Ailment: Mites (demodex mites)

Remedy: Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil, melaleuca alternifolia essential oil, properties, traditional healing uses, recipes, warnings.

Comment posted by Michael of Vancouver, BC, Canada on 17 January 2013 at 9:36       906

YES
I've been mixing a couple of drops of Tea Tree Oil in Johnstones Baby Shampoo while I wash my hair. Then I wash my eyes, eyebrows, nose, ears etc with the excess Shampoo from my hair. Fantastic. In six weeks all my symptoms (redness around nose and between eyebrows, pimples, etc. are cleared up. Can't recommend this enough!

Comment posted by Camille of Indio, CA, USA on 22 December 2012 at 14:50       866

YES
Hi Rosi - My symptoms had completely gone away. I have a lot of new hair growing all over my head - especially along my hairline. My face has been very clear - no more redness, flaky dry skin or blackheads. I continue to use the tea tree shampoo, face wash and body wash. My eyes have not been dry and irritated. As a result, about 6 weeks ago I stopped the shampoo eyelash wash and the weekly 50/50 tea tree oil mixed with macadamia nut oil. Well - a few days ago my eyes started to get dry again and felt like sand was in them! So I have started back with the tea tree shampoo eyelash wash twice a day and twice a week I do the 50/50 tea tree oil and macadamia nut oil. I had hoped to be cured for good but it looks like for me, I will have to continue with the maintenance. All-in-all I am happy with the tea tree regimen because it does work.

Comment posted by Sydny of Toronto, ON, Canada on 21 December 2012 at 13:13       864

YES
Thank you for all of your advice everyone, it's helped alot. I'm still not certain what I have but I'm convinced its demodex. I'm waiting to hear the results of my demodex test, but I'm told the tests aren't always definitive. I went through a lot of what you all have - originally diagnosed with scabies (I don't have a lot of symptoms on my face other than occasional itching - it's early days for me, only 4 months of suffering). I went through 4 permethrin treatments plus 3 weeks of Ivermectin and I still had the creepy crawly feeling (worse afterward actually)and continued to get small, hard red bumps all over my body. My dermatologist told me it was overactive nerves close to the skin, put me on nerve meds, then when that didn't work, wanted to put me on anti-psychotics. All without even bothering to do a scraping. It was my family doctor that diagnosed scabies and was totally clueless after all of the treatments didn't work. It really is up to us to take control of our treatment. Don't let your doctor(s) tell you it is psychological - mites etc. are MUCH more common than this psychosematic disorder is. PET OWNERS, please be aware that tea tree oil is extremely toxic to dogs, cats and other animals. Do not touch your animal if you have tea tree products on your skin. Yes, there are tea tree products out there for pets but they are either extremely diluted or not approved by vets. Please consult your vet about the best way to handle the situation. My dog was exposed to a very small amount of diluted tea tree oil and became extremely ill. He's okay but is now on a regimen of anti-histamines and steroids. Very scary. I find that as long as I don't touch him or allow him to come into contact with anything that I've touched while having product on my skin it's okay. Wear long pants and long sleeves when you have product on you, especially if you allow your pet up on the furniture. I put the tea tree lotion/oils on with gloves or ziplock bags over my hands so that I can still pet him (I don't know anyone who can avoid touching their dog for weeks on end). I put the lotion or diluted oil on my hands before bed and avoid touching him until I wash it off the next morning. It's easier than you think, just be careful :)

Comment posted by Kendalle02 of Austin, Texas, USA on 18 December 2012 at 6:37       859

Wow, Lauralee it is the most amazing feeling to finally hear somebody who is going through the exact thing that I am! I have been suffering for 3 years from whatever the heck this is! I went from having clear, blemish free skin to being covered in scars, holes, & wounds from head to toe! Mine started when I randomly felt like there were bugs crawling through my hair & biting/pricking my scalp. I didn't know any better so I assumed I had lice and used a lice treatment on my hair. when I got in the shower to wash it out whatever these mites are, they begin to embed into my skin, face, eyes, nose, ears, & the rest of my body. it was the most excruciating pain I've ever felt! since then I have been to over 10 dermatologist here in Austin Texas. at first they diagnosed me with scabies, so I began using multiple permethrin creams which I think actually I made the problem worse. now my skin has black dots that look like freckles and little pin holes all over my body... not to mention that all of the ugly scars. it seems as if these can live under your skin and feed off of your blood for as long as they want. I am desperate to find somebody who can help me or a cure! I am living in complete misery, almost constantly feeling the crawling sensation underneath my skin and the pin prick sensation. they also either way my nail beds cuticles and fingernails within minutes! it is devastating to me because I am 28 years old and have a 3 year old daughter & this should be the happiest time of my life... instead I am mentally and physically tortured everyday. I have given up on all doctors and dermatologist because most of them have said it is psychological or hey form of paranoia. oh yeah and self infliction. I have never had any form of mental illness or any fear or phobia of bugs or mites or anything else. I am at my wits end and don't know how much longer I can deal with this torture. if anybody knows what I can possibly do to help get rid of this I would be forever grateful!!!!

Comment posted by Donna of SoCal, CA, USA on 15 November 2012 at 16:15       820

YES
For 1.5 weeks, I have been using a rosacea lotion. To save money I also use a solution I made of oils and tea tree oil on my scalp and on a cotton pad I rub all over my body. I use the lotion on my face, neck and chest albeit, I had so much itching in my scalp that for the first week I used a dropper to apply the lotion on my scalp. I also use a q-tip to put it in my ear canal and now it is the first time in 10 years for no chronic inner ear itching. I use eyelash cream on my eyes after using my fingers to spread some of the rosacea lotion on my eye lashes (not recommended by the company but I have not gotten it in my eyes and the crawling sensations on my eyes dramatically subsided after two days). For five days now, I apply cream on top of the lotion in the mornings and retnoid on top of the lotion at night. My skin looks worse but the crawling is going away. I was told that healing brings a lot to the surface. I hope to get oral antibiotics beginning on Tuesday (I hope, hope) to get some of the newly forming pimples to subside. I am getting a fast die off. I am also taking mega doses of Olive Leaf Capsules.

Question posted by LauraLee of Spokane , WA, USA on 26 October 2012 at 21:39       784

Hello All! First off I'm so sorry we are all here because we have this pest consuming our daily lives, but I'm glad we are here in attempt for a cure and share knowledge. My story is, I had been using retin a for a few years at my dermatologists request. I should have listened to my instincts when I felt it was damaging my skin by removing too many protective layers and destructing my barrier. I was right. Soon my pores began to enlarge, I was noticing black specks engraved into my skin, holes, itching moving sensations, and what felt like a pierce or bite that would be followed with redness then form a little bump/pimple afterwards. This is truly damaging my skin. I believe I weakened my skin and removed critical protective barriers that allowed my skin to be vulnerable to the mites now. I have new bumps occurring at the sides of my nose and center if cheeks, which leave holes afterwards. I'm trying to heal my skin, but yet kill these mites at the same time, so I feel like whatever route I choose I will be counterproductive in healing the other issue. I have heard of trying a borax plus h202 solution, sulphur, seabuckthorn oil, cold cream, enzyme spray, and tea tree oil. Please if anyone knows of a sure fire way to decimate this creature, shout at me! Thanks so much and good luck to you all!

Comment posted by Camille of Indio, CA, USA on 26 October 2012 at 3:40       782

YES
When I first began the tea tree treatments I felt better but the breakouts were worse. My hair still fell out for about a week. My scalp still itched for about a week. But each day I felt better. After a week my hairline started filling in with tiny hairs and now they are much larger and longer. I now have long and fuller eye lashes, much more hair, more eyebrows and nearly all of the redness on my face is gone. This will take time.

Question posted by Julia of New York, NY, USA on 16 October 2012 at 22:44       775

Did you find when you first started treating your scalp line that you shed more in the beginning. I started the treatment 2 days ago and it seems my brows and lashes are falling out less but young hairs on scalp line are shedding a lot. Especially near my thinning temple area, also only on one side.

Comment posted by Camille of Indio, CA, USA on 7 October 2012 at 8:20       759

YES
I have been suffering for about 15 years with dry eyes, growing red patches on my face, itchiness on my face, eyes, nose, scalp, body and ears, and about 3 years ago I started to lose my hair at my hairline - especially on one side. I have seen eye doctors and dermatologists all to no avail. I have been given laser treatments, topical steroids and countless eye drops - nothing worked. I finally researched my symptoms on Google and learned that my symptoms are all because of Demodex mites. I found an article by 2 physicians who have been successfully treating patients with the following routine. I have been using tea tree shampoo - Jason Brand - to wash my eyelashes, nostrils and eyebrows twice a day. I have been washing my face with tea tree facial soap -The Body Shop Brand - twice a day, I have been showering with Tea Tree Body Wash - The Body Shop Brand- and twice a week I have used a Q Tip to swab my eyelashes using 50% Macadamia Nut Oil -Now Brands- and 50% Tea Tree Oil -Now Brands. I shampoo and condition my hair once day with Paul Mitchell Tea Tree and Peppermint shampoo/conditioner. I shampoo my hair first. Leave the suds on your hair. Wash your eyelashes and face. Then rinse the shampoo out. Apply the conditioner and get it on your scalp and hair. Leave it on while you shower. Rinse the conditioner out last. My hair was so thin and so frizzy before I started this routine. Now my hair is silky, shiny and I only see a few strands of hair in the drain. Before I started this treatment I lost so much hair. Every time I washed it the drain was filled with my hair. It was devastating before. Before, every time I brushed my hair the brush was filled with hair. Now I get one or 2 hairs in my hairbrush. What a huge difference. Note: Wash your hairbrush in hot water, a few drops of tea tree oil and soap once a week! Also I am now washing my sheets and towels DAILY in hot water. The tea tree regimen I have been doing has made a huge difference. I am starting my 4th week of using the tea tree products. It takes dedication and discipline. At first the 50/50 mixture of tea tree oil and macadamia nut oil was very strong when I used it on my eyelashes. You get used to it and you get better at applying it to your eyelashes over time. You need to rub the Q tip on your eyebrows first so there isn't too much liquid on the Q tip. If my eyes get irritated I gently dab them with a tissue. I rub the Q tip on my upper and lower lashes, one eye at a time. I wait 10 minutes and do it again. I wait 10 minutes and do it a 3rd time. In addition, I use an Oil of Olay battery powered face brush with tea tree facial wash twice a week on the red patches on my face. When I first started this treatment my face and eyes were immediately better. A few days later my face really broke out! I kept up the routine. Each few days I would look better and then worse. Now entering my 4th week I no longer feel the mites in my eyes. My lashes are growing back in. My eyebrows are growing back in. My hair line is starting to grow back in. The red patches are nearly gone and the texture of my skin is no longer flaky, crusty, and bumpy. It is smooth. Also my eyes now tear. I have had such dry eyes for so long I am not used to tearing eyes. My vision is so much better now too. I am no longer loosing tons of hair every day. My eyes are not as dry and my lashes are growing back in. I no longer have crusty eyes in the morning. I have no itchiness at all now. My skin everywhere is smooth - no more bumps. The redness is nearly all gone. Before I started this treatment I had huge bags and puffiness under my eyes. My right eye was really bad. Now the bags are very small and the same size. They are getting smaller and less puffy every day. I really see and feel a huge difference since using the tea tree oil products. Since I have suffered with this condition for so long I would imagine it will take 2 months for all of the redness to completely go away. I plan on using tea tree oil soaps and shampoos for life. I first read the other posts on this site 4 weeks ago and these posts made me research and find a cure for my suffering. Good luck.

Comment posted by hankm9 of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 3 July 2012 at 20:50       687

YES
I just began TTO lid scrubs after being diagnosed with a phenomal amount of mites found after an eyelash test. I have been suffering from horrible dry eye symptoms and improper diagnosis for 18 months. I have changed all my products to TTO, shampoo, face wash, body wash, exfoliate you name it I'm doused in TTO, I have noticed my symptoms have gotten worse as its been about 3 weeks. Hopefully I will see an improvement after continuing this treatment. PS: is there any information or success stories with any other products? I.e seabuckthorn oil?

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