These demodex mites aren’t visible on the face.
This can cause symptoms like itching and sores, as well as trigger or aggravate skin conditions likeeczemaorrosacea.
What Is Demodicosis?
Verywell / Laura Porter
Demodicosis is an infestation of face mites.
It causes tiny white bumps, similar to whiteheads in acne, plus redness and itching.
Demodicosis develops when face mites multiply rapidly and your normal immune response cannot control them.
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Types of Demodex Mites
D. folliculorumis one of the two known types ofDemodexmites in humans.
brevis,and there are some differences in how they spread and the areas they affect.
D. Brevis Mites
D. brevismitesusually live on skin that’s thin and wrinkled.
That includes the elbows, knees, shoulder blades, around the penis, and under the breasts.
They’re a little bit shorter thanD.
folliculorumare, at about 0.2 to 0.3 millimeters (mm) long compared with 0.3 to 0.4 mm.
Face mites can only survive on human skin.
Females then burrow tunnels into your skin.
They lay their eggs one to five millimeters below the surface.
The period from hatching to adulthood lasts about two weeks.
Their life span is about one to two months.
They may vary depending on geographic location.
Normal levels of face mites don’t cause any symptoms.
However, demodicosis can.
Signs of demodicosis can come on quickly, even overnight.
You may notice a patch of tiny whiteheads resembling acne around your eyes or nose.
Other symptoms include:
Complications
Demodicosis is usually easily treated and doesn’t cause further complications thereafter.
Researchers have debated whether demodicosis causes rosacea or is a result of it.
Demodicosis may make acne, eczema, rosacea, and dermatitis symptoms more severe.
Face mites are microscopic organisms living in your facial hair follicles.
They feed on dead skin and oil.
They typically cause no symptoms unless they overgrow (demodicosis).
This causes tiny white bumps and dry, itchy, scaly, irritated skin with acne-like sores.
Untreated overgrowth can lead to or worsen other skin conditions.
What Causes Face Mites?
Face mites are a normal part of healthy skin.
They can be passed from one person to another through close contact, like sleeping in the same bed.
But they’re more likely to be passed when faces touch, such as during a kiss.
The immune system is usually able to keep the number of face mites on the skin under control.
It’s when the immune system stops functioning properly that face mites have a chance to multiply and spread.
Risk Factors
Some people are at greater risk for face-mite overgrowth than others.
This includes people with conditions affecting the immune system, such asHIV or AIDS.
Medications likechemotherapyortopical steroidscan also impair the immune response and put you at higher risk of overgrowth.
Other risk factors of demodicosis include:
How Are Face Mites Diagnosed?
You do not need to see a healthcare provider for face mites unless you have symptoms.
Your provider may be able to diagnose face mites based on the appearance of your skin.
Demodicosis often causes a white sheen to the skin, known asDemodexfrost.
ttsz / Getty Images
Mites are contagious through close contact, like a kiss.
More serious cases may require a prescription.
Note, however, that you don’t actuallyneedtreatment unless there’s an overgrowth.
Even then, the sensitivity of facial skin can make eliminating the mites challenging.
Your healthcare provider can help guide you as to where to start.
Direct treatment usually isn’t necessary unless a person shows signs of overgrowth.
Your healthcare provider can help you choose a treatment with the least amount of side effects.
Treatment for face mite overgrowth can include washing your face, hair, and eyelashes, and exfoliating regularly.
Some OTC options, including tea tree oil, may be helpful.
Prescription drugs such as metronidazole and ivermectin may be necessary in some cases.
Mites are contagious through close contact.
A weak immune system can allow them to get out of control.
They’re diagnosed with skin scrapings or biopsies.
Exfoliating may also help since it removes the dead skin cells that mites feed on.
In most cases, face mites do not cause acne.
However, an abundance of them that results in demodicosis can cause acne symptoms to worsen.
This can also cause the skin to become dry, itchy, scaly, and irritated.
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