What You Need to Know About Eye Mites in Your Eyelashes

Everyone knows that mites like to live in mattresses—but did you also know that eye mites like to make themselves at home in our eyelashes? Find out here when eyelash mites in your eyelashes actually become a danger to your eyes, what symptoms to watch for, and what you can do about it.

What are eyelash mites?

Eyelash mites, also known as Demodex folliculorum in technical terms, are a specific type of mite that lives in human eyelashes. They can feed wherever there’s enough sebum—so this can also happen in other areas of the face or body. According to statistics, almost everyone encounters eyelash mites at some point in their lives. By the age of 70, for example, they affect nearly everyone. Did you know? People with particularly oily skin are more prone to eyelash mites. The same goes for people who don’t take facial care very seriously or neglect to remove their makeup. So the key here is to step up your hygiene routine to prevent these little critters from multiplying uncontrollably.
Not only do eyelash mites live in the eyelashes, but they can also be transmitted from person to person and even from animals to people. The latter is especially true when pets sleep in a person’s bed. This is particularly common with dogs.

Are eye mites dangerous?

Admittedly, the topic is a bit unpleasant—not to say gross—but generally speaking, eye mites in the eyelashes aren’t dangerous to humans at first. Even if the idea of having these “roommates” on your eyes is more than a little unpleasant. However, it’s also a fact that certain symptoms can indicate that too many eye mites have taken up residence—in this case, there’s no way around seeing an ophthalmologist and getting treatment.

What are the symptoms of having eye mites?

As mentioned earlier, we all have eye mites in our eyelashes, which are also commonly called hair follicle mites. Most of the time, we don’t notice them because they feed silently on the sebum on our face and body. However, if you notice early symptoms such as red eyes, itchy eyes, or eye inflammation, it’s worth seeing an ophthalmologist.
It’s also interesting to note that men are more frequently affected by mite infestations, which can be explained by body hair as well as poor facial hygiene. So when women remove their makeup in the evening, they should feel free to invite their partners to join them for a facial cleansing routine.

What can be done about eye mites?

Once eye mites have multiplied in the eyelashes, you must see an ophthalmologist. They will then prescribe the appropriate treatments, such as eye drops or ointments. Tea tree oil is often used to get rid of these pesky little creatures, but you should never try to treat the condition on your own, as not every oil is safe to apply near the eyes. Be sure to discuss this with your eye doctor and seek their advice.

But before it ever gets to that point, you should place a high priority on hygiene. This is especially true when choosing an eyelash salon, because if the salon isn’t clean, it might already be too late. Eye hygiene is especially important! That’s why all makeup enthusiasts should remove their makeup every night before going to bed; otherwise, it can lead to increased sebum production, which eyelash mites love.

Anyone wearing eyelash extensions should therefore thoroughly clean their eyelashes regularly with a suitable eyelash shampoo. Home care is not only important for keeping the extensions looking beautiful for a long time, but also for preventing infections and eye mites.

It’s especially important to take care of your immune system during the winter months; if it’s not in good shape, you’re more susceptible to illness. Eye mites can also multiply rapidly under these conditions. Additionally, factors such as alcohol, smoking, stress, extreme temperature changes, spicy foods, heavily seasoned dishes, and going to bed without first removing makeup can all contribute to an increase in eye mites.

We hope we’ve provided you with some interesting information today and look forward to your feedback.

Your CFB Cosmetics® Team