This might come as a surprise but your eyelashes and eyebrows are a favourite abode for a tiny microscopic mites.
Known commonly as eyelash mites (demodex scientifically) , they lurk around hair follicles and feed on dead skin cells.
The presence of these mites is thought to be normal and that small numbers exist on everybody’s body. The mites feed on dead skin cells and can be good in that way.
However, infestation of eyelash mites can cause various eye irritations such as redness and itchiness.
Eyelash mites have also been associated with skin disorders such as acne and rosacea.
Research on eyelash mites is still ongoing and it is likely more will be discovered about their nature and effect on health, especially eyes related conditions, in the future.
Ithmid Kohl kills microbes
It has been known since ancient times that Ithmid kohl /Surma has antimicrobial properties.
While mentioning the benefits of Ithmid (Antimony) Kohl, Imam ibn al-Qayyim said :
“… And it (Ithmid) removes the extra (dead) flesh from wounds and makes it heal, and it cleans its dirt (pus etc) and purifies it.” [Zaad Al-Ma’aad]
Historically antimony compounds and antimony based medical drugs have been used as a treatment for a range of diseases caused by bacteria or parasites in humans and animals such as protozoan infection and schistosomiasis.
It is not far fetched to speculate that one of the benefits of Ithmid kohl/surma is to prevent unwanted outbreaks of eyelash mites which will have negative effects on eye health.
This can easily be scientifically tested in lab by seeing the effect of an original Ithmid kohl/surma powder sample on an isolated eyelash mites.
