Demodex Mite (often referred to as face mites or eyelash mites)
Scientific Name: Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis (two primary species found on humans)
Order & Family: Order: Trombidiformes, Family: Demodicidae
Size: Microscopic, typically 0.15 mm to 0.4 mm in length. They are not visible to the naked eye.
Natural Habitat
Demodex mites live on the skin of mammals, including humans. In humans, they are most commonly found in hair follicles and sebaceous glands, particularly on the face (nose, forehead, cheeks, eyelashes, and around the eyes).
Diet & Feeding
Demodex mites feed on dead skin cells, oils (sebum), and potentially cellular debris within hair follicles and sebaceous glands.
Behavior Patterns
Demodex mites are nocturnal, emerging from hair follicles and sebaceous glands at night to feed and mate on the skin surface. During the day, they burrow head-first into the follicles. Their entire life cycle, from egg to adult, takes approximately 14-24 days. They are not known to move far from their host.
Risks & Benefits
Generally, Demodex mites are commensal and do not cause problems, even being considered part of the normal skin microbiome. However, an overpopulation of these mites (demodicosis) can lead to skin conditions such as rosacea-like symptoms, itching, burning, inflammation, papules, pustules, and blepharitis (eyelid inflammation). They are not known to transmit diseases. There are no direct benefits known to humans, but their role in the skin ecosystem is still being researched.
Identified on: 9/4/2025