Channel 9 investigates infectious mites in eyelash extensions

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More and more salons are offering eyelash extensions, the ones a technician applies lash-by-lash, but some patients are reporting a disturbing discovery -- tiny mites in those extensions.

After adding extensions to her eyelashes, Ashley, a patient who didn't want her last name used in this story, woke up with her eyes swollen and irritated.

[LINK: About Demodex mites]

Ashley took a picture of her eyes to her ophthalmologist, Keshini Parbhu.

“She went ahead and put the lash under the microscope and told me that I did have the demodex," Ashley said.

Ashley had demodex mites living off the oils in her eyelashes. They are so small they are only visible under a microscope.

“They burrow to the base of the lash follicles and they feed off this material,” Parbhu said.

We all have the mites on our bodies naturally, but Parbhu said they flock to eyelashes and eyebrows, and if they overpopulate, an infection can set in.

Parbhu said she's seeing more patients with this issue from extensions that are individually glued on each lash.

“It tends to occur with eyelash extensions or people that wear eye makeup and tend to not take it off,” she said.

Parbhu believes salons that see back-to-back clients and don't clean their tools properly could harbor the mite.

The condition is treatable, but it takes time.

Each lash must be cleaned with a special tool, followed by up to three months of medication at a cost of more than $300.

Ashley, who is now free of mites, says she will no longer use eyelash extensions.

Doctors say even those who don't have extensions can still get these mites by not changing out eye makeup or cleaning their eyes before they go to sleep.

Parbhu also recommends changing your pillowcase often.

She also said that while it's not wrong to get extensions, people should be aware of how important it is to clean your eyes and the cleanliness of the tools used to apply those extensions.

Parbhu recommends medical grade special cleansers with very specific amounts of tea tree oil.

Cox Media Group