| ABSTRACT # |
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| TITLE |
- PILOCARPINE GEL FOR THE TREATMENT OF DEMODICOSIS
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| SUMMARY FROM |
- HairSite Editorial - 4/14/98
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| SOURCE |
- College of Optometry, Northeastern State University, Oklahoma USA
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| AUTHOR |
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- For those of you who are not familiar with Demodex, it is a microscopic
mite that is found living in the hair follicles or sebaceous glands of most humans and
animals. Sometimes Demodex is also called "Face Mite", since it is usually
associated with blackheads, acne and other skin discorders. Demodex are harmless and they
do not transmit diseases. Excessive number of Demodex mites may cause itching and certain
kinds of skin disorders and is usually referred to as Demodicosis.
- In December 1996, the College of Optometry conducted a study on Demodex
mite on humans. While this research did not address Demodex's effects on hair follicles
and hair loss, it did conclude that Demodex mite is a cause of itchiness in our skin. The
study also evaluated the effectiveness of 4% pilocarpine gel as a treatment for
demodicosis.
- In the study, an advertisement was placed in a retirement home newsletter
inviting senior citizens with discomfort in the eyelashes to participate. Participants
were examined for Demodex and subjects with abundant mites were invited to the study. 4%
pilocarpine gel treatment was given to one eye and the other eye was untreated. The
relative abundance of mites were elevated at baseline after about 2 weeks of treatment.
The participants were also instructed to keep a daily log of symptoms. The results showed
that 50% of the participants with discomfort in their eyelashes had excessive Demodex
mites. The treatment with 4% polocarpine gel was effective in reducing the symptoms
reported by the participants as well as the amount of mites. The amount of mite reduction
was closely correlated with the extent to which itching was alleviated. The researchers
concluded that there is a close association between excessive Demodex mite and eyelash
itching in older persons.
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