Demodex Mites. Lots of Questions About Them

[Gabranth]

davem81 - Thank you, and I will hold out, believe you me (no matter the circumstances, I will still persist).





Still much worse than pre-treatment. My face is literally beet-red, and it certainly haven't been like this in MONTHS. Just how long is this supposed to persist?
Could the treatment potentially produce counter-productive "results".
Something has definitely improved (I can't seem to put my finger on exactly what, many it's the thickness of my skin), but still it doesn't balance out.
I'm guessing a week from now things will hopefully look more up, rather than
what I find myself in now.
Two weeks tomorrow, 10 more to go.
Does this treatment benefit acne at all? If not, then what is my best bet… could it be: Salicylic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Glycolic Acid, over-the counter acne products, home-remedies, perchance laser-treatment, so on and so forth…

I find it very peculiar that some areas on my face are ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS IN BOTH SKIN-TONE, TEXTURE AND FOR ACNE AND BLACKHEADS (upper-part of nose, lower part of cheeks, chin, and over my upper-lip), WHILE OTHER AREAS ARE COMPLETELY STUFFED WITH ACNE, BLACKHEADS, REDNESS AND UNEVEN/ROUGH TEXTURE (most parts of cheeks, forehead has acne, even redness on temples). Maybe the infected areas are caused by an over-production of sebaceous glands? If mites is the culprit of this whole situation, then I just don't get why they would choose to thrive in certain areas, while in other (VERY CLOSE-BY) areas NONE AT ALL. Would it be a good idea to carry out a biopsy of my skin? I do as well have an overgrowth of hair on my upper cheeks, and very tiny one's on my nose. Correct me if I'm wrong, but would it aid me at all to do a laser hair treatment? Would that eliminate the Demodex Folliculorum's, or at least some of them? Come to think of it, the redness started to form shortly after the hair on my upper-cheeks were all grown out. When I get the microscope in my hands, I will pull out one hair-strand from my beard (no redness or any sort of breakouts at all) and one hair-strand from my upper cheek (where the redness is at it's worse), and post photos of what I see through the scope on this very forum. Maybe I'll discover something of importance…


If there were to be such a things as a supreme ruler, then I must have done something awfully wrong to get stuck in this pudding, heh…



Still much worse than pre-treatment. My face is literally beet-red, and it certainly haven't been like this in MONTHS. Just how long is this supposed to persist?
Could the treatment potentially produce counter-productive "results".
Something has definitely improved (I can't seem to put my finger on exactly what, many it's the thickness of my skin), but still it doesn't balance out.
I'm guessing a week from now things will hopefully look more up, rather than
what I find myself in now.
Two weeks tomorrow, 10 more to go.
Does this treatment benefit acne at all? If not, then what is my best bet… could it be: Salicylic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Glycolic Acid, over-the counter acne products, home-remedies, perchance laser-treatment, so on and so forth…

I find it very peculiar that some areas on my face are ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS IN BOTH SKIN-TONE, TEXTURE AND FOR ACNE AND BLACKHEADS (upper-part of nose, lower part of cheeks, chin, and over my upper-lip), WHILE OTHER AREAS ARE COMPLETELY STUFFED WITH ACNE, BLACKHEADS, REDNESS AND UNEVEN/ROUGH TEXTURE (most parts of cheeks, forehead has acne, even redness on temples). Maybe the infected areas are caused by an over-production of sebaceous glands? If mites is the culprit of this whole situation, then I just don't get why they would choose to thrive in certain areas, while in other (VERY CLOSE-BY) areas NONE AT ALL. Would it be a good idea to carry out a biopsy of my skin? I do as well have an overgrowth of hair on my upper cheeks, and very tiny one's on my nose. Correct me if I'm wrong, but would it aid me at all to do a laser hair treatment? Would that eliminate the Demodex Folliculorum's, or at least some of them? Come to think of it, the redness started to form shortly after the hair on my upper-cheeks were all grown out. When I get the microscope in my hands, I will pull out one hair-strand from my beard (no redness or any sort of breakouts at all) and one hair-strand from my upper cheek (where the redness is at it's worse), and post photos of what I see through the scope on this very forum. Maybe I'll discover something of importance…


If there were to be such a things as a supreme ruler, then I must have done something awfully wrong to get stuck in this pudding, heh…

[Tmon912]

Hmm...sorry to hear about your struggles. Maybe try 4% tea tree oil in a mix of borage and meadowfoam oil. That eliminated my seb-derm. If 4% is irritating then you can lower it. But, the tea tree oil should kill the demodex, if there are any. The borage and meadowfoam oils combine to be very similar to human sebum so they sink right into the skin and bring the tea tree oil with them. It should help with your redness too since the borage and meadowfoam oils moisturize. That's the best idea I have for killing them in a skin-friendly way. Good luck.

[Gabranth]

Tmon912 - Thank you very much. I will make every effort to do what you did yourself if this treatment doesn't bring me the desired results of which I so unpromisingly seek.




Now it's been a full two weeks, and I regularly have my ups and downs. The acne has gotten a wee bit better, and so has the blackheads on my nose (nothing stupendous, but better at least).
The redness on temples has improved slightly, while the on my cheeks it has gotten somewhat worse.


I recently found this chart on "Demodex Solution's" website regarding the general recovery for the upcoming weeks (from week 1 to week 12) while on treatment. Here it is (guess I'll have to wait for another two weeks...):



Our demodex treatment features a 12 week course of safe and all-natural medication that eliminates the demodex mites + it heals your skin to prevent future outbreaks by maintaining the sebum secretion levels of your skin, thus creating an inhabitable conditions for the microscopic parasites. Not only will you skin clear up, but it will remain clear with a quick maintenance application twice per month. After 90 days, your skin should be restored, your pores shrunken and normalized, inflammation alleviated, and dryness/itching resolved.

The treatment process and results will vary depending on the individual. Some important factors include: Skin Type, Compromised Immune System, Climate Conditions, and Duration of the Condition. With that said, here’s what’s most commonly experienced during the demodex treatment period.

Week 1:
Itching begins to subside and your skin becomes calmer. In addition, preexisting pimples and bumps begin to shrink and dry.

Week 2-3:
During this period, you’ll experience the most severe breakout of the entire treatment. Your skin will become more dry and clusters of bumps similar to a mosquito bite might surface in affected areas. Don’t become alarmed or disgruntled during this difficult time. If you experience a breakout, it’s due to the dead demodex mites under your skin. As their bodies decay, the demodex produces bacteria inside the follicles of your skin. Once the bacteria is gone, the bumps will disappear and healthy skin will be revealed.

Week 4:
Noticeable improvements to your skin will become apparent.

Week 5-7:
You’ll experience a series of light rashes and breakouts during this period. It won’t be nearly as bad as the initial “die-off” stage during weeks 2 and 3, but it might seem like a setback (it’s not). These breakouts are caused by the decaying demodex mites that recently hatched from the eggs of the demodex parents killed weeks prior. After this group of offspring are eliminated, you’ll begin enjoying clear and healthy skin.

Week 8:
A treatment of 90 days is recommended for total elimination of the demodex mites, but after 60 days, you’ll begin reaping the rewards of your treatment. You’ll start receiving compliments from family and friends on account of your bright and healthy new skin. This is when you know you’re rounding the final stretch.

Week 9-12:
Even though your skin looks and feels completely cured, continue the treatment for 12 weeks.

Week 13 & Beyond:
Although a 90 day course is recommended, it’s important to complete maintenance by applying the demodex treatment 2 times per month. This ensures no new overgrowth of demodex mites and it keeps your skin in optimal condition so you can continue enjoying bright and healthy skin.

[Gabranth]

Acne has reduced as well as blackheads. Skin looks overall more even in texture. The cribbeling sensation is no longer (at the moment) as present as yesterday.

[Gabranth]

Overall, slight improvement.

[Brady Barrows]

Gabranth,

Glad you are seeing some improvement. Thanks for the daily reports. I predict that in 15 more days you will notice marked improvement and the ZZ cream works for you. It doesn't cure it but it is simply another treatment that works for some.

[Gabranth]

Brady Barrows - Thank you. There's something I just can't wrap my mind around, and that is: since I started applying the "ZZ Ointment" I have noticed that in some areas (where the redness took place before) the redness is completely gone, though these areas are only small patches right in the center of my cheeks, surrounded my redness as well. What could this possibly mean?




Application Nr. 18 (Day 16)


The redness on my nose has significantly reduced, and a few red bumps are forming on the lower part.
Redness on cheeks still remains very apparent.

[Gabranth]

Looks pretty decent, neither good or bad. Acne is relatively static, not too much happening there (blackheads and nose as well). Redness on most parts of cheeks is still in a pretty bad state. The cribbing sensation is unstable, very much off and on. Not much more to add on my part.

[sary]

Just received the product today and am excited and hesitant to try for the mite issue. Afraid I might have a huge breakout. Why mess w/ my face when it is relatively calm? The product has tea tree oil which is supposed to kill the mites naturally. Before the product arrived I broke out w/ bumps that itched intensely and I remembered I read somewhere it may be mites. I pulled out an old product- Clarifoam- which is a sulfur prescription and this morning it had kind of crusted over. No more intense itch and bump on its way healing. The Clarifoam dries the skin out too much to use regularly.

Use:
48 year old female
metrogel
ceravae facial lotion
mild soap
doxcyclene 50 mg
Eucerin redness spf15 for day- will use a little ceravae

[Brady Barrows]

Brady Barrows - Thank you. There's something I just can't wrap my mind around, and that is: since I started applying the "ZZ Ointment" I have noticed that in some areas (where the redness took place before) the redness is completely gone, though these areas are only small patches right in the center of my cheeks, surrounded my redness as well. What could this possibly mean?
Application Nr. 18 (Day 16) The redness on my nose has significantly reduced, and a few red bumps are forming on the lower part.
Redness on cheeks still remains very apparent.

Your guess is probably as good as mine. Are you putting the ZZ cream all over your face or just on the red spots?

If only on the red spots, one theory proposed is that the mites move to the area not covered by the ZZ cream. If you apply all over your face, I don't know.