Demodex (Face Mites): What They Are, the Two Species, Symptoms of Demodicosis, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention — What You Need to Know
Updated: 2 days ago
Medically reviewed by Dr. Baraa Alnahhal, MD · Last reviewed: September 2026
Quick Answer: Demodex is a genus of microscopic mites — tiny arachnids related to spiders and ticks — that live in human hair follicles, especially on the face (cheeks, eyelashes, forehead, sides of the nose, and outside the ear canals). Almost everyone carries them, and they usually cause no harm. Problems arise only when the mites multiply out of control, creating a skin condition called demodicosis (or Demodex folliculitis), which appears suddenly as itchy, bumpy, red, burning, or sandpaper-rough facial skin — sometimes with eye symptoms like lash loss or eyelid scaling. It's most common in people whose immune systems are weakened and is treated with prescription acaricide products. If you have itchy, bumpy or red facial skin, see a dermatologist rather than trying to treat it yourself.
TL;DR: Face mites are normal — Demodex mites live in nearly everyone's hair follicles and are usually harmless. Two species live on humans: D. folliculorum (eyelash and small follicles, eats skin cells) and D. brevis (near oil glands, eats sebum). Demodicosis — the itchy overgrowth condition — happens when the mites multiply out of control, usually because the immune system isn't functioning well. It's relatively rare and favors people on immunosuppressants or chemotherapy, those with immunodeficiency conditions like HIV/AIDS, people with rosacea, and regular users of face itch creams like hydrocortisone. Symptoms strike seemingly overnight: burning, itching, whitehead-like pustules, redness, sandpaper texture, eczema-like scales, sensitive skin, and a white sheen. Eye involvement can bring decreased vision, lash loss, and thickened eyelids. Diagnosis uses dermoscopy, biopsy, or scraping. Treatment uses acaricide creams, gels, lotions, or washes; prevention is basic skin hygiene — wash twice daily, exfoliate weekly, and skip heavy greasy products.
Limitation note: The clinical source does not provide prevalence statistics for either Demodex colonization or demodicosis beyond describing the mites as "very common" and the condition as "relatively rare." No numerical claims have been invented.
What are Demodex face mites?
Demodex is a genus of microscopic mites that live in human hair follicles. The tiny creatures are arachnids — cousins of spiders and ticks.
Almost everyone has Demodex mites living on their skin and in their pores, particularly their:
Facial Location | Why Mites Favor It |
Cheeks | Dense hair follicle coverage |
Eyelashes | Home of the follicle-dwelling species |
Forehead | Abundant follicles and oil glands |
Outside of ear canals | Hair-bearing skin |
Sides of the nose | Follicle- and gland-rich area |
Usually, the mites don't cause any harm. But too many can cause a skin condition called demodicosis (also called Demodex folliculitis) — an itchy, irritating condition that arises when mites multiply out of control.
Are there different types of Demodex mites?
Two main species of Demodex live on humans, each with its own home and appetite:
Species | Where It Lives | What It Eats |
Demodex folliculorum | Smaller hair follicles, especially your eyelashes | Skin cells |
Demodex brevis | Near the oil glands in hair follicles | Sebum, a greasy substance made by oil glands |
What do Demodex mites look like?
A Demodex mite is extremely tiny — just 0.15 millimeters to 0.4 mm. It would take several of them to cover a pinhead.
Under a microscope, the mite looks slightly transparent and is covered with scales. It has an elongated body with two segments. The first segment has eight legs and a mouth.
The mites run a nocturnal routine: when you sleep, they come out of your skin's pores, mate, then go back into your skin to lay eggs.
How common is demodicosis?
Although Demodex mites are very common, demodicosis is relatively rare. Most people carry the mites their whole lives without ever developing symptoms.
Who might get demodicosis?
Demodicosis is more likely to occur in people who:
Risk Factor | Example |
Immunosuppressants | Medications received after organ transplantation |
Chemotherapy | Cancer treatment that suppresses immunity |
Immunodeficiency disease | Such as HIV and AIDS |
Other skin conditions | Such as rosacea |
Itch-relieving face creams | Such as hydrocortisone cream |
What causes demodicosis?
Demodicosis occurs when the face mites multiply out of control. This usually occurs because your immune system isn't functioning well.
What are the symptoms of Demodex folliculitis?
The symptoms of demodicosis appear very suddenly, seemingly overnight. You may experience any of the following:
Symptom | Description |
Burning sensation | A burning feeling on the affected skin |
Itchiness | Persistent itch on the face |
Pustules | Bumps that look like whiteheads |
Redness | Red facial skin |
Rough texture | Skin that feels like sandpaper |
Scales | Scaling that may resemble eczema |
Sensitive skin | Unusually reactive skin |
White sheen | A white sheen on your skin or eyelashes |
If the condition affects your eyes, you may experience:
Eye Symptom | What Happens |
Decreased vision | Vision becomes less sharp |
Eye irritation and itchiness | Discomfort and itch in the eye area |
Loss of lashes | Eyelashes fall out |
Eyelid changes | Thickened or scaly eyelids |
Are Demodex mites contagious?
Yes — Demodex mites can spread from human to human. Babies aren't born with mites, but they get mites from the people they live with.
How is Demodex folliculitis diagnosed?
If you suspect you have an infestation of Demodex mites that's causing symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider or a dermatologist. They might conduct a test, such as:
Diagnostic Test | What It Involves |
Dermoscopy | A procedure using a powerful light and magnifying lens; may reveal spiky white structures in your pores |
Skin biopsy | Takes a sample of your skin for examination under a microscope |
Skin scraping | Takes a small sample of cells and oils from the top of your skin |
How is demodicosis treated?
Most people have Demodex mites on their skin. You don't need treatment unless the mites grow out of control and cause symptoms.
Treatment for a mite infestation usually involves a cream, gel, lotion, or wash containing an acaricide — a pesticide that kills ticks and mites. Your healthcare provider may recommend:
Acaricide Product | Product Type |
Benzyl benzoate | Cream, gel, or lotion |
Crotamiton | Topical cream or lotion |
Ivermectin | Topical cream |
Metronidazole | Cream, gel, or lotion |
Permethrin | Skin cream |
Salicylic acid | Topical gel, cream, lotion, or solution |
Selenium sulfide | Foam or lotion |
Sulfur products | Topical preparations |
How do I get rid of face mites at home?
Removing face mites on your own usually isn't successful. If you have demodicosis, talk to your healthcare provider — they can help you treat the issue safely and effectively. In the meantime, continue washing your face twice a day with a mild cleanser.
What can I expect if I have demodicosis? (Outlook)
The prognosis with demodicosis depends on the cause. If you have an immunodeficiency condition, demodicosis can occur repeatedly. For people without underlying immune issues, treatment with acaricide products typically resolves the symptoms.
How can I reduce my risk of demodicosis?
You can't wash or scrub all Demodex mites away. But you may be able to help prevent infestation by keeping your skin clean — this removes the extra oil and dead skin cells the mites eat. For example:
Prevention Step | Why It Helps |
Wash your face twice a day | Removes the oil and dead skin cells mites eat |
Gently exfoliate once a week | Clears clogged pores and mite food sources |
Avoid thick, greasy skin products | Keeps pores from clogging with skin cells and oil |
A note from the clinical source: "Demodex mites live inside almost every human's hair follicles. The mites usually don't cause any problems, but if they multiply too much, they can cause demodicosis. If you have itchy, bumpy or red skin on your face, talk to your healthcare provider or dermatologist."
When should I see a provider about face mites?
If you have itchy, bumpy, or red skin on your face — especially if it appeared suddenly overnight, looks like whiteheads, feels like sandpaper, or comes with a white sheen — talk to your healthcare provider or dermatologist.
Seek evaluation promptly if the condition affects your eyes: decreased vision, eye irritation, loss of lashes, or thickened and scaly eyelids warrant a timely exam, since eye involvement can affect your sight and eyelash health.
Which questions should I ask my healthcare provider?
Question | Why It Matters |
Is this demodicosis or another skin condition? | Symptoms overlap with rosacea and eczema |
Which acaricide product fits my skin? | Eight options exist; the right one varies by person |
Could my medications be contributing? | Immunosuppressants and steroids raise risk |
How do I prevent it from coming back? | Recurrence is possible with immune conditions |
Conclusion: Normal guests that sometimes overstay
Demodex mites live inside almost every human's hair follicles, and the good news is that they usually do no harm. They are simply part of the normal microscopic ecosystem of human skin — nocturnal arachnids that feed on skin cells and oil and return to the pores to lay eggs while you sleep.
Problems begin only when the mites multiply out of control, which usually signals that the immune system isn't functioning well. Demodicosis strikes fast — seemingly overnight — with itchy, burning, bumpy, red, or sandpaper-rough skin. The reassuring part: it's a treatable condition with a clear toolkit of acaricide creams, gels, lotions, and washes, and prevention is straightforward daily skin hygiene.
Your next step: If your facial skin has suddenly become itchy, bumpy, or red — or your eyelids and lashes have changed — don't try to scrub or treat the mites away on your own; that usually fails. Instead, see a healthcare provider or dermatologist for a proper diagnosis and a safe, effective prescription treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are Demodex mites? Demodex is a genus of microscopic mites that live in human hair follicles. They are arachnids — cousins of spiders and ticks — and almost everyone has them on their skin, particularly on the face.
Are face mites normal? Yes. Almost everyone has Demodex mites living on their skin and in their pores, especially on the cheeks, eyelashes, forehead, outside the ear canals, and sides of the nose. They usually don't cause any harm.
Are Demodex mites insects? No — they are arachnids, cousins of spiders and ticks. Each mite has eight legs and a mouth on its first body segment.
How big are Demodex mites? Extremely tiny: 0.15 mm to 0.4 mm. It would take several of them to cover a pinhead. Under a microscope they look slightly transparent, covered with scales, with an elongated two-segment body.
What are the two species of Demodex? D. folliculorum lives in smaller hair follicles, especially eyelashes, and eats skin cells. D. brevis lives near the oil glands in hair follicles and eats sebum.
Do Demodex mites come out at night? Yes. When you sleep, the mites come out of your skin's pores, mate, then go back into your skin to lay eggs.
What is demodicosis? Demodicosis, also called Demodex folliculitis, is the itchy, irritating skin condition that occurs when Demodex mites multiply out of control.
Is demodicosis common? No. Although Demodex mites are very common, demodicosis is relatively rare.
What causes demodicosis? The mites multiply out of control, usually because your immune system isn't functioning well.
Who is at risk for demodicosis? People receiving immunosuppressants (e.g., after organ transplantation), people receiving chemotherapy, people with immunodeficiency diseases such as HIV and AIDS, people with other skin conditions such as rosacea, and people who use itch-relieving creams like hydrocortisone on their face.
What does demodicosis look like? Symptoms appear very suddenly, seemingly overnight: burning, itchiness, pustules like whiteheads, redness, sandpaper-rough skin, scales resembling eczema, sensitive skin, and a white sheen on skin or eyelashes.
Can Demodex mites affect the eyes? Yes. Eye involvement can cause decreased vision, eye irritation and itchiness, loss of lashes, and thickened or scaly eyelids.
Are Demodex mites contagious? Demodex mites can spread from human to human. Babies aren't born with mites, but they get mites from the people they live with.
How is demodicosis diagnosed? A provider or dermatologist may use dermoscopy (a light and magnifying lens that can reveal spiky white structures in pores), a skin biopsy examined under a microscope, or a skin scraping of cells and oils from the skin's surface.
Is demodicosis curable? It is treatable. Most people don't need treatment at all. When mites grow out of control and cause symptoms, acaricide products typically resolve the condition, though it can recur in people with immunodeficiency.
What is an acaricide? An acaricide is a pesticide that kills ticks and mites. Demodicosis treatment usually involves a cream, gel, lotion, or wash containing one.
What products treat demodicosis? Benzyl benzoate, crotamiton, ivermectin, metronidazole, permethrin, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide, and sulfur products — as recommended by your healthcare provider.
Can I get rid of face mites at home? Removing face mites on your own usually isn't successful. Talk to your healthcare provider for safe, effective treatment. In the meantime, wash your face twice a day with a mild cleanser.
Do I need treatment if I have Demodex mites? No — most people have Demodex mites on their skin. Treatment is only needed if the mites grow out of control and cause symptoms.
How do I prevent demodicosis? You can't wash or scrub all mites away, but you can help prevent infestation by keeping your skin clean: wash your face twice a day, gently exfoliate once a week, and avoid thick, greasy skin products that clog pores.
Can demodicosis come back? Yes. The prognosis depends on the cause — if you have an immunodeficiency condition, demodicosis can occur repeatedly.
Can hydrocortisone cream cause demodicosis? Using itch-relieving creams on your face, such as hydrocortisone cream, is listed as a factor that makes demodicosis more likely.
Can Demodex mites spread between people? Yes — they can spread from human to human. Babies acquire them from the people they live with; they aren't born with them.
When should I see a doctor about itchy, bumpy facial skin? Talk to your healthcare provider or dermatologist if you have itchy, bumpy, or red skin on your face — especially if it appeared suddenly — and promptly if eye symptoms like decreased vision or lash loss occur.
Can Demodex mites damage my eyelashes? Yes, if demodicosis affects your eyes: loss of lashes and thickened or scaly eyelids are possible symptoms, along with decreased vision and eye irritation.
External References
Cleveland Clinic — Demodex (Face Mites) (primary source, medically reviewed, last updated Apr 19, 2022)
Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It is based on a single referenced clinical source and should not replace professional diagnosis or treatment. If you have itchy, bumpy, or red skin on your face — or eye symptoms such as decreased vision or lash loss — consult a healthcare provider or dermatologist.
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