Demodex analysis: how to properly prepare and pass?

Indications

An analysis for demodex is prescribed for chronic pathologies. In this case, the patient has the following manifestations:

• irritation of the skin of the face, as well as rashes that are localized in the area of ​​the eyelids, eyelashes;
• the patient complains of redness and itching of the affected areas;
• in the area of ​​the face and head, pathological rashes appear, which are similar to acne;
• the skin is pale or grayish;
• when the eyelids are affected, their edges turn red, conjunctivitis develops;
• the edges of the eyelids are covered with scales.

If the patient is worried about rashes with severe itching in the face area, then this is the first sign that there is a need for diagnostics and treatment procedures.

Manual cleaning

As the name implies, the only tool that a beautician works with during such cleaning is his hands. In this case, the rest of the cleaning steps in this case remain the same.

First of all, the patient's facial skin is treated with a special compound that helps to expand his pores. And at the end of the whole process, a soothing tonic or lotion is applied to the face to relieve inflammation.

The main difference between these methods is that during manual cleaning, acne and blackheads are removed by pressing them directly with the fingers of a specialist. It is believed that this method is less traumatic. There are practically no traces left after it, which cannot be said about mechanical cleaning. However, the effect of such a procedure is felt much weaker.

Currently, most beauty salons and cosmetology studios practice mechanical cleaning, despite the fact that manual cleaning is still more respected and in demand. There are also other types of facial blemish removal. Among them are ultrasonic, laser and vacuum cleaning. However, the patient suffering from demodicosis, they are not as needed as internal intervention and the destruction of parasites through the use of drugs.

Demodex analysis. Preparation.

Ten days before the expected date of the scraping

, neither foundation, nor cleansing lotions, only washing with plain warm water is allowed, even soap is not recommended.

even this cannot be done, otherwise the scraping will turn out to be of poor quality, and the results are unreliable. And it turns out that you have wasted your time and money, and most importantly, you and the doctor will unsuccessfully look for the reasons for your skin failures in another, third, tenth, and as a result, you will return to the tick again, and you will need to try again to get tested for demodex , and for the lost time, the parasites will only increase in number and will significantly have time to spoil your skin. But still, when you went to the doctor, you got up

, because self-medication does not lead to good, and then you have to fight with a much more impressive scale of problems.

To obtain the most reliable laboratory test results for Demodex, careful preparation is required. Before passing a scraping, taking eyelashes for research, the patient must adhere to the following rules:

• do not wash your face within 24 hours;
• do not use cosmetics, ointments and creams;
• when shampooing, it is necessary to avoid getting cosmetics in the eyes;
• cancel the use of eye drops.

If a patient develops a serious eye disease, then it is necessary to notify a specialist about this when passing laboratory tests.

Diagnostics for the presence of a demodex mite is aimed at studying the biological material from scrapings, studying the structure of hair follicles and eyelashes. The diagnostic procedure itself does not deliver painful sensations to the patient. The patient can receive a decoding of the results after 72 hours. There are some ways of passing a scraping to identify the parasite.

How to prepare for analysis

To obtain reliable information about the presence of a parasitic mite on the eyelashes or skin of the face, the following rules must be observed before taking the analysis:

• do not wash with products with a high alkali content within 24 hours before the study;
• refuse to use decorative and medicinal cosmetics, ointments and creams two days before visiting a doctor;
• exclude the ingress of shampoo on the eyelashes two days before the analysis;
• you cannot use eye drops the day before the procedure, with the exception of drops, which are prescribed for serious eye diseases.

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The parasitic mite is most active in the evening hours, as it does not tolerate ultraviolet light. Therefore, the most favorable time for the delivery of scraping for demodex is the evening hours. But in medical laboratories, the sampling of material for demodex is carried out in the morning, which can make it difficult to identify the causative agent of the disease, provoke its active reproduction and aggravate the patient's condition.

Where to take

demodicosis proceeds with a pronounced clinical picture, but to make a diagnosis, you will have to pass a scraping. You can take the test in the laboratory of a medical institution at the place of registration, in a dispensary. However, a budgetary organization does not always have material for examination available, so the patient will have to contact a commercial one. The cost of the analysis will vary from 300 to 550 rubles.

It is possible to take an analysis in a budget-type clinic only in the morning. And as for a commercial organization, the patient hands over a scraping at any convenient time. Demadex worries the patient at night, and during the day it hides in the epidermis. Therefore, the delivery of material for the survey should take place in the evening. The advantage of a paid hospital is obvious.

If the patient noticed skin rashes, which are accompanied by severe itching, reddening of the skin, then he should contact specialized specialists:

1. If the parasite is localized on the eyelids, affecting the bulbs of the eyelashes, then an ophthalmologist is involved in the treatment.
2. In case of damage to the scalp - a trichologist.
3. With inflammatory foci on the skin, a dermatologist is involved in the treatment.

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How do they take an analysis for Demodex

The method of sampling material for scraping for demodex depends on the location of the tick and is performed strictly in laboratory conditions.

Scraping from the skin of the face consists in examining the particles of the epidermis, which are taken from the affected areas. The doctor, with the help of a scalpel or an eye spoon, scrape off the particles of the epidermis affected by the disease, or takes the contents of the pimple for examination. The analysis for demodex from eyelashes consists in examining several of the patient's eyelashes.

The material taken for analysis is placed in a special solution (glycerol or alkaline) on a glass slide and examined under a microscope. The study consists in counting individuals of the subcutaneous tick.

Also, to determine the general condition of the patient and identify concomitant diseases (anemia, allergic reactions, inflammatory processes or bacterial infections), a general blood test is prescribed, which is recommended for all patients without exception.

Life cycle

The entire life path of a worm-like mite can be divided into two periods of existence:

1. intradermal (maturation and reproduction)
2. extracutaneous or cutaneous

A tick, fixed on the walls of the excretory ducts, reaches a sexually mature state, fertilizes, lays eggs. This is the end of the ripening period.

Then, outside, the cutaneous, metamorphic period takes place. Eggs enter the surface of the dermis with a stream of fat. The larvae that emerged from them settle under the scales of the epidermis, in the mouths of the hair follicles. There is a molt (metamorphosis) - protonymph and teleonymph.

In the future, adults slide down the excretory duct of the sebaceous glands, and the cycle begins anew. Fertilization is internal, individuals mate at the mouth of the follicles. In total, the life cycle takes 15-25 days.

Scraping for demodex from the skin

Scraping is carried out in case of inflammatory processes on the skin. Biomaterial is collected from damaged facial skin. If there are no significant signs of damage to the skin, then the biomaterial is taken from several places: from the head, face, ears, thigh, etc. Using a scalpel, the specialist separates a small fragment of the epidermis, takes purulent discharge from the inflamed follicle.

With positive results, the doctor is prescribed a therapy regimen, this allows you to get rid of this disease in a short time. During the study, a specialist can identify two types of parasites:

• long demodex;
• short demodex.

In a sense, it is more difficult to cope with a species of short parasite, since it can penetrate into the deep layers of the epidermis, where they also multiply. Negative results are given not only in the absence of a tick, but also traces of their presence in the body. Positive results are tolerated if the specialist noticed the mite shell, the parasite itself or its egg.

In addition to laboratory diagnostics of Demodex, you can conduct a study at home.

Ways of infection with demodicosis

The causative agent of the infection is a microscopic mite of the genus Demodex. In total, 65 varieties of Demodexes are known, 3 of them parasitize on humans. Parasites are able to live in the environment for a long time, even on the skin of the person himself, without causing disease or unpleasant symptoms.

The passage mechanism for the demodex mite is a decrease in the body's defenses, weakening of the immune system. Increases the chance of disease progression by the simultaneous impact of external adverse factors:

• increased activity of the sebaceous glands;
• excessive use of cosmetics;
• improper skin care;
• dusty environment;
• increased air temperature;
• the use of other people's personal hygiene products.

The main routes of infection are a sick person, his belongings. Demodectic mange is not transmitted from animals. It develops more often in females, whose body is more often subjected to hormonal fluctuations, nervous stress.

When a positive result is given

The results are considered positive if either the eggs of the mite or the mites themselves were found in the collected materials. If only egg shells were visualized, the analysis is repeated.

The detected tick individual must be correctly identified, or rather, its species must be determined. The algorithm for further treatment depends on whether the tick is long or short.

It is recommended that the analysis be carried out in the first half of the day, preferably in the morning, since the ticks are afraid of direct sunlight and hide.

Demodex tests can be taken in any laboratory, both public and private. The study is included in the list of services of almost all modern laboratories. It is not necessary to take a referral from a dermatologist, only the patient's desire is taken into account. In state institutions, the analysis can be taken completely free of charge, subject to the provision of a referral from a doctor.

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When choosing a diagnostic center, it is necessary to take into account the quality of the services performed and the professionalism of the employees, and it will not hurt to read reviews from real customers. Remember, the procedure must be carried out in completely sterile conditions, as an infection can be introduced through the skin and significantly aggravate the condition.

When researching for demodicosis in a private laboratory, the patient receives the result of the analysis within an hour. Government clinics provide results within 24 hours.

A positive diagnosis is made when a tick, its eggs or larvae are detected. If an empty shell of a parasitic mite is found on the skin, then the analysis for demodex is re-assigned. If several individuals are identified within one cell, then the result is considered conditionally negative and treatment is not prescribed, since this number of ticks is not capable of harming human health (change in appearance or hairline).

When a parasite is found, it is necessary to determine the type of tick (long or short), since this fact affects the duration of treatment and medication. The most difficult is the treatment of the short type.

Acarid pathogen

Demodex (aka acne gland) is needed for the skin, since it directly participates in the biocenosis, preventing the development of other pathogens and forming a PH balance. The subcutaneous mite begins to actively reproduce its own kind in the following conditions:

1. Hormonal disorders.
2. Chronic conditions.
3. Long-term use of drugs.
4. Immune disruptions.

Defense mechanisms that normally restrain microflora and balance the skin do not work for these reasons.

More often women suffer from the disease than men. The skin is thin, sensitive and more susceptible to infection. Men have a dense cover, and regular shaving helps to remove keratinized particles and pathological elements. Occurs in children with refractive errors of the eye. There are known episodes of infection with demodicosis in beauty salons during procedures with facial skin. Demodectic mange is contagious if another person's immunity is low. Not transmitted from animals to humans.

Demodectic mange is a lesion of the skin on the face with acne and is classified as a condition, not a disease. This is due to the fact that the mite normally lives under the skin of every person, and is detected if an analysis is made for demodicosis.

With the rapid reproduction of any of them, the skin is poisoned with waste products, which causes inflammation.

Home collection of material

If the patient does not have the opportunity to conduct an analysis in a specialized institution, you can take the biological material yourself. Rules for scraping for demodicosis:

• preparation of adhesive tape and slides, which can be taken in advance in the laboratory;
• in the evening, the tape is glued to the skin of the body and face, then glued to the glass;
• the finished biomaterial should be taken to the medical laboratory for examination.

If a patient develops rashes accompanied by itching, then this is the body's response to being damaged by Demodex.

There are many methods that will relieve the symptoms of the disease and show high results.

Folk recipes:

1. Juniper berries are crushed in a mortar or passed through a coffee grinder, filled with a glass of boiling water, infused for about 7 hours.With this infusion, lotions are made on the affected areas. The procedure should be carried out 2-3 times a day.
2. Linden blossom is poured with boiling water, languishes in a water bath for 10-15 minutes. Such a solution is intended for wiping the skin of the face, the procedure is carried out twice a day.
3. Buckthorn bark is poured with a glass of water, after which it should be boiled for 15 minutes under a lid. The infusion is recommended for compresses on the skin of the face. Before lotions, you need to wipe the skin with alcohol tincture. The procedure is carried out twice a day.
4. Grind the wormwood herb into a powder mass, add alum, honey, vegetable oil, crushed viburnum berries, after which the mixture must be mixed until a creamy consistency. This ointment is applied to cotton pieces of cloth, which must be applied to the face for two hours, and then rinsed with salted water.

Now it became known how to get tested for Demodex, what it is, how to treat it.

How much does the Demodex detection procedure cost?

The analysis of eyelashes for demodex is carried out as follows: the doctor takes 4 eyelashes from each eyelid for analysis from each eye (from the upper and lower eyelashes, totaling 16 eyelashes) necessarily with hair follicles. Then he places the hairs in a special alkaline solution based on glycerin. Further research is carried out under a special powerful microscope.

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Step-by-step procedure of the procedure: the scraping is completely painless, only causes a little discomfort, you should be prepared that the doctor can pierce one pimple for analysis; all materials for research (except for eyelashes) are placed on a glass with a drop of an alkaline-glycerin solution; the analysis is carried out immediately and the result will be known within a few hours.

Depending on the place of sampling for scraping for Demodex, the cost of the procedure differs. At the same time, the price of the conducted research depends on the region of residence, the type of medical institution and the speed of obtaining the result.

Attention! This article is posted for informational purposes only and under no circumstances is scientific material or medical advice and can not serve as a substitute for an in-person consultation with a professional doctor. For diagnostics, diagnosis and treatment prescription, please contact qualified doctors!

Briefly about the disease

Demodecosis is a disease of a dermatological nature, the causative agent of the pathology is the acne mite Demodex folliculorum, otherwise, the acne gland. It is found in almost every adult, and is a conditionally pathogenic organism. Infection occurs:

• upon contact with a carrier of infection;
• through clothing and bedding;
• sometimes pets also carry the infection.

The maximum size of a mite is 279.7 microns, inhabits hair follicles, ducts of the sebaceous glands, lives mainly on the face, head, and is often found on the chest. It feeds on sebum secretions, therefore it lives in areas where production occurs most intensively, on the head it is the area of ​​the eyebrows and eyelashes, the wings of the nose, the chin, and the skin of the scalp.

The presence of an iron on the human body is not a pathology, this phenomenon is called commensalism, when one organism exists at the expense of another, without harming it.

However, with a weakening of immunity, individuals begin to actively reproduce, which provokes an inflammatory process. Depending on the habitat, demodicosis of the eyes or skin is divided.

The following signs indicate a disease in the eye area:

• visual impairment;
• swelling and redness of the eyelids, reminiscent of an allergic reaction;
• discharge of viscous fluid and pus:
• development of conjunctivitis;
• profuse peeling at the base of the eyelashes;
• their loss, but without a root.

When the localization of the process occurs on the skin, the accompanying symptoms are:

• increased fat content;
• the formation of red spots;
• itching and flaking;
• the appearance of purulent rashes in appearance similar to acne;
• the integuments of the skin turn pale, acquire an earthy hue;
• there are cases of enlargement of the nose.

In severe situations, hair is lost on the scalp, causing partial alopecia.

The causative agent of the disease is the Demodex folliculorum mite

Causes of the disease

The most common factors leading to the development of pathology are:

• disturbances in the functioning of the liver and other digestive organs;
• hormonal cosmetics;
• dysfunction in the work of the sebaceous glands;
• dysfunctions of the nervous system;
• depressive conditions;
• frequent stress.

The pathological process is accompanied by symptoms of discomfort, therapy is prescribed after examining the affected areas.

What are the symptoms of demodex on eyelashes and other areas of the body?

Symptoms

Manifestations that indicate tick activity:

• itching in the scalp;
• hair loss;
• discomfort in the auditory organs;
• acne breakouts;
• youthful acne;
• pustules and sores on the face;
• itching in the eyelash area;
• gray complexion;
• enlarged pores;
• excessive oily skin.

Most often, visual manifestations of the disease are noted on the face, and with advanced stages of the disease, traces of the parasite are noted on the chest, back and hips. The defeat of the eyes is accompanied by foamy discharge, tearing, loss of eyelashes, swelling of the eyelids.

How to cure demodex?

Treatment

In the case of drug treatment of this disease, medications such as "Delex-Acne Forte", "Delex-Acne" are prescribed. As a supplement, a variety of creams with anti-inflammatory properties, antiviral, immunomodulating, antibacterial agents are used. The selection of medicines is carried out on an individual basis, based on the data of diagnostic studies. When carrying out therapy, special attention should be paid to cosmetic procedures, which include:

• cryomassage with liquid nitrogen (the procedure relieves skin redness);
• mesotherapy, in which the vascular walls are strengthened;
• lymphatic drainage massage, which eliminates irregularities and spots that accompany this disease.

  

Mechanical face cleansing

Quite often, mechanical cleaning is mentioned as one of the ways to treat the symptoms of demodex mites on the face. However, as it has already become clear, with its help you can only get rid of the consequences of demodicosis, and the destruction of the parasite itself is somewhat more complicated.

Nevertheless, it is worth considering in more detail this cosmetological procedure, because it can be done not only to eliminate deficiencies, but also as a prevention of their occurrence. Mechanical face cleansing takes place in several stages:

• First of all, the patient's face is treated with a composition that expands the pores. This can be a special cream, lotion, or mask. After the desired effect is achieved, the beautician proceeds to the next stage of treatment.
• With the help of sterile processed instruments, mechanical cleaning of the face is carried out - the removal of blackheads and other formations. This procedure is also called comedone extraction.
• The final stage includes disinfection and application of skin soothing agents. As a rule, various tonics and lotions are used for this. Different beauticians can practice products of different cosmetic brands in their work.

Do not apply makeup immediately after cleaning. After a while, the procedure must be repeated. The duration of the course is determined by a specialist and depends on the individual characteristics of the client.