Medicadermis | Skin Therapy The Hague
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that can manifest itself in various ways.
in redness, visible blood vessels, a burning sensation and small
Inflammation in the face. One of the most striking inhabitants of the skin.
that regularly recurs in research into rosacea is the
Demodex mite.
That does not mean that this small skin mite is the sole cause of rosacea.
After all, Demodex is also present on the skin of people without rosacea.
However, higher numbers are regularly found in people with rosacea.
The question is therefore primarily what role Demodex plays within the much larger
interplay of inflammation, immunity, blood vessels, skin barrier and
microorganisms on the skin.
Briefly summarized: Demodex is a normal inhabitant
of human skin. An increased amount is found in research
associated with rosacea, but that doesn't mean that everyone
has Demodex rosacea or that the mite is the sole cause of rosacea.
During an initial consultation, I will examine your skin and we will discuss
which symptoms are most prominent for you and which approach to them
can fit.
Two Demodex species occur on human skin:
Demodex folliculorum and
Demodex brevis.
They are closely related, but do not live in exactly the same place.
Demodex folliculorum lives primarily in the hair follicles
and is found, among other places, on the face and around the eyelashes.
Demodex brevis lives deeper and is primarily associated with
sebaceous glands.
Higher densities of Demodex are regularly found in people with rosacea.
found. Researchers are therefore studying how the presence of these
mites, and possibly also microorganisms associated with the mites,
can influence the inflammatory responses of the skin.
That is probably thinking too simply.
The role of Demodex in rosacea is still the subject of research.
Studies show a link between a higher density of
Demodex mites and rosacea, but a connection is not the same as
a direct cause.
There are several possible explanations. A larger amount
Demodex could exacerbate inflammatory processes in the skin.
Conversely, it is also possible that changes in the skin with rosacea
create an environment in which Demodex can multiply more easily.
Both processes may possibly take place simultaneously.
That also fits the current view of rosacea as a condition in which
not a single cause is central.The innate immune system,
the blood vessels, sensory nerves, skin barrier, environmental factors and
Microorganisms on the skin appear to influence each other.
Demodex can also occur around the eyelashes and eyelid margins.
An increased presence of Demodex is associated with
Demodex blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelid margin.
Symptoms may include, among other things, irritated or itchy
eyelid margins, a burning sensation, and discomfort around the eyes.
In addition, other eye problems can occur with rosacea,
including dry eyes and problems with the meibomian glands.
The meibomian glands are located in the eyelids and produce an oily substance.
component of the tear film. When these glands do not function properly,
the tear film can evaporate more quickly and dry eye symptoms may develop.
An interesting development is
lotilaner ophthalmic solution 0.25%.
Research has shown that Lotilaner can be effective for
Demodex blepharitis. In the United States, the drug was in
Approved by the FDA in 2023 under the brand name Xdemvy
for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis.
Lotilaner belongs to a group of substances that work against parasites.
The active ingredient is interesting because Demodex is a mite and therefore not
bacteria
This concerns a pharmacological treatment of
Demodex blepharitis. This is something different than the
dermatological treatment of rosacea or dry eyes and belongs
within the designated medical eye care.
Anyone searching the internet for ways to combat Demodex,
You quickly come across tea tree oil. However, for a sensitive person, I would...
Do not just experiment with rosacea-prone skin on your own.
Tea tree oil contains biologically active substances and can harm the skin and eyes.
irritate. Especially with rosacea, the skin barrier can already be fragile and
stimuli can be experienced much more strongly.
The same applies to an increasingly extensive skincare routine.
More products do not automatically mean better rosacea skin.
Sometimes it is actually wise to simplify the routine and first
to see which products the skin actually tolerates.
Because Demodex is only one part of the story, a focuses
Rosacea treatment does not automatically focus on combating the mite.
First, it must become clear which characteristics of your skin on the
to stand in the foreground.
In one person, these are mainly inflammations and a sensitive
skin barrier. In someone else, it is actually diffuse redness and
superficial blood vessels. Yet another person also has complaints of
the eyelids or dry eyes.
Therefore, in my practice, I look at the skin as a whole:
redness, capillaries, inflammation, sensitivity, skin barrier,
skin care, medication, sun exposure and possible
triggering factors.
When especially redness and superficial blood vessels
If it takes center stage, IPL can be part of the treatment plan.
At Medicademis, I work with the for this.
Lumenis M22.
The light from IPL can be absorbed by hemoglobin in the blood.
The heat generated in the process can be used to superficial
to treat vascular structures in a targeted manner. The goal is a reduction of
visible blood vessels and redness.
IPL is therefore not a treatment that simply removes Demodex from the skin.
removes it, and it does not eliminate the predisposition to rosacea either.
It deals with certain visible characteristics of rosacea.
Whether IPL is suitable depends on, among other things, the skin type, the
vascular component, the current condition of the skin, medication and
sun exposure. That is why I assess the skin beforehand.
You don't have to figure out which treatment you need yourself first.
During an introductory meeting, we can look at which complaints you have.
stand in the foreground and what the logical next step is.
With rosacea, it is often more sensible to keep the skin as stable as possible.
then keep it to try to aggressively combat Demodex at home.
A simple skincare routine, gentle cleansing,
support of the skin barrier and daily protection against
UV radiation often forms an important starting point.
Additionally, it can be useful to recognize what your skin reacts to.
Heat, sunlight, temperature fluctuations, certain cosmetics,
alcohol and spicy food, for example, can affect some people.
trigger flushing or redness. Which factors are important,
However, it varies greatly from person to person.
If you use many different products, feel free to bring them along.
to practice. I look at it from the perspective of my knowledge of cosmetic ingredients
and skincare with you regarding what you use and whether the combination
suits the condition of your skin.
The core: Demodex is an interesting part of the
rosacea research, but rosacea is much more complex than just a
'skin mite problem'. A good treatment therefore focuses on the
characteristics and needs of your skin as a whole.
You are welcome at Medikadermis in The Hague for a free first session.
introduction.If you would like to consult remotely first, you can also a
Schedule a free video consultation.
Charlotte de Deugd is a skin therapist and owner of
Medicadermis in The Hague. In her practice, she treats
including rosacea, redness, visible blood vessels, acne, pigmentation problems,
scars and edema.
With rosacea, she looks not only at visible redness, but also at
the condition of the skin barrier, vascular component, inflammatory activity,
skincare and possible triggering factors.
Do you suffer from rosacea, redness, or easily irritated skin yourself?
The two Demodex brothers: folliculorum and brevis
Does Demodex cause rosacea?
Demodex around the eyes
Lotilaner for Demodex blepharitis
Tea tree oil for Demodex?
Treating rosacea: looking beyond Demodex
IPL and rosacea
Rosacea, Demodex, redness, dry eyes: where do you start?
What can you do yourself for rosacea?
Do you want to know what suits your rosacea?
Literature and scientific sources used
About the author