Year: 2020

Demodex mites live inside the follicles of the hair on your face, the type of Demodex known as D. folliculorum. The eyelashes and the eyelids are most prone to demodex mites. As, the mites are very small, microscopic rather, in size, you cannot spot them with naked eyes.

These are naturally occurring mites, but they start causing problems when they multiply and become large in number. Demodex mites also exacerbate some preexisting skin conditions such as rosacea.

Some of the symptoms of demodex mites are:

• Rough skin
• Scaly skin
• Itchy skin / itchy eyes
• Redness of facial skin or eyes or both
• Burning sensation in eyes
• Blurring of vision
• Skin sensitivity increases
• Rosacea

To protect yourself from demodex mites’ infestation, you should clean your eyes regularly with Tea Tree Oil based eyelid wipes such as Oculeaf Eyelid Wipes, which has been found very effective in combating demodex mites. Using these eyelid wipes regularly will help to keep the numbers of demodex mites down and reduce symptoms.

Some studies have shown that immunity and demodex mites seem to be linked. People with less immunity seem to have a greater infestation of the pesky mites.

One of the studies done by The Charles Institute of Dermatology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland (Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Dessau, Germany.), named “Demodex mites modulate sebocyte immune reaction: possible role in the pathogenesis of rosacea”.

The aim of the study was to determine the role of the demodex mites to interact with the person’s immune system and increasing the occurrence of rosacea. Study subjects were those with normal skin and those who had rosacea.

The study concluded that demodex mites secrete bioactive molecules which has an effect on the immune reactivity of the sebocytes and higher number of mites has a controlling effect on skin cells and immunity. The people who had rosacea had lower immunity and thus demodex mites had a greater effect on them.

Another study by Akilov, Oleg & Mumcuoglu, Kosta. (2004), Immune response in demodicosis, was published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV. 18. 440-4. 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2004.00964.x.

29 people suffering from demodicosis and 13 healthy people participated in the study. The presence of the demodex mites was determined via microscopic inspection of the secretion from the sebum glands. The immune response was evaluated. It was found that increased density of the mites caused a parallel increase in the readiness of lymphocytes undergoing apoptosis (dying). The study authors concluded that this might be the result of the immunosuppression caused by mites.

Thus, demodex mites might cause more problems in people who have low immunity, and they may even be the cause of lowering immunity in certain people.

To be safe from demodex mite infestation, you must work on improving your immunity through food and supplements.

On the other hand, to prevent demodex mites lowering immunity, you should try to keep their population in control or try to eradicate mites which are lodged in your eyelashes and eyelids. To do this, you can start with a routine cleaning of your eyes and face with special, soft and gentle but effective eyelid cleansers such as Oculeaf Eyelid Wipes and Oculeaf Soft Eyelid Cleanser.

As demodex mites spread to the facial skin, cleaning your eyes and face daily with the specially formulated Oculeaf Eyelid Wipes will gradually reduce the number of mites, and provide relief to the symptoms which might be causing you much discomfort.

Eye hygiene is not a conscious effort for most people. All we do is wash our faces in the morning, after we brush our teeth, and wash with water again before sleeping. Some of us may have a daily face cleaning routine, but even then, the eyes are left out. All the dust, grime, microbes, and makeup residue remain on the eyes.

The eyes are one of the most sensitive organs in your body. The mucous membranes are a conduit for viruses and bacteria to enter the body. As coronavirus numbers touch almost a 4.2 million, at the time of writing this, eye hygiene is of the utmost importance.

You must protect your eyes, equally well, as you would protect the nose and mouth. Frequently washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to guard yourself, so that you don’t touch your eyes inadvertently with the virus on your hands. Sanitizer with minimum of 60% of alcohol is another to clean your hands, if you’re on the move or you don’t have access to water or soap.

If you have any symptoms such as high fever, dry cough, body aches, diarrhea, difficulty in breathing, fatigue for no reason, you should give a call to the coronavirus helplines and describe your symptoms. Do not move out of your home, because if you are positive then you might put others at risk or you have risk of getting from some corona infected person.

The most important thing that has been the outcome of Coronavirus, is hand, face and eye hygiene, as any virus or bacteria cannot harm you if you keep washing your hands cleaning your eyes & face frequently.

 What is the most preferred way to clean your eyes and face?

For the eyes & face, you should choose eyelid wipes and soft cleansers, made from non-toxic ingredients, such as TTO or Tea Tree Oil, without parabens or any other harmful chemicals.

Wipes such as Oculeaf Eyelid wipes are safe for the whole face, so you can clean your eyes, remove makeup and grime, and germs, at one go. Oculeaf Eyelid Wipes contains Tea Tree Oil helps which helps to reduce the microbial load effectively.

Tea Tree Oil has an important function as well, that of reducing the antiviral effect, which makes Oculeaf Eyelid Wipes the best choice to keep your eyes healthy and safe. Besides, these wipes are Gamma Irradiated and thus completely sterile wipes for the most hygienic eye care.

According to a study, ‘Melaleuca alternifolia Concentrate Inhibits in Vitro Entry of Influenza Virus into Host Cells’, done by the Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Tea Tree Oil does play a major role in the eradication of viruses.

 Working from home means you will be spending more time in front of your computer screen and other screens, for entertainment and this puts stress on the eyes. There is no opportunity to go out to restaurants or pubs or even walks in the park.

As a result, we are spending almost all the time indoors, and out of sheer boredom, checking our phones, mails, and watching our favorite shows and movies. To combat the additional strain, use an eye moisturizer, and regularly clean the eyes.

 Is conjunctivitis a sign of coronavirus?

It is rare but coronavirus has been known to cause conjunctivitis in some people. However if you come across anyone with the pink or itchy eye, then do not panic. It doesn’t mean that they are infected with the virus – there are several reasons for conjunctivitis. But if you or someone you know have the other symptoms, such as fever, cough and diarrhea, then you must get yourself tested.

The virus has been known to spread by touching the fluid from an infected person’s eye or objects which might carry the fluids from the eyes.

What are the other symptoms that might indicate coronavirus

If you experience some symptoms such as blurry vision, wavy/blank spots in front of you, and if you have a history of macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, you must consult your physician.

You might suddenly experience visual flashes or see floaters in your vision, or lose some amount of vision, have pain in the eyes, headaches, nausea, vomiting and red eyes. All or even some of these conditions appearing for no reason at all is a matter of concern.

 What to do when you are visiting your ophthalmologist

If you have to go to the ophthalmologist, you should maintain a distance of six feet, ideally, but if not that then do cover your mouth with a mask or scarf, to protect yourself from the droplets which might spray onto your face. Wearing glasses or sunglasses would protect your eyes. But be careful to hold it with a tissue and clean it with a sanitizer when you take it off.

Carrying a tissue to the doctor’s appointment and opening doors with a tissue is the safest way, as you can get infected by touching an infected doorknob.

At the clinic, it is better to wait in the car, so that you are not exposed to anyone carrying the virus, and to protect other people and office staff, in case you are infected. You may have to go alone for your appointment, as clinics and hospitals might restrict the number of people who can accompany patients.

Doctors would probably be wearing a mask, and put a plastic shield on the slit lamp machine. You should not speak while he is examining you, as particles, might spray out of your mouth onto him.

The best thing is to ask for a virtual teleconference, such as video chats over the laptop or smartphone.

If there is no emergency, then best to stay at home. Your doctor might ask you to wear protective mask or covering if you are sick and keep you in a separate room away from the other patients.

Avoid wearing contact lenses

As viruses, especially the highly contagious Coronavirus spreads through touch, contact lenses should be avoided for quite some time this year, till the danger of the virus recedes. This is because, contact lens wearers tend to touch their eyes and face a lot, due to irritation.

Another reason is that the virus can land on the surface of the lens, and thus find a route to your body. If you wear glasses or sunglasses, then they can act as a protective shield against virus loaded droplets. But do not touch them with bare hands in the process of cleaning them. Safety goggles are the best way to shield your eyes if you are caring for a corona infected person.

Prevention is better than cure, as the saying goes, and protecting your eyes by following a daily eyecare routine is important. Oculeaf Eyelid Wipes can be used twice or thrice daily to clean your (and your family’s) eyes and face, to prevent any kind of viral or bacterial infection. Eyelid wipes are a smart choice in your effort to be safe from dangerous infections!