Eyelash mites are Demodex, microscopic mites that live in the hair follicles and oil glands of almost every adult’s face, including the eyelashes. Usually they cause no harm. When they overgrow on the eyelids they can cause Demodex blepharitis: itchy, red, crusty lid edges, a gritty feeling, lash loss and waxy cuffs (collarettes) at the base of the lashes. See an eye doctor if you have these symptoms. Since 2023 there has been an FDA-approved eye drop that treats it.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What they are | Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis, tiny relatives of spiders and ticks |
| Size | 0.15 to 0.4 mm, invisible without a microscope |
| Who has them | Almost all adults; babies pick them up from family |
| Harmful? | Usually not; overgrowth causes blepharitis or skin problems |
| Key eyelid sign | Collarettes: waxy cuffs around the base of the lashes |
| Treatment | Lotilaner 0.25% eye drops (Xdemvy), lid hygiene, tea tree oil lid products, in-office cleaning |
Table of Contents
What Are Eyelash Mites?
Demodex mites are microscopic arachnids, related to spiders and ticks, that live in human hair follicles. Two species live on people:
- Demodex folliculorum lives in hair follicles, especially the small ones of the eyelashes, and feeds on skin cells.
- Demodex brevis lives deeper, near the oil (sebaceous) glands, and feeds on sebum.
They are most common on the cheeks, eyelashes, forehead, sides of the nose and outer ear canals. The mites spend the day head-down in the follicle. During sleep they come out onto the skin to mate, then return to lay eggs.
Does Everyone Have Eyelash Mites?
Nearly every adult does. Babies aren’t born with them and pick them up through close contact with the people they live with. Numbers tend to rise with age and with oily skin. In most people they never cause symptoms.
Problems start when the mites multiply far beyond normal. That is more likely if your immune system is weakened (for example by chemotherapy, HIV or immune-suppressing drugs), if you have rosacea or other skin conditions, or after long-term use of hydrocortisone cream on the face.
Can You See Eyelash Mites?
No. At 0.15 to 0.4 mm long, several would fit on a pinhead. An eye doctor can see them by taking out a lash and looking at it under a microscope, or spot their collarettes with a slit lamp.
Symptoms of Eyelash Mites (Demodex Blepharitis)
On the eyelids, an overgrowth causes Demodex blepharitis. Signs include:
- Collarettes: cylinder-shaped cuffs of waxy debris wrapped around the base of the lashes. Eye doctors consider these the hallmark sign.
- Itchy eyelids
- Red, swollen or crusty eyelid edges
- A gritty, burning or dry feeling in the eyes
- Eyelashes falling out or growing in the wrong direction
- Styes or chalazia (lumps in the eyelid)
- Blurred vision in more severe cases
On the face, overgrowth (demodicosis) can cause burning, itching, redness, rough or scaly skin and small whitehead-like bumps, and it is linked to rosacea. A dermatologist can confirm it with a skin scraping or dermoscopy.
How to Get Rid of Eyelash Mites
You can’t remove all Demodex, and you don’t need to. The goal is to bring an overgrowth back to normal. Because the eyes are involved, see an optometrist or ophthalmologist for a diagnosis first.
Treatments an eye doctor may use
- Lotilaner 0.25% eye drops (Xdemvy). Approved by the FDA in July 2023 as the first drug to treat Demodex blepharitis by killing the mites. One drop in each eye twice a day for 6 weeks. In two clinical trials, about 84% of patients had a clinically meaningful clearing of collarettes at day 43, compared with about 28% on a placebo drop. The most common side effect is brief stinging.
- Tea tree oil lid products. Cleansers and wipes made for the eyelids, containing terpinen-4-ol, the active compound in tea tree oil, ease symptoms.
- In-office lid cleaning to remove collarettes and debris in more severe cases.
- Other options such as hypochlorous acid lid sprays, or medicines for related problems like dry eye or rosacea.
Daily eyelid care at home
- Hold a clean, warm compress on closed eyelids for a few minutes to loosen crusts.
- Clean along the lash line with a lid wipe or a cleanser made for eyelids, as your eye doctor directs.
- Wash your face twice a day and avoid thick, greasy creams around the eyes.
- Remove all eye makeup before bed, don’t share eye makeup, and replace mascara about every 3 months.
- Wash pillowcases and face towels often.
What not to use: don’t put undiluted tea tree oil, borax, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar or alcohol on or near your eyes. These can burn the eye surface. Coconut, neem and castor oil have no good evidence behind them for Demodex.
Demodex Mites in Dogs and Cats
Pets have their own Demodex species, and they don’t live on people. In dogs, Demodex canis causes demodectic mange: patches of hair loss, often around the eyes, face and legs, and sometimes widespread skin infection. Puppies get the mites from their mother in the first days of life, and dog Demodex isn’t contagious to people. Cats can have Demodex cati or Demodex gatoi; D. gatoi spreads between cats and is very itchy. A vet diagnoses it with a skin scraping and prescribes treatment.
Looking for other mites? See dust mite bites, which are an allergy rather than bites.
Eyelid care essentials
- Tea tree eyelid cleansing wipes made for the lash line
- Hypochlorous acid eyelid spray for daily lid hygiene
- Reusable warm compress eye mask to loosen crusts
As an Amazon Associate, Pestbugs earns from qualifying purchases. Ask your eye doctor which product suits you, and stop any product that stings or worsens symptoms.
FAQ
Almost every adult does. Demodex mites live in hair follicles and oil glands on the face, eyelashes, forehead, nose and ears. Babies are not born with them; they pick them up from the people they live with. In most people the mites cause no symptoms.
No. Demodex mites are 0.15 to 0.4 mm long, too small to see without a microscope. What you can see is the sign they leave: collarettes, small cuffs of waxy debris wrapped around the base of the lashes.
When mites overgrow on the eyelids, a condition called Demodex blepharitis, you may get itchy, red, crusty or swollen eyelid edges, a gritty or burning feeling, lashes that fall out or grow in the wrong direction, and collarettes at the base of the lashes.
In 2023 the FDA approved lotilaner 0.25% eye drops (Xdemvy), the first drug that treats Demodex blepharitis by killing the mites, used twice a day for 6 weeks. Eye doctors also use eyelid cleansers containing tea tree oil compounds, warm compresses and in-office lid cleaning.
Only in products made for the eyelids, or as directed by an eye doctor. Undiluted tea tree oil can burn and irritate the eyes. Lid wipes and cleansers with a low, measured concentration are the safer option.
No. The Demodex species on dogs and cats are different from human ones and don’t live on people. Dog Demodex is passed from mother to puppies in the first days of life and isn’t contagious to people.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic: Demodex face mites
- American Academy of Ophthalmology EyeWiki: Lotilaner
- Drugs.com: FDA approves Xdemvy for Demodex blepharitis (July 2023)
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Demodex in cats
This article is general information, not medical advice. See an eye doctor for eyelid symptoms, and a vet for skin problems in pets.