irritation is Demodex blepharitis. If you have swollen eyelids, eyelid pain and itching or a feeling of something in your eye that you can’t rinse out, your eyecare professional can evaluate whether it might be blepharitis. Your doctor will especially look for the sleeves or collarettes of waste that form the characteristic buildup along the bottom of your lashes. Broken or prominent blood vessels and eyelid redness may also be present.
Blepharitis and chronic dry eye are two conditions that can often be found in the same patient. If you’ve been treated for dry eye and are diagnosed with Demodex blepharitis, your dry eye may improve once your Demodex overgrowth is treated. Ocular rosacea causes redness, discomfort and watering of the eyes, and it is another condition that frequently occurs alongside Demodex blepharitis. Keratitis, which is an inflammation of the cornea, is yet another condition that is often connected with blepharitis.
As you can see, Demodex blepharitis shares many symptoms with several other conditions that affect your eyes and eyelids. For this reason, your eyecare professional may find it challenging to determine whether you have Demodex blepharitis instead of something else. You may even have both demodicosis and another problem at the same time. Arriving at an accurate and complete diagnosis can therefore take some time and testing.
If you’ve been under treatment for a similar or related eye diagnosis and are not having good results, that could be a reason for your eyecare professional to look at the possibility of Demodex blepharitis. Your eyecare provider will first examine the visible symptoms you are experiencing, as well as the general condition of your eyes and eyelids. In addition to considering these apparent physical signs that your eyes are presenting, your doctor may use microscopic examination of your eyelashes to help confirm a Demodex-related diagnosis.
Treating Demodex Blepharitis with Tea Tree Oil
The best treatment for your Demodex blepharitis is one with the capability to reduce the number of mites living on your face in addition to reducing the symptoms caused by the mites. One popular treatment that accomplishes each of these goals is tea tree oil. Your eyecare professional may treat you with tea tree oil in their office, recommend tea tree products for you to apply at home or both.
Tea tree oil is the active ingredient in many anti-Demodex skin cleansers, such as Cliradex towelettes. Cleansers containing tea tree oil effectively remove some of the offending Demodex byproducts that are causing irritation. More importantly, the tea tree oil contains a substance that helps to kill mites, attacking the root cause of your problem. For best results, you should use the tea tree oil cleansing product not only on your eyelids but also on other Demodex-harboring areas such as your forehead and cheeks.
The part of tea tree oil that is most effective in killing Demodex mites is a compound known as 4-terpineol or Terpinen-4-ol. Terpenin-4-ol can flush the mites out of their hiding places in the oil glands and follicles. Once the mites emerge from your pores, many of them are killed outright by the 4-terpinol contained in the tea tree oil. In addition, you can more easily wash or wipe off the mites once they are exposed in this way.
You will encounter treatments and cleansers with a range of concentrations of the active ingredient. Your eyecare provider may apply high-concentration tea tree oil treatments in the office, but you may get better long-term results through the ongoing use of lower-dose applications you use at home. Opting for lower-concentration home treatments will allow you to maintain a routine that prevents a return of demodicosis. The most common forms of these home treatments are cleansing wipes and foams, such as Cliradex foam. Stronger concentrations of tea tree oil can cause serious irritation and are best employed under the supervision of an eyecare professional. Of course, you and your provider will decide what combination of in-office and at-home approaches is best for you.
Other Treatments for Blepharitis
Hypochlorous acid is another compound that may be used to treat Demodex blepharitis; hypochlorous acid treatments reduce the bacterial infections that can occur alongside blepharitis, and it may also be able to kill the mites themselves.
Zocular eyelid cleaning products rely on a botanical ingredient derived from okra which may also be miticidal. If you have a bad case of blepharitis with a large buildup of collarettes, your doctor may suggest debriding the edges of your eyelids in addition to other treatments. Debridement can be combined with mite-killing cleansers, as in the Zocular Eyelid System.
Thermal pulsation treatments use the application of heat and pressure on your eyelids to help melt and remove oil and debris that can plug your oil glands and follicles. While this can help make your eyelids and lashes cleaner and remove some of the irritating substances, you will still need to target the mites that are causing your blepharitis.
Intense pulsed light therapy, or IPL, is an in-office treatment that uses intense light pulses aimed at a specific area of irritated or damaged skin. IPL can both reduce the visible signs of inflammation caused by blepharitis and also destroy the Demodex mites.
Your doctor may prescribe certain pharmaceuticals for your condition. For example, prescription eye drops like Xiidra or Restasis can be helpful if you have dry eye associated with your Demodex blepharitis. These drops will help treat the inflammation of your eyes. You may also be prescribed the antibiotic doxycycline, which will help resolve bacterial infections that can worsen and complicate your blepharitis. You will notice that these prescriptions are primarily targeted at secondary conditions or symptoms, rather than treating the Demodex mites themselves.
Cliradex Towelettes Make Your Eyelid Hygiene Easier
As a patient, your most important role is to keep up with the cleansing and treatment routine your eyecare provider has recommended. Using Cliradex towelettes and foaming cleanser to keep the Demodex mite population under control is the best way to prevent a recurrence of your blepharitis. Another wise strategy is to frequently change and launder your pillowcase and towels. You may also want to add a high-quality omega-3 supplement to your daily regimen, as they have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Demodex blepharitis can be tricky to diagnose and treat, but our eyecare provider will help you find the best combination of treatment strategies for you. The key to keeping blepharitis symptoms at bay is a consistent eyelid care routine that controls the inflammation-causing mites. To find out more about how you can fight Demodex blepharitis with Cliradex towelettes and other Cliradex eye health products, visit the Cliradex website.
