Eyelid mites: these tiny creatures that proliferate under our eyes

 

Burning, itching, a foreign body sensation... What if your eyes were inhabited by tiny mites? Dr. Romain Nicolau, an ophthalmic surgeon, explains Demodex mites.

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Itching that comes back regularly, or burning eyelids at the end of the day… These minor annoyances are often attributed to screens, fatigue, or seasonal allergies. However, another, much less well-known cause can sometimes be behind these symptoms: Demodex mites, tiny mites that live on our eyelids. But should we be worried? If so, how can we tell if we have them? And above all, how can we get rid of them?

The inhabitants of our eyelids

Yes, mites naturally live on our  eyelids . They crawl on the eyelashes and feed on secretions and dead skin cells from the eyes. Their presence is perfectly normal, reassures Dr. Romain Nicolau, an ophthalmologist. "The majority of the population naturally has them. We all live with bacteria and parasites; it's normal," he states. Invisible to the naked eye, Demodex mites settle at  the base of the eyelashes,  more precisely in the hair follicles and around the Meibomian glands, which are particularly oily and located in the eyelids. "There is oil and crusting on the eyelids, as well as hair follicles on the eyelashes. It's a breeding ground…"