• Question: What are eyelash mites?

    Asked by iluvdanny44 to Amy, Karen, Sarah, Will on 20 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Will Reynolds

      Will Reynolds answered on 20 Jun 2012:

      Hi iluvdanny! The scientific name for eyelash mites is ‘Demodox’. They are tiny parasites that live near hair follicles on mammals. They are mostly found on dogs and usually do not cause any problems for humans except for some skin diseases. Thanks for your question.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demodex

    • Photo: Amy Birch

      Amy Birch answered on 20 Jun 2012:

      Hi iluvdanny44,
      Eyelash mites are little insects that live on your face and eyelashes, in the hair follicles and pores. Their scientific name is Demodex folliculorum. They are completely harmless and feed on dead skin (and make-up). Everyone will have some of them, but if you have particularly oily skin, wear a lot of make-up or don’t wash your face enough then you will have a lot! If too many are clumped around a single follicle or pore you can get a bit of swelling or infection.
      Thanks for this question, now my face feels really itchy and I want to go & wash it!!

    • Photo: Sarah Martin

      Sarah Martin answered on 20 Jun 2012:

      Hi iluvdanny44!

      Demodex are tiny parasitic mites that live in or near hair follicles of mammals. About 65 species of Demodex are known and two species living on humans have been identified: Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis, both also called eyelash mites. They live off dead skin and mascara!
      Older people are much more likely to carry the mites; about a third of children and young adults, half of adults, and two-thirds of elderly people are estimated to carry the mites! It is quite easy to look for one’s own Demodex mites, by carefully removing an eyelash or eyebrow hair and placing it under a microscope. In the vast majority of cases, the mites go unobserved, without any adverse symptoms.

      Here’s a pretty picture!

      Hm, lovely… 🙂
      Sarah

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