Face mite (or Eyelash mite)
Scientific Name: Demodex folliculorum / Demodex brevis
Order & Family: Order: Trombidiformes; Family: Demodicidae
Size: 0.15 mm to 0.4 mm (microscopic and invisible to the naked eye).
Natural Habitat
Human skin, specifically within or near hair follicles and sebaceous glands on the face (nose, eyebrows, eyelashes).
Diet & Feeding
Dead skin cells (corneocytes) and sebum (skin oils) produced by the glands.
Behavior Patterns
They are nocturnal, emerging from follicles at night to move across the skin surface to find mates. They spend their entire life cycle on human skin.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless commensals and part of the skin's normal microbiome. However, overpopulation can be associated with skin conditions like rosacea or blepharitis (eyelid inflammation).
Identified on: 3/15/2026