Have you ever heard of the term eyelash mites? The tiny cigar-shaped bugs seen at the base of the eyelashes in bunches are eyelash mites. Now the question arises of whether they are harmful to us or not. The answer to this question is that it depends on the number of bugs. If there are more, then they might be dangerous.
Each bug has four pairs of legs, making it easy for them to grab tube-shaped things. Another question is whether we can see it or not. The answer is no, as eyelash mites are about a third of a millimetre long. Their main work is to eat dead skin cells and oil that comes together, and this work makes them act as a natural cleaning system.
Symptoms
Itching, irritation, and crusty red edges on your eyelid may happen. Other symptoms are blurry vision, pain in the eyes, and you may experience tearing in your eyes.
Causes
It can occur by coming near or in direct contact with another person having mites. It can spread to another individual if the affected person has larvae or grown-up mites. It can also occur from dust that has eggs.
Risky factors
It may not be easy to maintain your eyelid area as clean as the rest of your face parts like the nose, cheeks, and eyebrows, which can grow the number of mites living there.
Too many of these mites can cause irritation near your eyelid, cause bacteria, and leave waste products around it. It may stop oil paths around your eyelid rims and make lashes grow in the wrong direction or become loose.
Treatment
To get rid of eyelash mites, you may suffer from hardships sometimes. Doctors suggested some treatment ways that you can refer to treat them.
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Use tea tree oil: Drown into wipes or cleansers and rub this over your closed eyelids and face. Try not to open your eyes quickly after wiping as they may prick. Dilute the oil as it may be harmful to your thin skin.
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Use creams or ointments: Made from substances like sulphur, ivermectin, permethrin, and mercury oxide that you can spread at the base of your lashes.
Prevention measures
The best thing to do is keep yourself and your surroundings neat. To do that, you can wash up your hair and entire body with soap or shampoo. You can also wash your towels and sheets with hot water and let them dry on high heat.
