Do you have any of these scalp problems? Be careful, they may be causing the problem!

Audit expert: Peng Guoqiu

Deputy Chief Physician, Fourth Medical Center, PLA General Hospital

As the weather warms up and the temperature rises, mites start to make trouble again... When it comes to mites, many people may have seen similar sayings such as "If you don't dry your quilt in March, millions of mites will accompany you to sleep." Millions of mites may sound a bit exaggerated. In fact, mites are not only numerous, but also ubiquitous. Among them, the ones that are most closely related to our skin and body are dust mites and demodex mites.

Dust mites and Demodex | Life Times

Dust mites and Demodex

What are dust mites? Among all mites, dust mites are the most widespread and have the greatest impact. Dust mites look like spiders, with a size between 0.1 and 0.3 mm. They are invisible to the naked eye and are mainly active in carpets, sofas, bedding, cushions, mattresses and pillows. They feed on human sweat, secretions and shed skin flakes, and their lifespan is generally about 10 weeks.

Dust mites | Baidu pictures

Dust mites do not bite people, but their bodies, secretions and excrement (feces) are all allergens. When these allergens come into contact with the skin or mucous membranes of susceptible people, they will trigger corresponding allergic symptoms, such as coughing, runny nose, bronchial asthma, etc.

Dust mites like to live in a dark, humid and warm environment. The best conditions for dust mites to survive are a relative humidity of 70% and a temperature of around 25°C. Therefore, spring, late summer and early autumn are the peak seasons for rhinitis and asthma caused by dust mites.

Dust mites | Baidu pictures

What is Demodex? Demodex is a small, translucent strip that is most closely associated with human skin. It can be said that it "eats, drinks, defecates and urinates on the human face all its life."

There are about 140 known species of mites in nature, but only two species can parasitize humans, one is sebaceous demodex mite and the other is hair folliculorum demodex.

Demodex | Life Times

Sebaceous Demodex mainly parasitizes in sebaceous glands and meibomian glands; follicular Demodex "lives" in eyelash follicles. Each person has more than 120 eyelashes on the upper eyelid, and the meibomian glands at the root of the eyelashes are an important part of oil excretion, which is also the best place for Demodex to set up camp.

Studies have found that Demodex mites that parasitize in hair follicles are related to facial papules, enlarged pores, rosacea and other symptoms.

However, Demodex is also a conditionally pathogenic microorganism. They do not directly cause the occurrence of disease. It will only occur when the individual's immune system is unbalanced and Demodex mites multiply in large numbers.

Several warning signs of mite accumulation

01Persistent itching:

If you often feel itchy scalp, it may be caused by mites multiplying and moving in the hair follicles, irritating and infecting the scalp.

02 Excessive oil secretion on the scalp:

Mites feed on scalp oils. If you find your hair is unusually greasy and you pick out "white mud" if you don't wash it for a day, this may be a sign of mite activity.

03Acne appears on the skin:

Mites and their waste products can clog pores and cause acne. What's more, mites can carry germs into hair follicles and cause folliculitis.

04Hair loss problem:
If your hair gradually becomes thin and brittle and easy to fall out, it may be the result of mites invading the hair follicles and damaging the hair roots.

Effective prevention and control measures: Although mite removal is not necessary for people with normal immune systems, if there are people with allergies in the family, it is still necessary to remove mites regularly.

01Choose mite removal products:

When choosing mite removal products, you should carefully evaluate and avoid blind purchases. If you have any doubts, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist for professional diagnosis.

02 Dry your quilt frequently:

Sunlight is a natural killer of mites, and regularly drying bedding is an easy way to remove mites.

03Maintain good hygiene habits:

▲Control humidity: Keeping indoor humidity below 50% helps inhibit mites and their allergens.

▲Replace and wash bedding regularly: It is recommended to replace and wash bedding every two weeks, and avoid mixing daily necessities.

▲Maintain personal hygiene: wash your hands frequently, pay attention to the cleanliness of your face and eyes, and avoid rubbing your eyes with your hands.

04Seek professional medical help:

If the symptoms of mite infection are severe and cannot be improved by daily care measures, you should seek medical attention in time. Under the guidance of a doctor, you can use metronidazole gel or benzoyl peroxide gel for treatment.

By taking these preventive measures, you can effectively control the mite infestation and improve the associated symptoms. Remember, prevention and routine cleaning are equally important and together they form the key strategy for long-term management of mite infestations.