Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Demodex folliculorum

Demodex folliculorum is a skin problem that is created by the excessive action of the Demodex parasites. These parasites can be found naturally around hair follicles in all kind of mammals and naturally in humans. These parasites make visible their existence and create skin problems when their numbers increase above certain levels. They feed of gland secretions and that is why this condition is many times naturally presented during puberty.

Usually our immune system keeps the levels of these parasites on the human skin in a specific level where they are harmless to our wellbeing. Poor diet, intense stress levels and everything that tempers our immune system however allows these parasites to become dangerous. In their mild form Demodicosis is presented as inflammation, irritation or hair loss. Under no circumstance it can be proven to be a life-threatening condition but it can create a number of problems that need immediate treatment.

Certain parts of the human body such as the area around the eyes, the ears and the scalp present higher risk of presenting Demodicosis. Once the condition is diagnosed there are a number of ways to deal with the problem. The most common treatment includes a number of antibiotics but one can successfully treat mild cases with home made remedies and other antibiotic-free products. One should always follow the advice of once physician of course but the cases where antibiotics are your only choice are very rare.

Don’t forget that the issue at hand is not to exterminate the parasites but to reduce their numbers in non problematic levels. Natural products can do just that without the side effects of antibiotics that can hit the liver, stomach and kidney, especially in cases of low immune system levels.

Demodikose behandlung

It is peculiar to come up with a realization that attending to various skin conditions is an already ancient fragment of mankind’s daily routine. However, time stand witness that we are more overwhelmed of the signs and symptoms these conditions generate and not much on its basic consequential reasons.

A short overview of demodicosis might lighten up some issues we deal with each day.

Human demodicosis is a skin condition caused by infestation of microscopic mites called demodex which thrives in the depths of sebaceous glands and near the hair follicles. Among the 65 demodex species discovered, two of which were identified to be living on humans: demodex folliculorum hominis is found in hair follicles, while demodex brevis thrives in sebaceous or fat glands connected to the hair follicles. It should however be noted that a particular demodex canis which lives predominantly in domestic dogs can actually infest humans too.

Studies show that demodex folliculorum hominis and demodex brevis feed on cellular proteins, oil, sebum, dead skin, and possibly on some substances in the system that extends to the follicle such as hormones, systemic yeast, and/or sugar. Although can be found in some other parts of the body, this explains why both parasites preferably thrive in facial skin, forehead, cheeks, eyelashes, and external ear channels.

Most people do have demodex mites living in their skin, but excessive increase in population of these mites leading to demodicosis can cause serious discomfort (such as rough, dry and scaly skin, and a feeling of itchiness at night) and may contribute to other skin problems.

People should know that demodicosis or over-infestation of demodex mites is mainly attributed to a person with a weak immune system. This clearly explains why person A with a weak immune system is more likely to acquire demodicosis than person B with a strong immune system even though both are aware of hosting demodex mites in their skin. Also, this explains why demodicosis is more frequent among older people (studies show that an 84% demodicosis cases are attributed in people with a mean age range of 61 years old).