On this episode of American Horror Story: Magnificence, I’m sorry to report that, on a microscopic degree, some creepy, crawly characters live in your face. Virtually everybody has a kind of mite known as Demodex close to their hair follicles (i.e., their lashes and brows) that feed on oils, pores and skin cells, and hormones. The overwhelming majority of the time, you received’t even discover they’re there—these tiny critters hang around in your pores and skin symbiotically and fortunately. Generally, although, Demodex mites get slightly too comfy and trigger points—particularly in case you have lash extensions and don’t all the time hold them as clear as it’s best to.
If Demodex mites proliferate an excessive amount of across the eye space, they’ll result in demodicosis (face mite overgrowth) of a sort particularly referred to as Demodex blepharitis (an irritation of the eyelid from the face mites) and pores and skin points like itchiness and flaking. These are particularly frequent amongst folks with eyelash extensions, since these could be magnets for buildup of the stuff these mites wish to eat.
Why do these little freaks punish us for glamor, and the way does it feel and appear once they’re inflicting bother round your eyes? Right here’s what to find out about these face invaders when you’re noticing some bizarre pores and skin signs after getting your lashes performed.
Mites thrive when there’s a buildup of oil or make-up round your lashes.
The explanation that Demodex mites flourish on some folks’s pores and skin extra so than others’ is sort of easy: entry to meals. Faux eyelashes can typically lead mites to come back and feast as a result of a) folks typically keep away from cleaning their eyes to extend the lifetime of their extensions and b) additional adhesive across the lash line can lure micro organism and particles.
Dendy Engelman, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York Metropolis, tells SELF {that a} signature early signal you might have too many Demodex mites is “dry and irritated eyes that may really feel like burning, stinging, or itching.” If the issue goes unchecked from there, you may also have signs like “redness, dry or tough scaly patches, or crustiness across the eyes,” she says. The crud that varieties there’s a byproduct of cylindrical dandruff—a waxy, scaly substance that builds up on the follicle base round particular person lashes—and collarettes, a.okay.a., uh, mite poop. The extra mites in your face, the extra crusting you’re more likely to expertise.
Find out how to hold your lashes clear to keep away from mite overgrowth
Once you get lash extensions, your technician normally asks you to roughly elevate your proper hand and repeat after them: “No harsh cleansers.” However that doesn’t imply you shouldn’t use cleansers at all—fairly the other.
In an effort to hold mites at bay and your lashes intact, simply be selective. “Wash with a delicate, non-soap cleanser by working a Q-Tip alongside the lash line,” says Dr. Gohara. “Additionally cleanse between the eyebrows, the place [Demodex mites] like to cover within the follicle.” (You probably have an lively infestation, she says you’ll must repeat this twice a day, however in any other case, a day by day cleanse might be tremendous.)
