Effective Mite Infestation Treatment: Top Natural Remedies

Cream for eyelids and sensitive skin:

• 2 parts of Vaseline (petroleum jelly)
• 1 part Neem oil
• 1 part Cedarwood oil

Use mixture 2-3 times per day on clean skin, preferably cleaned with skin wipes containing benzalkonium chloride (eg Wet-Ones).
NO make up during treatment. Throw away old make-up after treatment only new make up.

Alternative for the body - Lotion:

• 75 Baby oil (mineral NOT vegetable oils) because mites cannot digest mineral oils
• 15 drops Cedarwood oil
• 15 drops Neem oil

Over the counter medications:

Eurax cream. Use until all the itching is gone (it might take 3 or more weeks).

Prescription medication:

Rozex gel (Metronidazol) careful it is an antibiotic that will make the skin photosentive, need to see a doctor for it.

Tips & Tricks

General:
-HEAT and UV are your friends (hot wash cycles, ironing, steam cleaning, hot cars, UV lamps, sunlight)
- Daily shower better still swimming pools (chlorine water kills mites) or swimming in salt water
- Washing from head to toe (grass mites in particular move up the body)
- Hand wipes as mentioned containing benzalkonium chloride (NOT alcohol wipes, they are ineffective against mites and will dry out and irritate skin further). Benzalkonium chloride kills mites.
- Wash hair daily with a coconut oil shampoo, mites dislike the smell of coconut oils
- Use 3 different tea towels 1 for head, 1 for upper body, 1 for lower body, do not mix.
- Use lint roller on skin before bed time and shower.
- Cut nails really short, wash hands several times a day, brush nails.

Laundry

- Hot wash, use enzyme laundry powder (BioZet works best, enzyme dissolve the tiny mites and their eggs)
- Hot iron clothes or leave in a hot car

Home

- Steam clean upholstery
- Use disposable food gloves, change daily (and throw away).
- Vacuum every second day
- Change vacuum bag and put bicarb in the bag, it dries out eggs and mites
- Change bed sheets daily, wash on hot cycle
- Wrapping pillows in plastic bags and then putting a cotton cover works well. This way the mites cannot get into the pillow and filling.
- Wrapping mattress in plastic works well too
- Clean plastic covers with a solution of 1 part white vinegar & 1 part rubbing alcohol, this will kill mites

What was ineffective for me:

- Tea tree oil (burns and does not work)
- Clove oil (burns and does not work)
- Eucalyptus oil (burns and does not work)
- Lemongrass oil (burns and does not work)
- Peroxide (burned the skin)
- OTC medications containing Pyrethrum (most mites have become resistant to it in the tropics, burns on skin and can have very negative side effects)

I became infested several years ago. The initial signs of Demodex mites appeared mainly on my limbs and torso. Then my hair started falling out by the handful. Went completely bald from front hairline to beginning of crown area. Lost all eyelashes and brows. Dermatologist gave me Soolantra samples (ineffective) My face was a mess of infected pimples. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that I tried every so called remedy out there. I am no longer bald, but my hair is still falling out. Apart from that, I have finally found a solution that has DRAMATICALLY reduced all signs and symptoms of mite infestation.Considering all that I've tried, what I currently do is fairly simple: Fill a spray bottle with 91% rubbing alcohol, buy a bag of cotton balls and Q-tips. When I feel that tiny bite or itch, I immediately spray the spot or area with alcohol - whether it's on my skin or on my scalp. (Alcohol kills the mite immediately - according to studies - & my experience). Saturate a cotton ball with alcohol and swab all red bites 1 or 2 times a day. I recently discovered Neem oil (unrefined organic cold-pressed) which has, among 100 other benefits for skin conditions, kills Demodex mites. I coat my face, affected body parts (limbs) - and also massage into my scalp. The results are miraculous for me. It smells unpleasant, but it dissipates by morning. But having the spray bottle at the ready is KEY. Killing the mite before it has a chance to get under the skin. Any new red spots need to be vigorously rubbed with a cotton ball soaked with alcohol. I hope this helps. Good luck and Best wishes.

I've also had Permenthrim, Ivermectin at same time, then used Perm a week later, helps to get rid of the worst but I think if I had used borax straight after & ACV washes & drinks may have completely killed off. I use a Uvb lamp to kill off any mites in my bedroom & bedding 3x aweek. Hope this helps

Dove soaps and body washes combined with hylaronic acid, and argan oil body washes and lotions, along with exfoliating has been answered prayers. Using products that had lipids in them is where I really noticed a game changer. You must add lotions numerous times a day to give more support to your skin. Doing this religiously is a must. I also keep my clothes in plastic bags be them clean or dirty, and use a very sticky lint roller to remove the mites from my skin and clothes. I put mattress encasements on my mattress and box spring, as well as my pillows, and change my bedding daily. Washing bedding and clothes separately, on the hottest water setting with bleach and/or color safe bleach. I also adjusted my diet to more fruits and vegetables, plant proteins, and less animal protien as well as less sugar. Also adding more direct sunlight to my day to day, working on raising my immune system and reducing stress, having better gut health, and drinking a lot of herbal teas as well as Apple Cider Vinegar with the mother mixed with warm water every morning on an empty stomach. What I've learned is that these mites can overpopulate into very large numbers and over run our bodies ability to fight them. I'm still not sure why but I think we coexist with these monstrous critters and most people don't know they have them for they're microscopic and hard to see. We can pick them up unknowingly off of used clothes and furniture, animals, people's cars, people, standing in grass or under trees, carpet. I've never experienced anything like this in my life and at times felt no end in sight or how I would ever make it through.

Hang in there. Stay strong. You will get through this. Remain vigilant and don't give up. Things do get better. You need to make it so you are not a good host for the mites and make it difficult for them to populate by interrupting their life cycle. You can do it. This isn't a lifelong thing.

Sending lots of love and positive vibes your way. Keep fighting!!!

I had a long term case that was resistant to permethrin, ivermectin, and I tried every oral herb, vitamin, and tincture and nothing worked. I then found some posts similar to this and tried the following:

1) Body sprays of alternating applications of:

a) isopropyl 91% rubbing alcohol
b) hypochlorous acid (can be made at home on the cheap)
c) chlorine dioxide d) hydrogen peroxide

2) Hot baths of:

a) bleach
b) chlorine dioxide
c) borax with hydrogen peroxide (it was more cost effective to spray body with hydrogen peroxide and let sit until dry then jump in borax bath. I also washed my sheets regularly and sprayed with isopropyl rubbing alcohol on days between washes.

3) Spot treatment on skin with:

a) lugols solution
b)povidone
c) thieves oil

They worked.

Here's how I have reduced the numbers and am making head way. I'm not sure which mites I have so I treated for several kinds. Borax, hydrogen peroxide & water on the body after a shower and used hair dryer to dry it. Tea tree oil in bath water. I bought ovante demodex control products off internet and use them every day- lotion, face cream, eye products, shampoo, body wash. I had tons of eye irritation too. My feet were full of dead skin and it's all gone too...think it may have been dandruf

Wash bedding, clothes and towels every day and add borax to the detergent. I dry hot & long. I throw pillows in a hot dryer every day for 20 minutes

I threw out all pillows. I bought a new mattress.

My body has had much less crawly, itchy, stinging episodes and I think it's getting under control after three weeks. Thank GOD.

I used dry mustard (bought in large container from amazon) in my shampoo and body wash every day. You have to figure out how much you can do without burning. I started with a 1/2 teaspoon and worked up to 1 teaspoon, mix with 1 tsp of cold water and the shampoo. Mix it up and apply and leave on for 5 minutes. Keep away from eyes. Then I would do the same and add Dove's body soap, mix it and turn off the shower and apply all over my body and let it sit for 5 minutes. (my face couldn't handle mustard, burned) If it burns anywhere, rinse it off immediatly and use less in that area next time. Then rinse it off. I also used diatomaceous earth on my legs every night, just rubbed it in. Sometimes I had to get up when it was real bad and rub it in 2 or 3 times but always got them to quiet down so I could sleep.

When the infestation was at its worst, I took a bath with a cup of borax, cup of epsom salts and 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide. It gave me instant relief. I would lay on my side and put 1/2 my face in the water (to my nose so I could breathe, keep eyes closed) for a few minutes turn over and do the other side.

I kept a bottle of 1 cup hydrogen peroxide, 1 cup apple cider vinegar and mix 1-2 tbls of borax in it until the borax wouldn't dissolve anymore. I kept it in a colored glass spray bottle by my side and when I felt them moving on me, I sprayed and it stopped. Don't know how many it killed but it gave me relief from them crawling around on me and biting.

What I learned is get your immune system up, that is the number one best defense against these mites. I let my health go down and was depressed and that opened the door for them to breed unchecked.

I did the laundry thing, washed sheets every night in hot water and borax, wore clothes once and washed in same. Not sure if this made a difference. I still only use sheets for 3 days and wash, I guess afraid they will come back. My 17 year old son never got them, I didn't let him use my towels and washed his clothes separately. kept blankets on couch and washed them often.

It is hell but you can overcome it. I was there thinking my life was ruined, not wanting to be around people. Oh and did the doctor thing too, they don't have a clue. It was awful but you can get thru this.

God Bless and be with you, Debbie

-I have had a rash on neck that just would not go away (in part because I wasn't following through when things were working). ACV burned because I was scratching, Sulfur mask - I slacked using it, tea tree with Vitamin E smell was annoying me All three got me result though. But Like I said I should've kept up with one regimen.

So this is what I did........

1. I woke up went to the store for new hepa filter and alcohol (90%), and apple cider vinegar, borax wasn't available nearby. I showered, sprayed myself everywhere with ACV and put on clean clothes fresh out the dryer.

2. I called a cleaning company to do the cleaning with me and cleaned everything in home from top to bottom (even the ceilings with a vacuum cleaner), while the workers wore janitor like suits. While they cleaned I put everything already clean in the dryer for 20 min. My dryer is incredibly hot. Drawer by drawer to make it easier to put back. Only my hands touched the clothes out of the dryer. The inside of the drawers were cleaned and sprayed with alcohol.

3. EVERYTHING was sprayed with 90% alcohol with a few drops of eucalyptus to cut the smell. Rugs, walls, mattresses, gym equipment, you name...it got sprayed. What couldn't be sprayed was wiped down and cleaned with HOT water, dried and then sprayed. Every removable fabric was washed in hot water then dried by high heat.

4. Feeling confident I killed them all I showered, sprayed myself with ACV and went to bed. To my horror I still felt the suckers on my legs but definitely not as much. I recall thinking why can't salt kill these buggers? So I got up and dissolved fine sea salt in water (more salt than water) & added ACV and poured it all over my body, air dried and went to bed with loose cloths on to keep the salt on my skin. I woke up feeling great. I still felt some peak-a-booing though.

I did another ACV salt solution, air dried and put on my clothes and went about my day. Still I felt them. I also felt like I stirred them up. Good cause I was was relentless.

I eliminated them from my environment. Really minimized them because we co-exist with them. :| I spray alcohol every where especially my bed, leaving bed unmade to air out.

5. Know to eradicate the nuisances off my skin. With skin lathered with sulfur soap I apricot scrubbed every square inch of me and pumiced my hand, feet and elbows. My goal is to starve them by not giving them any food, that is getting rid of dead skin as much as possible.

6. Twice a day: I pat-dried my skin and poured this mixture over my skin: 1 cup ACV, 1 cup dissolved (mostly) sea salt and 1/4 ground cloves. It is working. I used this mixture twice a day and clearly it is working. I do not feel that tingly peek-a-boo sensation. I just wear loose clothes to minimize sweat. (summer in NYC).

Now what seemed to happen is I forgot about my feet because I never felt them here. So I am guessing I drove them from one part of my body to another. SOLUTION... Ground cloves in my socks. Viola!!!!!!! As for the rash?? I use ground cloves in vaseline. I know that I killed these buggers burrowing in that rash because I felt it give me a spasm in a nerve on my neck! Yep, weird but the rash is dried up and does not itch at all. Leave the ground cloves and sea salt on your sheets while your gone for the day. Even sleep with as much as you can stand on and below your sheets. Sprinkle carpets with clovers and salt periodically and vacuum later.

This is my recipe and I am keeping up with it until long after its all gone. I have no idea how long their eggs take to hatch but I figured it is worth maintaining the regimen for a few weeks to get the entire life cycle. I also take ACV 3 times a day and am sprinkling clove in my lotion. Hahaha the buggers are going insane.

Good luck and thanks to all who shared their experiences. I learned a lot and came up with my recipe for killing mites.

Update January 25, 2016:

Original problem STILL GONE!!! No pee-a-booing. NOTHING present.

The heavy sea salt (above and below the sheets) and ground clove (above the sheets only) and sleeping with this for a few days really did the trick. It makes sense to me to sprinkle sea salt on the mattress and surrounding flooring/carpet. It "kills" bugs period. Sulfur shampoo as a lathery soap actually leave your skill feeling superiorly cleaned. I continue to use it, just not daily as of December 1, 2015. Ground clove as a body scrub is also nice a using sugar or sand for spa-ing types. I hope this helps someone else.

I also drink ACV as a daily tonic A shot in warm water taste like warm apple juice. Twice daily.

Also have been showering once a day. Once with a sulfur soap bar. Rinsing with a mixture of 50/50 vinegar and water. Soaking once a day in a Borax and Epsom salt tub of water.

After washing I've been covering myself with a lavender lotion that I added more Lavender to. Yesterday I added Lavender to my Neem Hair Conditioner. Whenever I get a biting sensation, I dab on some Oregano Oil. It is a feel good burn.

I will also add garlic to infuse the Raw Coconut Oil that I added Tea Tree Oil, Lavender and Oregano Oil to already. As I am never ceased to be amazed by Garlic. Garlic is again my favorite food of all time.

I still have some progress to make, since I haven't quit the coffee habit. However, I have been eating two cloves of raw garlic everyday. Along with my Raw Apple Cider Vinegar routine of 3 tablespoons with 8 ounces of water. Also started doing 5 drops of Oregano Oil regularly, as I was doing this infrequently. I've also started drinking Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide, 1 teaspoon on 8 ounces water once a day.

I was already doing Turmeric every day and have continued.

I washed all of my clothing in Kleen-Free enzyme concentrate. I will continue by adding either vinegar or Borax to my laundry.

No alcohol, no fast food or sugar.

Garlic Rules!!! I had already planned on growing it on my property in Colorado one day when I get the house built. However, it will be accompanied by even more herbs!!!