
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.
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.