Grow Youthful: How to Slow Your Aging and Enjoy Extraordinary Health
Grow Youthful: How to Slow Your Aging and Enjoy Extraordinary Health

Ailment: Mites (demodex mites)

Remedy: Tea tree oil


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





Comment posted by Loki of Melbourne, Vic, Australia on 8 November 2013 at 6:4       1530

I have been struggling with a skin condition on my chin and more recently around my eye for 6months after previously never having skin problems. A biopsy result said 'folliculitis associated with demodex mites' however my doctor and his consultant dermatologist said the mites had nothing to do with the condition and it was only the infection which needed treating.



Comment posted by Ben of New York, NY, USA on 31 October 2013 at 8:12       1511

Dear 57 year old in Pilladelphia. I have just become aware of having Hair Mites, and started daily treatments with Tea Tree Oil and Coconut oil. My point to you concerns the Yeast infection. Just two months ago I had a severe rash on my arm (that would not go away) and at the same time seemed to have a severe intestinal Candida attack (which, I believe is a fungal form of yeast). The doctor I went to found out that I had Tinea on my skin, and prescribed Itraconazole orally twice a day for a week. And lo and behold, within a week the Candida and the Tinea disappered and I felt like a new person. At that time I also changed my diet on account of the Candida - eliminating all purified and fruit sugars, including corn products, which, in the US most likely comes from genetically modified corn. And then the Hair Mites attacked (probably from a second hand jacket I bought at a thrift shop. What all of these conditions have in common is the lowered resistance of my skin to either Fungual or parasite attacks, which leads to the conclusion that I would have to find more ways to boost my immune response. I hope this helps. Ben



Comment posted by Terry Jacks of Dallas, TX, USA on 24 October 2013 at 7:22       1491

YES
My head used to itch all the times, on the top and sides. I figured it was just the flight helmet causing the itching. After retiring from the Army, I didn't wear a flight helmet very much but the itching continued, and I was gradually going bald on the top. I figured out that it was from the barber I used, so I now use a different shop. I was 38 yo. Fast forward 19 years to 2012. I'm 57, and I came across several articles about Demodex mites. My symptoms were nearly the same: blurred vision, watery eyes, itching, crusty eyelids, crawling sensation on face at night, acne. I did the recommended treatment of Tea Tree oil, twice a day for six continuous weeks. Now, my scalp no longer itches. No acne. No crawlies. The hair is gradually regrowing on the top, but it can be slow the first year. My method is to wash hair once with mild tea tree shampoo, then rinse and apply about 1/4 to 1/2 ounce of pure tea tree oil (palm full), and massage it in for 2 minutes, then leave it on for another 4 minutes before rinsing it out. I haven't itched for a year, so I do the treatment once per week. Tea tree oil works very well.



Question posted by Gardenvariety of Madison, WI, USA on 22 October 2013 at 2:16       1485

YES
I am going to begin the TTO treatment. I want to know ow often do I wash my hair, skin and eyes with the TTO and I am adding a good Lavendula Angustifolia for good measure to kill any infection that ensues. I understand there is a to 8 week cycle to kill all the emerging mites but how often do I treat? I think a few times a day may be excessive, but as much as I itch....I might!



Comment posted by SaraDee of Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA on 16 October 2013 at 1:45       1466

YES
I read Cured999's comment about using clove and peppermint oil. I have been suffering from something similar to this for about 3+ years. I've been to the dermatologist MANY times, and even went yesterday (I was at my wits end, my condition was getting so much worse. The area, on my face, that started on my temple as a small red rash-looking spot has spread onto my cheek, and has even turned past red to purple in some places- not to mention the intense itching). My dermatologist prescribed a $300 cream. Trust me, I have spent countless hours on the internet researching my condition (which the dermatologist just calls a "very rare form of rosasea"). Before picking up my prescription, I had the thought to google medical journal articles on the topic of rosacea. Why had I not thought of this before? I just graduated with a Masters degree and have spent the last two years reading tons of academic journal articles! Of course I should try that route. When I did, I found some articles that linked rosasea and demodex. I had never heard of this before, and continued down the rabbit hole until I came across this site. First of all, I was kind of grossed out. I thought, I'm a CLEAN person with CLEAN home! How could this happen? But I do have very sensitive, fair skin. After I thought about it, the rash came on after getting back to back flu viruses (stomach then regular). So perhaps with such a compromised immune system, I was left susceptible. Since I had the ingredients already (clove, tea tree, and coconut oils), I decided to give it a go before filling a $300 Rx. Last night I washed my face with a tea tree face wash (which I had to go purchase) and then mixed up the ingredients (below): I modified their recipe: I used clove and tea tree oil and put in 4 drops each into about a teaspoon of coconut oil. I mixed it in a little jar and put it on the affected area on my face. Immediately the itching subsided (not entirely, but more relief than I got from ANY thing else in over 3 years, Rx included). I left it on all night and just made sure to sleep on the other side, so that it wouldn't just wipe off on my pillow. When I woke up this morning, I was astounded. It's not *gone*, but it looks better than it has since it started. My skin even has a different texture in that area. It was red/purple & scaly. After JUST ONE use, it's already softer and a lot of the redness has subsided. I can't believe it. I'm going to keep up the routine of using the mixture at night. For day, I ordered some Biolanyn (which comes in today). Hopefully the combination will knock this out. It would be life changing...I'll post again in a few days/a week with an update. Also, I never comment on these sort of blogs, so just the fact that I have after just one day of using this oil mixture is testament to it's potential breakthrough!



Comment posted by Muktananda of Eugene, Oregon, USA on 28 September 2013 at 3:9       1421

YES
Demodex mites are known to some docs. There is a dermatological study on the use of tea tree oil for acne rosacea but as you have found you can use it for mites anywhere. You an see them with a 10X magnifying glass. You have to purchase a high quality one which usually costs around $70. The cheap ones are no good. The one I have is made by Baush and Lomb and is good quality. There are a lot of them that do not work well that you can buy inexpensively. You usually don't see them as they spend all their time in the sebaceous glands or at the base of hairs. However, if you find one of the papules on your skin and put tea tree oil on it and look at it again in 3-5 minutes they will usually stick their tale out. Dermatologists look at these guys under slit lamp microscopes and claim the black hair like things that you see come out of the papules is the tale end of them. Usually you see one come out and then a second and third may also appear. I have only watched long enough to see an entire body emerge in the middle of the night once. I also have a regular microscope and have scraped my skin and seen them under the microscope using 40X. So, I know I have demodex and I know they are out of control. They may be a "natural" inhabitant" but out of control. I have a farm and first my goats had really bad demoex mites that they got from a male goat that I purchased. Then my dog and I got it. I did not realize we had it until I had sold my goats. The itchiness came and went and I was not really paying attention until it got really bad. I also thought my goats had been "cured". Now I wonder about that. I had sprayed them and the barn with permethrin multiple times which is something I would not usually do but had become desperate. Now, according to accepted theory they are species specific. So the goats, dog and I should not transfer them. So either the theory is incorrect or we all just got outbreaks at similar times. I will let you decide that. I have noted demodex like papules on other people I know also. Some are bothered by them mildly and some do not notice them at all. One friend has a bulbous nose beginning (acne rosacea nose) and he is bothered by how it looks but says he is not itchy. However, I see him itching quite a bit and he does it unconsciously. I have read every bit of research I can find from all over the world. It is scant but helpful. What I find is that ivermectin has been successful but works better if used with permethrin 5% externally and this treatment needs to be done long term. Seems to need 1-2 months. Permethrin 5% works on its own if applied nightly for 6-8 week. Many apply it again in the AM. Tea tree oil has also worked for acne rosacea in research. It has been used at 50% tea tree and 50% macadamia nut oil and used as scrub on the eyebrows and lashes ridding folks with blepharitis of them in 4-6 weeks. They usually use a tea tree shampoo also. When I have time I plan to write out an expensive review of all the research and treatment and put it on my blog. Until then I would tell you that I noticed this over-growth of mites about 3 weeks ago on myself and then realized it was also what my dog had. The vet gave my dog selemectin (like ivermectin) as an external application for a two month trial period. She is itching less but still itchy so I am now applying tea tree oil/ lavender oil and an herbal salve i made with sulfur in it that I use for fungal problems. (I am an herbalist) I have used multiple things on myself and currently believe tea tree oil to be the most useful. I have damaged my skin with some of the things I have tried. I am doing better at this point but it is a slow process. I keep a bottle of tee tree oil 50% tea tree and 50% either macadamia nut or I think fish oil works even better as a mix. I have not yet tried using 50% coconut oil but plan to as part of my research. The fish oil I use is one I have here to take internally. It is Arctric D cod liver oil by nordic naturals. I am also taking it internally - 1-2 T per day. My dog is getting it also. Additionally, since I have also used permethrin (this works also) and ivermectin (not thrilled with it and too toxic) I am taking milk thistle (1-2 T per day) to protect my liver and aid general detox from what I am doing and I started taking turmeric (2 teaspoons per day) which also protects my liver and is a great anti-inflammatory. I am using a lot of tea tree oil and it is also harmful. It is a neurotoxin when used in too large of amounts. I am surprised at how much I am using without it seeming to be too noticeable though. I am putting my 50/50 mix in a spray bottle so I can easily reach my whole body and use less. I spray and then wipe it around. (Do not breathe it in.) I wake up at night when they are moving. By the way they can not travel far or fast. They only come out for sex and go right back in. So, when you feel them move at night (or daytime if you have a lot.) you need to get them then. I do a general spray after bathing each day. I bathe my head and body with DermaBenss (for animals) and lather it all up with a washrag everywhere. I scrub my head with it vigorously and let it stay on for ten minutes. Then wash it off and 5-10 minutes after drying I apply the tea tree oil over my whole body. Ten minutes later I apply again. At night I spot apply anywhere I feel them moving. I use to feel these sensations of a stinging bite at different parts of my body. One dermatologist thought these stinging sensations that people report which are very brief are from the mite burrowing into our body. These sensations have disappeared in the day time and I rarely feel them at night now. Hope this helps. I will try to write this out better later. I realize it is choppy and there is so much more data I wish to share in detail I am just too overwhelmed with general life at the moment.



Comment posted by ann wilson of bedford, ns, canada on 20 September 2013 at 12:8       1407

YES
I went thirteen months with burning skin, something that looked like lint coming out of my skin. Hair went brittle, developed bald spots. After 7 doctors I found a website where a dermatolgiest said the only way to kill mites was teatree oil and these infections usually start in your hair and spread down the torso. I purchased three spray bottles and sprayed my entire body soaking and wrapping my hair. After 13 months of hell the following I felt like a new person. The doctor suggested mixing the tea tree oil in liquid bathing soap for six weeks to kill the hatching cycle. I continued with the spray for one week and the liquid mix for 3 months. I was finally able to have my life back.



Question posted by Marlin Harrison of Anza, California , USA on 17 September 2013 at 21:43       1402

Help! Are there any definitive test for the demodex mite? If so point me to the test and a doctor than can treat this curse. It is ravaging my family from a one year old to a 68 yrs old. My family visited Hot Springs, CA last Thanksgiving. Ever since its been fdoctors, psychiatric doctors, dermatologist anything and everything you can imagine has been done. I even filed a report with the CD in Atlanta GA , I been to Eisenhower hospital in Palm Springs, Loma Linda hospital and San. Diego Children's hospital they look at us and hand out cream that doesn't do anything.



Comment posted by T-Town Mom of Tulsa, OK, USA on 2 September 2013 at 6:4       1357

Braveheart, don't use hydrocortisone on your face. That can cause a really bad rebound rash. It will help at first, then be way worse than before. You might to leave that out of the regimine and try the TTO again.



Comment posted by t57yearold of Philadelphia, PA, USA on 18 August 2013 at 8:31       1332

I first had the symptoms of the demodex mite back in mid-January (it's now mid-August). I had it in my scalp, my eyelashes and eyes, then it fell to my back and right arm, a few below my waist, and dug out big lesions/nests for itself. The doctor gave me permethrin for scabies and I applied 3 treatments of that over about 4 months, and they worked temporarily, but not fully. In the beginning, I was trying all kinds of things (borax, hydrogen peroxide, etc.) but the tea tree oil products (shampoo, face wash, body wash, straight oil) seemed to work the best. However, in the last month or so, I think (not sure) I developed a yeast infection, mainly in my nose and belly button and also pubic region. I think I over-killed all the bacteria and the yeast just had a heydey. It itched like crazy, so it felt like the demodex, but it was sort of a white linty thing on my skin, and didn't "bite" and leave lesions in the horrible way the demodex mite did. Cut out the tea tree oil, and am using an over-the-counter yeast infection cream, and things seem to be calming down. I think (cross-fingers) I am at the end of this nightmare. Have horrible scars on face and back and arm, and a few on my butt and legs. And I'm vigilant, and scared stiff to try any of my old hair or skin products....nothing by Neutrogena for me, and even that has me on edge. In any event, if the tea tree oil seems not to be working, check to see if the nature of the itch is different....it may have worked too well and made the yeast on you happy.



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