Demodex Mites causing Acne
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Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:13 pm

has anyone else had acne, that wouldnt go away? I did, and then I found out about how many cases of acne are caused by demodex mites. Well, Mine was, and then I found out about Xin Fumanling cream, a chinese remedy against Demodex. To find out more, check out http://www.demodex.info

free skin care · Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:09 am

Ok, well I was intrigued about this as a Beauty Therapist and someone who had acne when I was younger, so I googled this. According to most of the sites that I found,Demodex mites are usually found in dogs and are the common cause of mange. They can infect humans but its normally transmission from a heavily infected pet but that this is extremely rare.
However I also found that apparently demodex mites are usually present on an estimated 90% of people but that in healthy individuals cause no problems, its only when other issues are apparent that they do any damage. http://www.hairsite.com/library/abst-46.htm

http://www.md.huji.ac.il/depts/parasitology/kosta/Demodex.htm

It's most common in puppies and dogs who have their immune system compromised by other pathological illnesses.

There is an article about demodex at the following link that also has pictures of a human who is infected after catching it from a dog who was heavily infested: http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/dem.html

It does resemble acne but like I say most of the websites say that infestation of humans is VERY rare and caught off infected pets. The human in the article had to visit a dermatologist and had numerous topical and systemic treatment - full recovery took 6 months! So personally I would say if you suspect you may have caught this from a pooch I'd see a doctor first before you try anything yourself as it seems to be hard to get rid of!
I guess you could probaby use the products in the link above along side medical treatment if you wanted.
However, Interestignly there was an article saying that the incidence of Demodex mites is found in higher relative numbers in people. with rosacea but that it isn't usually the cause more that the mites have taken up residence in an already compromised and reactive skin: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~rosacea/rosacea-inflammation.htm
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artmay00/demodex.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demodex_mite

free skin care · Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:44 pm

Thanks Lucia for the interesting info.

Sometimes I wonder if I have something like that on me Embarassed

I have 'mild' rosacea, and was prescribed doxycyclene antibiotics but they reacted very badly with my body. So I never went through with them and saw no improvement.

I also have had a few rash breakouts this year, simlar to flea bites, but doc diagnosed it as allergy to dust mites/fleas which normal people could tolerate.

It's really hard to convince a doctor of another p.o.v when they already have their mind dead set on what condition you have!

free skin care · Fri Sep 02, 2005 2:41 am

Miranets, Yes I know what you mean with Doctors, they seem to think that you'll just take at face value what they tell you and take it as a personal affront if you suggest anthing or tell them that you've done some research!!!
Bit off topic but need a rant!!LOL! Laughing

I'm having an issue with an old injury to my back (horseriding accident) I had extensive compression bruising all up my spine and an area of numness on my back but they refused at the time to send me for Xray as they kept telling me it was just bruising etc. Now three years down the line and ££££'s of Chiro/Physio I still have problems and numbness and my Physio and Chiro both want me to have an MRI as they suspect nerve damage and that I possibly had a compression fracture!!! - Doctor doesn't think I'm 'bad enough' to warrant one and tells me it's something I have to live with and to take pain killers!!! Grrrrr - all very well but it'd be nice to know what is going on. So looks like I'm going to have to go private! (So- called NHS is pants - apparently I have to be seriously disabled before they'll do anything!)

Sat Sep 03, 2005 6:47 pm

... Yes, a google search does reveal that dogs are the primary victims of Demodex. And talking to one of the 2 dermatoligists I spoke with, you would hear that Demodex doesnt live on people, and cause no problems at all. However, having had dreadful acne that wouldnt go away, and having tried Accutane, and Retin-A, and Proactive, I can tell you that THEY didnt work for my Acne. So I tried the Xin Fumanling cream. And it did. And while I did continue to use it for 6 months (they recommend that on their site, well, they recommend 4-6 months, depending on what KIND of demodex you have, but my doctor wouldnt test me, and I wasnt interested in a remission) I was mostly clear after 2 months (had the occasional mild outbreak over the next 4 months). So, I dont know. It worked for me, is all, I guess.

free skin care · Sun Sep 04, 2005 6:19 am

Jenny - Well there are references on some of the sites I've listed that say that Demodex is present on almost all of the population but normally doesn't cause a problem unless there's something else - I guess you could have mild acne that then developes because the mites take hold in the inflammed environment.
I don't know - that's the problem with google - so much info - it can be great but also very confusing!!:O)

I'm so glad you found something that worked - I will certainly mention the product you mention to anyone who asks me about persistent acne - certainly worth a go!
Thanks for the info - really fascinating.

Sat May 06, 2006 8:34 pm

anyone else have experience with demodex or facedoctor products?

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