Ailment: Blepharitis (red eyelid margins)
Remedy: Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil, melaleuca alternifolia essential oil, properties, traditional healing uses, recipes, warnings.
Comment posted by Angie of Rochester, New York, United Statues on 1 December 2013 at 0:18 1580
YES
Hello all! I cotton swab full strength tto all over my face every night and my skin has improved so much!! I used to just treat my pustules but then bumps would just show up on other places on my face so that's why I started treating my whole face. I also found that drawing salv helps get rid of super stubborn pustules. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I think flushing and redness meanings the decent amount of demodex mites have died (the redness is a direct reaction to their decaying bodies and their bacteria)... So I ENCOURAGE anything that makes me flush bc I want these suckers dead.... This method works for me. Has anyone else thought of this? Also, castor oil helps to provide me with relief from dry red eyes.
Comment posted by FitnessChick of Johnson City, TN, USA on 13 November 2013 at 11:50 1544
YES
I have been diagnosed with rosacea since I was 32 years old. I am now 48 and it has been a constant struggle. The blow to your self esteem, the missed appointments, work days, social event is just overwhelming. I am a Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer so looking healthy has to be part of my job. With heavy exercise being a trigger, can u imagine what that is like! I am also Haitian, which is not your typical fair skinned, nordic type thay usually gets rosacea. I'm posting because I recently found a weird combination that has helped me so profoundly that I had to share. Thanks to all those who posted about demodex mites because I firmly believe they are really behind the scourge of rosacea. I had a recent flare up for about 3 weeks now and was getting no relief. My derm has prescribed Spironalactone which I had been taken 25mg for about 8 yrs now with occasional p&p's. That's the kind I have of course. But out of the blue, this flare up. Searched the web, found this website and really thought seriously for the first time about mites. Bought some TTO and applied it about a week ago. Ok for 2 days and then massive flare up from mite die off, wow! Panic. One day good, 3 days bad, typical. Into treatment about a week now and read a lot about metrodinazole and thought, I've got some miconazole (yeast fighter) why not try? So I made a paste of zinc oxide, tto and micanazole, spread it over my face and in the morning instant relief!!! Bumps gone, itching gone, amazing! I also treat lashes with tto as I have red eyes etc. Also make a home made eye drops of organic honey, apple cider vinegar and distilled or spring water. Put in eyes from an eye dropper 2x daily. Relief! 1 tsp of honey, 1/4 cup of water, 5-6 drops of vinegar but no more. Less is really more here so not too much vinegar. It will sting a little but don't put too much where it will burn. So far face is looking great and it only been a little over a week. Hope this helps a fellow sufferer as much as it has helped me. Love and health to all!
Question posted by Merry of Shaftesbury, Dorset, United kingdom on 6 October 2013 at 1:48 1445
Will tea tree wipes have the same effect? I have mild blepharitis with also a small red patch under my eye brow. I am afraid of using raw tea tree oil on my eyes.
Comment posted by Gregg of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand on 2 June 2013 at 10:39 1175
YES
I had troubles with my skin being dry & flaky itchy including scalp, mainly on lower legs & forearms my eyes where sticky infected dry inflamed in the mornings their appeared to be yellow discharge, as the day progressed they would become light sensitive. The doctors didn't have a clue what was wrong with my eyes, saying it was my work, being a painter working with chemicals my body had become sensitive!
I tried all their creams drops antibiotics & man made chemicals you name it i tried it! Then being referred to an eye specialist & he couldn't tell me what had caused the problems i had, but was diagnosed with Blepharitis that still meant nothing to me, because their was no treatment or solution & was told to accept it & move on and use baby shampoo to clean eyes both morning & night, well thats a man made chemical & only made my eyes feel worse in fact.
So after about 7 years i came across this site mentioning demodex mites & trying Tea Tree oil. I swear by tea tree oil it has changed my life, Ive been using it for 4 weeks religiously in baths on my hair, where dry or itchy skin areas are effected. Their are many sites or people that are against putting it on eye lashes but i have & do, every day no problems you must be careful make a 50/50 solution be prepared to wait for positive improvements. Its changed my life Tea Tree oil & its anti viral, bacterial properties speak volumes.
Use a cotton bud apply morning night don't open eyes until you feel the sting mellowing down. My ideas no pain no gain.. My social life was crap my eye issues are progressively improving. Pretty much don't stop keep going, could take two months. My life has changed for sure i am so happy remain positive
Comment posted by Steve of San Diego, CA, USA on 23 April 2013 at 8:52 1107
I've had problems with rosacea and blepharitis since I was 25. I am now 44. It started with a small red patch on one cheek. I just learned about the demodex mite connection and I'm quite frankly very upset that I didn't learn of this as a possible culprit from the 8 different dermatologists I've seen over the years. I'm am currently taking an antibiotic for the bacterial infections that have become a huge problem for me recently, but I've always felt that there's another root problem. This all makes total sense. I will be starting a tea tree oil regimen immediately and will post again in a few weeks to let you all know how it goes. I'm so thankful to those of you who posted description that sound exactly like my experience. Wish me luck.
Comment posted by OutOfTheBox of Republic, WA, USA on 3 April 2013 at 8:32 1067
YES
I am an optometrist. I read an article about a dermatologist and his use of TTO for demodex brevis. I felt I had a little demodex foliculorum in my lashes and wondered if TTO would work there. I had never heard of this use before. I put the tiniest bit of pure TTO on my index finger and thinned it out by rubbing it onto my other index finger. Your finger should not look wet! Then I rubbed it into my lashes thoroughly and received relief within a very few days of doing this treatment every night. If you do it just as you crawl into bed you don't even have to open your eyes. It was so startlingly effective at controling both mattering of the lashes with its dry eye, and itch that I continued to use it off and on whenever needed. I began to get a feel for how much pure TTO I could use without causing too much sting upon opening my eyes. I have been recommending this to my patients for about four years now, with very good results. I usually tell them to use it for 2 months at bedtime only. I was not aware that anybody else was doing this! The key is to use the TINIEST BIT of TTO. But if you get too much and cannot open your eyes, it will evaporate withing a few minutes and then you can open your eyes. I think the problem of diluting it is that it now has more fluid and flows into the eyes easier. With an almost dry finger that doesn't happen much. I have had great luck with pure TTO.
Comment posted by Camille of Indio, CA, USA on 19 March 2013 at 9:23 1049
YES
I have not posted since the end of January (under Tea Tree Oil). I may have discovered a cure for demodex of the face, hair and eye lashes quite by accident. I had pretty much gotten control of my demodex issues with my hair/scalp and face but I was having to use the 50/50 tea tree oil with macadamia nut oil every week or my dry eyes and itching would return. My husband and I decided to go off of wheat starting February. We had read that wheat has been genetically altered and causes "wheat belly" and other health problems. We learned how bad wheat can be for some people. It was easy to go off of wheat. We substituted rice pasta, rice crust pizza, brown rice, almond, oat and coconut flours for my baking flours. After 2 weeks of being wheat free my demodex problem was completely gone. I have not used one tea tree product since mid February when my eye symptoms were completely gone. It is now the end of March and I still am mite free with no symptoms whatsoever. I lost 7 pounds by going off the wheat too. I feel fantastic. The wheat might have been a host for the mites to "feed" and take over! Now I do not have any problems at all! I hope this will help all of you who suffer from those dreaded demodex. To recap, I went off wheat products and now I have no mites in my hair, face, eyes, and I no longer have dry eyes. My eyelashes are full and long. My blurry vision is gone and I see clearly again. My eyebrows are full. My skin is normal. My hair is getting fuller and fuller with lots of new hairs growing in - especially around my hairline. My stomach is flat like when I was 20. What a HUGE difference living wheat-free has been for my husband and me. GOOD LUCK to you all! I hope you have the same results I have.
Question posted by Emma of Brisbane, QLD, Australia on 16 March 2013 at 12:57 1043
Hi, I have blepharitis. I started the tea tree oil treatment about a week ago. I was just wondering if it was normal to get a larger amount of white discharge coming out of the corners of my eyes after starting this treatment? Would be great if anybody knows.
Comment posted by Lucy of Rochester, NY, USA on 1 February 2013 at 19:22 932
YES
I have had skin irritations for about three years now. It started in my groin, and I was tested for every STD, including Herpes Simplex I and II. All tests came back negative. All symptoms were cyclic in nature and seemed to be worse during times of stress or before menstruation. It was maddening. I would also feel intense itching and a prickly sensation throughout my body, almost as though something was biting me. In April 2012, I had a raised bump on my left hip, it spiraled out of the main pustule and was hot to the touch as well as itchy. I didn't seek medical attention until I continued to experience pimple-like obstructions in and around my genitalia, buttocks and inner thighs. I tested positive for Staph, but negative for MRSA. I was prescribed oral medication, to be taken once a day for seven days. My symptoms came back after this period ended and I returned to the medical center. I was then prescribed Mupirocin Ointment, to be applied twice daily inside my nose, as I was told by my doctor that Staph lives and thrives within the nose. I found temporary relief, although my symptoms continued. I was then told to seek help through a dermatologist. I visited my primary doctor and he acted as though my symptoms were nothing to be concerned with. It seemed as though because I wasn't dying, despite the physical and psychological disturbances I was tormented by, he wasn't concerned with what I was coming to him with. I was told I might be dealing with folliculitis or keratosis pilaris, both of which are caused by demodex mites. Demodex mites are also known to be carriers of staph. I was also experiencing skin irritations on my arms, legs and chest. Random red bumps would appear in groups in these areas and they continue to appear, as though something is irritating my skin. I continue to feel itchy, as though something is biting at my skin, in random spots all over my body, specifically in areas where demodex mites are prone to: groin, chest, ears, face (t-zone, nose, eyebrows, eyelashes). Apparently these are all areas where sebaceous glands reside, and where demodex mites are prone to feed, as they are all oily and perfect breeding grounds for these disgusting and tenacious parasites. Since April 2012, I suffered from broken blood vessels on my left arm, left leg and face. Random raised bumps and pustules would form in and around these vessels. Some would come to a head, some would appear as reddish spots and would eventually fade, leaving a flaky patch. I decided to keep a diary of the symptoms I was experiencing. These symptoms would seem to appear from nowhere, developing overnight, and in numbers. Frustrated and desperate, I visited a dermatologist in December 2012, who told me I have a classic case of rosacea. While I expressed my concern about Staph rapidly raging throughout my body, as I was diagnosed with it, and found areas other than my face affected by whatever skin condition I might have, I was told there was no way such an affliction would cause havoc throughout my body. I wasn't convinced. I was prescribed Azelaic Acid, to apply to my face for five months. The derm was quite certain this was the quick fix to my problem, but I wasn't so sure. First of all, the medication was super pricey without insurance, costing $200+ for a small tube. Secondly, after researching the prescribed med, I wasn't convinced it was a miracle answer to my problems, especially considering my face wasn't the only location on my body which was affected by whatever is taking over my body. Sure, I have a genetic history of rosacea in my family, I'm fair-skinned and I've sun tanned, but haven't abused the sun. My use of cosmetics may have caused me to be predisposed to such a skin condition as rosacea, but I've never abused or over used make up, have never had to use foundation to mask skin issues. My consistent skincare regimens haven't included harsh ingredients which may have led to rosacea. For the most part, I've had fresh, dewy skin. I've had my bouts of pimples, but nothing that was devastating. Therefore, this sudden onset of skin issues and symptoms (itching and random pin-prick type sensations) leads me to believe an overpopulation of demodex mites are the cause of my chronic problems. Instead of using harsh, medically-prescribed ointments which are known to only be temporary relievers, I've been using a regimen of Tea Tree Oil and Almond Oil at night, after cleansing my face with Tisserand Anti-Bacterial Pure Vegetable Soap. While at first this soap was drying to my face,adding the Tea Tree Oil/Almond Oil seemed to improve the dryness. As Tea Tree Oil is known for its anti-bacterial properties, I've also found relief in the itching and inflammation demodex mites are known to cause. I've especially found it soothing to apply the Tea Tree Oil/Almond mix to my eyelids and eyelashes. I wake up with red, itchy, blood-shot, inflamed eyes. After applying the mixture, within minutes, my eyes are soothed and improved, Yet another reason to believe these mites are to blame for my symptoms. I've also experienced raised, red pimple-like bumps in my ears that turn into dry, flaky patches right around the time of the onset of symptoms on my face. I've been applying the Tea Tree Oil/Almond Oil solution to my ears and have found relief as well. I find it odd that while my dermatologist diagnosed me with rosacea, I've found that simply applying the Tea Tree Oil regimen to affected areas has improved my symptoms, and that rosacea may not be the root cause to my problems, but that demodex mites are to blame. Since the onset of my skin problems in 2009, I've also experienced severe razor burn in the groin, in my armpits and on my legs after I shave. I resorted to using bikini-line Nair and while it seemed as though that was the answer, I still continue to experience severe irritation. I've spot-treated my folliculitis-type irritations with Mupirocin, and it does put my symptoms at bay, but isn't a true cure to my problems. It's literally and figuratively irritating most dermatologists/doctors do NOT recognize other reasons for such afflictions as rosacea, folliculitis, keratosis pilaris, such as demodex mites. I'm not one to invest in the expense and future side effects modern medicinal ointments and prescriptions offer. I've found temporary relief in the above mentioned regimens, but am hoping for a true answer to my dermatological problems. Any feedback would be much appreciated.
Comment posted by Gail of San Juan Capistrano, California, USA on 28 January 2013 at 17:33 926
YES
I find that I am able to tolerate 50/50 TTO/castor oil on a daily basis, but apparently that's rare. After washing and drying my face and hands I just glob it along the rims of my eyes with eyes shut, thoroughly wetting both top and bottom eyelashes and their roots. I use my little finger for this. It's just easier because I can feel what I'm doing.
I keep my eyes SHUT for the application and for a minimum of an hour afterwards! I sometimes need to remove excess solution with a bit of toilet paper if it's stinging my eyelids, but I have not had anything worse than slight actual eyeball stinging from seeping and that always stops entirely within five minutes.
I also put a thin coating on my nose, eyebrows, and all over my face.
I normally do this at bedtime and then just go to sleep with it on, but otherwise I notice that I am able to open my eyes without any stinging after an hour, or of course sooner if I wipe it off, but it works much better if I leave it on all night and then wash my face in the morning.
When I first started doing this the amount of crawling sensation on my face was truly creepy. I found that it worked well to immediately wipe the crawly areas firmly with fresh toilet paper tissue and then put more solution on and repeat til the crawling stopped. Within a week or so all crawling stopped except very rarely. I also treated my scalp during that first week but haven't had scalp itching since.
It is definitely working, but I'm at 10 weeks now and still have some problem with my eyes. MUCH less than it was, though, more like dust than sand. Generally all day I'm symptom free, and only have the dusty sensation come up at night, hence I do the treatment at bedtime.
I suspect that like Camille of Indio I will probably just have to continue this to some degree indefinitely. Hopefully not daily like I'm still doing at this point.
