Bug Identifier
Likely hair follicle mite (Demodex mite)
Community identification

Likely hair follicle mite (Demodex mite)

Demodex folliculorum or Demodex brevis

Order & Family
Acari (mite lineage), family Demodecidae
Size
Approximately 0.1–0.4 mm long; usually microscopic and difficult to see clearly without magnification.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Lives in human hair follicles and sebaceous glands, especially on the face, eyelashes, and nose. The image is too indistinct for certain species-level identification.

Diet & Feeding

Consumes sebum, follicular oils, and cellular debris within follicles.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and mostly remains inside follicles; populations can transfer through prolonged skin-to-skin contact. Adults reproduce on the skin, while eggs and developing stages remain in follicles.

Risks & Benefits

Usually harmless and part of the normal skin microbiome. Heavy infestations may contribute to itching, folliculitis, blepharitis, or rosacea-like irritation, but the photograph alone cannot establish an infestation.