Eye surgeons have issued a serious health warning to anyone who washes their bedding at a temperature lower than 60°C. There has been a significant rise in cases of demodex blepharitis, an eye condition caused by a type of parasite, in the UK. An eye surgeon has reported a “huge increase” in cases, describing it as a “massive issue”.

The grim reality of Demodex mites

Demodex blepharitis is caused by dust mites that enter a person’s eyes at night, leading to inflammation, swelling, and redness. However, this can be prevented by washing bedding at a higher temperature, reports The i Paper

According to eye surgeon Julian Stevens: “This is a massive issue. Me and my colleagues are seeing more and more people at the clinic for demodex and optometrists on the high street are also seeing a huge increase.”

He attributes the increase to people washing their bedding at lower temperatures, which allows the mites to survive: “And the reason is that, whereas our parents used to wash at 60°C and hotter, everyone’s now using low-temperature washes.”

The mites can survive at temperatures below 60°C, and a study has shown that anything above 54°C is the “lethal temperature” for them. Stevens stated that people are unaware of the consequences of not washing their bedding at a higher temperature.

What is blepharitis?

Blepharitis is a condition characterized by itchy, swollen eyelids, but according to the NHS, it is often not serious and can be treated by washing the eyelids.

Symptoms could encompass sore and itchy eyelids, a gritty feeling, flakes or crusts at the base of your lashes, and waking up to find your eyelids stuck together.

The recommended treatments involve cleaning your eyelids twice daily, reducing to once a day as the condition improves. The NHS emphasised that you should persist with cleaning your eyes, even when your symptoms subside.

It also cautioned against using contact lenses or eye make-up, including mascara and eyeliner, while you’re experiencing symptoms.

Here’s what you need to know about Demodex mites

Healthline explains that Demodex folliculorum is the most common form of the two Demodex mites (the other being Demodex brevis), which reside in hair follicles and consume skin cells.

Unlike the brevis type, they’re typically found on the face, particularly near the host’s eyes, where they can affect your eyes and eyelashes, although the publication notes it’s normal to have small numbers of them on your skin.

However, as off-putting as this may sound, the American Academy of Ophthalmology states that the mites have “long been considered a friendly bystander of normal skin”.

Nevertheless, they can cause issues when they multiply excessively, with the academy associating high concentrations of Demodex on the eyelids with chronic blepharitis and other eye problems.

Treatments for Demodex mites

The academy suggests that an initial treatment for Demodex mites could be an over-the-counter remedy containing low concentrations of tea tree oil or hypochlorous-based acid.

This is available in various forms, such as a scrub, spray or wipe. A 2012 study demonstrated that tea tree oil scrubs can reduce Demodex.

However, the Centers for Dry Eye has cautioned individuals to always dilute tea tree oil before use, perform a patch test on a small area of skin before applying it, avoid direct eye contact, and seek advice from an ophthalmologist before using it for eye care.

Additional advice includes maintaining good eyelid hygiene, not sharing personal items, regularly changing your eye make-up, eating a healthy diet and staying hydrated, and keeping your bedding clean.

You can learn more about Blepharitis via the NHS website here.