Yes, virtually everyone has small mites living in their hair follicles. These mites are known as Demodex folliculorum (or eyelash mites) and are harmless inhabitants of human hair follicles. While the idea of having mites in your hair may sound unappealing, they do not cause any issues for most people.
What are Demodex folliculorum?
Demodex folliculorum are tiny mites, measuring only 0.3-0.4 mm long. They are elongated in shape and have eight short legs. D. folliculorum are transparent in color and look like tiny worms under a microscope.
These mites live inside hair follicles and sebaceous glands (oil glands) on the face and scalp. They feed on skin cells, oils, and debris. D. folliculorum mites are found on people of all ages, races, sexes, and backgrounds.
How prevalent are Demodex mites?
Research has found that Demodex folliculorum mites are incredibly common in humans:
- 100% of adults over 18 years old have Demodex mites on their skin.
- 80-100% of teenagers have Demodex mites.
- Only 20-80% of children under 10 years old have Demodex mites, likely because children have lower sebum production.
So while exact prevalence varies by age, it’s clear that nearly every adult human hosts these mites on their bodies. Our hair follicles provide the perfect environment for Demodex to live.
Where on the body are Demodex mites found?
Demodex mites live inside hair follicles, so they are found wherever humans have hair. The highest populations of Demodex are found on the face and scalp. Lower populations live in hair follicles on the neck, chest, back, and groin.
Specific areas where Demodex folliculorum reside include:
- Eyebrows and eyelashes
- Nose
- Ears
- Forehead
- Cheeks
- Chin
Because our faces contain a high density of sebaceous glands which produce oils/sebum, the facial skin creates the perfect environment for Demodex mites to flourish. The scalp is also well-suited as it harbors numerous hair follicles where the mites can take up residence.
Are Demodex mites harmful?
For the vast majority of people, Demodex mites do not cause any harm or symptoms. These mites exist in balance with our bodies and are considered part of the normal microflora of human skin.
Our immune system regulates the mite population, keeping their numbers in check. Demodex have likely inhabited human skin since time immemorial. They feed on skin cells and oils without damaging the skin or causing reactions in most individuals.
In fact, some researchers believe Demodex mites may even be beneficial, helping remove excess oils and skin debris from pores.
When can Demodex mites cause problems?
In a small number of people, D. folliculorum mites can overpopulate and lead to skin disorders like:
- Rosacea – A chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes facial redness, swelling, and acne-like breakouts. Those with rosacea often have higher Demodex densities.
- Blepharitis – Inflammation along the eyelid margins caused by excess oil and debris buildup. Demodex mites in eyelash follicles can contribute to this condition.
- Scalp inflammation or dryness – Higher populations of scalp Demodex may cause irritation, flaking, or itching.
Additionally, people with weakened immune systems, such as chemotherapy patients or those taking immunosuppressant medications, may be more vulnerable to Demodex overgrowth and skin inflammation.
But for most healthy individuals, Demodex mites remain harmless lifelong skin companions.
Can you get rid of Demodex mites?
Trying to completely eradicate Demodex mites from your skin is nearly impossible. These mites are tenacious survivors that are difficult to remove permanently. However, you can take steps to temporarily reduce their numbers:
- Wash your face frequently with an anti-mite cleanser containing ingredients like tea tree oil or neem oil.
- Apply topical mite-killing preparations, like crotamiton lotion, that are specially formulated to target Demodex.
- Use an anti-parasitic medication like ivermectin, which can reduce mite populations when applied topically to the skin.
- Remove makeup and cleanse skin thoroughly before bed so mites don’t thrive in accumulated oils overnight.
- Avoid skin care products that contain oils, butters, or thick emollients, as these give mites an ideal environment.
- Manage medical conditions like rosacea or blepharitis, as reducing inflammation can in turn lower Demodex numbers.
With diligent treatment, you may be able to temporarily decrease Demodex mite density on the skin. However, they inevitably return and begin reproducing again within weeks. Ongoing suppression is often required to keep mite populations minimized over time.
Are Demodex mites contagious?
Demodex mites are not considered contagious in the traditional sense. You cannot “catch” Demodex from another person through casual contact or sharing items.
However, direct contact with an infested area on someone else may allow mites to crawl onto your skin. For example, sharing a towel, pillowcase, or makeup brush with someone who has high mite density could theoretically transfer some mites.
Still, regularly washing your face and not sharing personal items limits this type of indirect transmission. Demodex mites have adapted over millennia to live on humans. You likely acquired your mites during birth or childhood from contact with your mother or other close family.
Once on a suitable human host, Demodex mites spend their entire 2-3 week lifespan on that person’s skin. They cannot survive for long away from the nourishing environment of pores and hair follicles.
How can you check for Demodex mites?
Very few people can feel Demodex mites crawling on their skin. The mites are simply too small! Instead, an assessment by a dermatologist is required to check for mite overpopulation.
Methods a skin specialist may use to diagnose Demodex include:
- Skin scraping – Using a blunt scalpel to gently scrape skin cells and debris from pores. This sample is examined under a microscope to look for mites.
- Skin biopsy – Extracting a small sample of skin and looking at it under higher magnification to visualize mites.
- Measure follicle mite density – Plucking eyebrow or eyelash hairs and counting how many mites emerge from each follicle.
Higher numbers of mites per follicle or skin sample indicate proliferation that could be causing skin problems. A dermatologist can then recommend anti-parasitic treatment if Demodex populations appear elevated.
Should you worry about having mites in your hair?
For most people, having small numbers of Demodex mites living in hair follicles is harmless and inconsequential. In fact, trying to eliminate these normal skin inhabitants would be nearly impossible!
Unless you have symptoms like itching, redness, or scalp irritation, mites can generally be ignored. Avoid obsessively checking for or counting your mites. Demodex populations fluctuate naturally over time.
See a dermatologist if you have rosacea, blepharitis, or other skin conditions that may be aggravated by mites. With professional treatment, symptom flare-ups related to Demodex overgrowth can often be managed.
But in general, try not to be alarmed by the thought of having microscopic mites in your hair. They are present on nearly all human hosts, yet very rarely cause problems.
Conclusion
While the idea of sharing your face and scalp with tiny mites may initially seem disturbing, Demodex folliculorum mites are a normal part of the skin’s ecology. These mites inhabit human hair follicles universally, yet remain innocuous companions in most cases.
Problematic skin inflammation develops only if mite populations grow excessively dense, which is more likely in those with compromised immunity. For others, keeping facial skin clean and managing inflammatory skin disorders helps keep mite activity in balance.
So rest assured that having modest numbers of hair follicle mites is harmless for the vast majority of people. Billions of residents on our skin and scalp play mostly neutral or even beneficial roles. Simply maintaining general skin health allows these tiny yet everpresent mites to coexist peacefully over our lifetimes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where on my body do Demodex mites live?
Demodex mites are found wherever humans have hair follicles, including the face, scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, chest, neck, back, and groin. The highest populations live on facial skin and the scalp.
Do Demodex mites spread disease?
No, Demodex do not vector or transmit infectious diseases between humans. They only inhabit human skin and cannot survive away from pores for long.
Can my pet get Demodex mites from me?
No, Demodex folliculorum only live on humans and are not transmitted to or able to survive on animals. Pets can get their own species-specific mite types, but not Demodex from their owners.
How do I know if I have too many Demodex mites?
Signs of possible Demodex overpopulation include rosacea flare-ups, itchy or flaky scalp, blepharitis, and other skin inflammation. See a dermatologist if you have these symptoms for an evaluation of your mite density.
Should I use an anti-parasitic medication to treat my Demodex mites?
Medications like ivermectin or permethrin are not recommended for most people. They can cause side effects and may only temporarily reduce mite counts. Check with your dermatologist before trying anti-parasitic drugs.
Can I prevent getting Demodex mites?
No, Demodex mites are impossible to prevent since they are acquired in early childhood from close contact. Nearly every adult human hosts these mites on their skin. Proper hygiene can help reduce proliferation.
| Area | Demodex Density |
|---|---|
| Face | High |
| Scalp | High |
| Chest | Low-moderate |
| Back | Low-moderate |
| Groin | Low |
This table summarizes the typical density of Demodex mites in different areas of the body. The highest populations live on the face and scalp where sebum and hair follicles abound. Lower densities are found elsewhere on the body.
