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Lifestyle & Human Interest

You Most Likely Have Mites Living in Your Eyelashes

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I used to like to read a lot of odd fiction; specifically, I liked to read scary books.

Sometimes, the authors would try to spook you over ordinary stuff, and that usually didn’t work. (I remember one tale that tried to frighten readers about — I kid you not — cucumbers.)

But you know what always sent a shiver along my spine? Stories about how the human body could go wrong — and sometimes the way it works when everything is going right.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, spa Lashes Neeta recently posted a warning about one of those creepy things about human beings.

We all know that the human body can harbor some pretty disgusting critters. Just consider tapeworms.

Equally bad are mites, which plague nursing homes. Left to themselves, these tiny insects can lead to scabies, an itchy rash that can prove fatal if left untreated.

Icky, right? I think we all would want to avoid that. But did you know that healthy, ordinary people most likely have creepy crawlies living on their bodies?

Lashes Neeta wrote on Facebook, “Hello, my name is demodex folliculorum, and I live in the pores of the skin of your face. That’s why it’s important to wash your face and remove makeup!

Do you wash your face every night?

“I like living in hair follicles that have your nose, cheek and eyelashes. These are places where there’s more fat to feed me.

“I feed on your secretions and your dead skin. I can put up to 25 eggs in every hair follicle.”

The post went on to add that these teeny, tiny mites are super small. In fact, you can’t see them without a microscope.

But just because they’re tiny doesn’t mean that they’re harmless. They can cause some nasty things to happen.



Related:
Plastic Surgery Addict Who Got Eyeball Tattoo Now Desperate to Quit After Nearly Dying

Lashes Nita wrote, “My digestive system is not able to eliminate my waste, so I [accumulate] them in my body until I explode and die. My remains cause hypersensitivity reactions. According to some studies, in some people, I can cause infections on eyelids and rosacea.”

Given that they’re microscopic, these little mites can hide from you, so don’t try to diagnose them on your own.

When is medical intervention appropriate? According to Petty MayonnaiseOptometrist Scott Schacter, who treats mite-related conditions, said, “If you’re seeing signs, if you’re seeing cylindrical dandruff, if you’re seeing greasy lashes, distension, lash loss, etc., you’re going to want to treat that patient. It means that they have too much Demodex.”

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A graduate of Wheaton College with a degree in literature, Loren also adores language. He has served as assistant editor for Plugged In magazine and copy editor for Wildlife Photographic magazine.
A graduate of Wheaton College with a degree in literature, Loren also adores language. He has served as assistant editor for Plugged In magazine and copy editor for Wildlife Photographic magazine. Most days find him crafting copy for corporate and small-business clients, but he also occasionally indulges in creative writing. His short fiction has appeared in a number of anthologies and magazines. Loren currently lives in south Florida with his wife and three children.
Education
Wheaton College
Location
Florida
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Entertainment, Faith, Travel




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