{"id":127,"date":"2021-01-14T16:52:19","date_gmt":"2021-01-14T13:52:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/korporativ.testovik.site\/?page_id=127"},"modified":"2025-08-29T09:10:02","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T06:10:02","slug":"what-demodex","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thea.ua\/en\/your-eye-health\/eyelid-care\/what-demodex\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Demodex?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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WHAT IS DEMODEX?<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n
Demodex is an eight-legged mite from the Demodicidae family. There are many species of Demodex but only two of them are found present in humans, demodex folliculorum and demodex brevis.<\/div>\n
Demodex mites are found naturally on the faces of human beings from childhood, but especially after the age of 18. Their presence on the skin increases with age.<\/div>\n
They live in or around hair follicles (from where hair grows) and sebaceous glands (glands attached to the hair follicles that secrete sebum, an oily substance which prevents the skin and hair from drying out)1.<\/div>\n
They form part of what is called the cutaneous microbiota or cutaneous microbial flora, in other words the micro-organisms that naturally live on our skin.<\/div>\n
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EVOLUTION<\/span><\/b><\/sup><\/h3>\n

Demodex mites need humans in order to live, they develop naturally on our skin until their death2<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The life cycle from the egg to the adult mite lasts between 14 and 18 days. The eggs are deposited in the sebaceous glands and hair follicles, they then turn into larvae until they reach adult form.<\/p>\n

In some cases, larger numbers of Demodex develop which is thought to lead to substantial inflammation and result in the appearance of skin lesions. The mechanism behind these reactions, however, is not fully understood.<\/p>\n

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WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DEMODEX?<\/span><\/b><\/sup><\/h3>\n

Demodex mites are not considered to be actual carriers of disease.<\/p>\n

However, these parasites may\u00a0generate conditions that favour\u00a0<\/strong>the appearance of certain symptoms and pathologies in cases where larger numbers develop on the skin.<\/p>\n

During their lifetime, they accumulate waste in their abdomens, which is only released at their death.<\/p>\n

In cases where they become too prevalent, this release of residues can cause skin irritation and redness due to chronic inflammation and the development of vascular abnormalities3<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

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DEMODEX ON THE EYELIDS AND BLEPHARITIS<\/span><\/b><\/sup><\/h3>\n

Demodex can be the cause of\u00a0Blepharitis<\/strong>, which is an inflammation of the edge of the eyelid4<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Demodex\u00a0Blepharitis<\/a>\u00a0manifests itself as non-specific clinical symptoms present in all types of Blepharitis, regardless of the cause (bacteria, viruses, etc.), including:<\/p>\n