Anyone who has spent time surfing acne message boards while looking for a clear skin solution has likely come across many rumors as to the real cause of acne. An often repeated claim is that demodex mites ? tiny insects that live within the pores of your skin ? are primarily to blame for acne. This relationship is often exaggerated, but there is some truth in these claims, namely, that tiny insects do indeed live in most people?s pores, and high populations often coincide with acne.
It?s not exactly a pleasant thought to imagine thousands of tiny mites crawling around inside your skin. This is often the case though. Scientists estimate that as much as 96-98% of people carry demodex mites. Up to 25 mites may live within a single hair follicle, and they tend to migrate over your skin at night. Thankfully, in most cases these mites are harmless and remain unobserved.
Problems appear to occur when these populations of demodex mites grow unusually high. Scientists believe that a high presence of demodex mites may be linked to skin problems and even hair loss. However, whether or not the mites actually cause these problems is unknown, and many consider it unlikely.
In the case of acne, most researchers agree that hormonal shifts represent the root cause of the problem, but as a result of those shifts, more of the steroids and oils that demodex mites feed on are produced. Thus, the increased food sources result in a higher population of mites in your skin. This unnatural increase of demodex mites is known as demodicosis. These larger populations of mites may then contribute to both skin and hair problems, creating a pesky barrier to clear skin that cannot be eliminated simply by washing.
The correlation between mites and skin problems is most visible in cases of acne rosacea. High populations of demodex mites are five times as likely among acne rosacea patients as they are among patients of the more common acne vulgaris. The symptoms of this increased presence of demodex mites include itchiness and irritation. Thinning hair has also been observed among other animals with demodicosis, but is unconfirmed in humans.
Demodex mites can be a pain to get rid of, since washing with typical soaps and cleansers has very little effect. Strong antibiotics are required to significantly decrease their populations. One of the most effective treatments is the use of metronidazole cream, which is available with a prescription. Oral antibiotics may also occasionally be prescribed for acne rosacea sufferers.
If your skin is frequently itchy and you feel that demodicosis may be contributing to your acne, seeing a dermatologist is probably a good place to start. However, don't get too bothered over the mere idea that there are insects living in your follicles. In the vast majority of cases, demodex mites live harmlessly in balance with their human host. It is only in those cases where their populations grow out of control that problems may arise.
Don Amodeo is the webmaster of Acne-Vitamins.com, where you can find vitamin B5 acne products and a free guide to vitamins for clear skin. This article may be republished provided that the author's information and all active links are left intact. | |
