Can Demodex Head Mites be a cause of hair loss

Hair loss is a widespread century old situation into which beset human beings. As to our generation these days, hair loss treatment is a need.

There are many known factors acquainted with hair loss which includes diet, stress, genetics and even chemical factors attributed with hair care products such as shampoos. What lies unknown and uncommon to mankind is the factoring cause of demodex folliculorum – a certain tiny creature, parasite to be exact, which have had the responsibility over the occurrence of hair loss.

Demodex Folliculorum or also known as Demodicids are tiny head mites which thrive in skin pores and hair follicles particularly in scalp, cheeks, nose, eyebrow and even in eyelashes. They feed within the follicles at day, mate at night, and leave their eggs inside the follicles where their larvae can later feed on their host’s sebaceous oils.

Who have and who don’t have demodicosis? A particular research concluded that there is a 25% incidence of the presence of demodex folliculorum in people at the age of up to 25 years old, 30% incidence up to the age of 50 years old, 50% up to the age 80 years old, and 100% in 90 years old and older.

Imagine the widespread existence of these mites in mankind. If almost everyone have these mites feeding on their hair follicles, why then not everyone gets the price of baldness? There are two (2) relevant factors that we can consider on this issue.

First, there are people whose body reactions against the existence of these mites will run through an inflammatory process. As this process unfold by blocking the hair follicle which eventually kills the mites due to a food blockade – the offset of such will also be the demise of the hair follicles causing the hair loss.

Secondly, the high degree or intensity of infestation causes the undernourishment of hair follicles. This holds the grounds of hair falling off.

The most common signs and symptoms of the presence of demodex mites is itchiness in the affected hair area. Such areas include particular parts in the scalp, eyelids and even at the roots of the eyelashes. This itchiness can further cause serious problems of infection.

In treating of Head mites, one important note should be firstly known. Since we are taking a bath daily, even sometimes twice in a day, we should take into consideration that chemically laden shampoos could further intensify infestation. This is because some shampoos disintegrate the natural pH or acidity of the scalp which breaks the balance of sebaceous glands causing an overproduction of sebum oil. Overproduction of sebum is a primary attraction to head mites, as sebum is their primary food. Occurrence of this signals a fertile breeding ground for the mites.

It is therefore important to note that treatment of such will basically require a method that which will not hamper or cause imbalance to/with the natural balance and integrity of the scalp. A wide-range option of treatments these days are readily available – which may vary from topical creams and lotions, shampoos and conditioners, and eye lotions.

However, going beyond those available treatments, we have had to get ourselves infused of basic knowledge. We may have had serious cases of diseases caused by those mites that would require us serious treatment, the need of a strong immune system prevails the best option and preventive measure.

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