Demodex Folliculorum is the scientific name of the microscopic mite that lives in your hair follicles and possibly other places on your body, like your eyelashes or eyebrows, too.
Unlike lice or fleas, which are external parasites that live on your body, demodex folliculorum is an internal parasite that lives in your hair follicles.
If you have a lot of them living on your skin, it can lead to a condition called rosacea, which causes facial redness and pimples.
Demodex folliculorum live in hair follicles and sebaceous glands, they do not have eyes or legs and are completely blind.
They feed on skin cells and oils from your face, which is why you will find them most commonly around your eyebrows, eyelashes, nose, cheeks and chin.
There are several treatments available for Demodex, including prescription creams that kill the mites and treatment with oral antibiotics.
However, there is no cure for Demodex folliculorum; they must be continually treated or they will come back.
Since there is no cure for Demodex, treatment is necessary in order to rid of their presence.
Treatment usually consists of creams that kill mites and oral antibiotics that treat secondary infections caused by Demodex.
However, since these are only short-term solutions, it’s important to take preventative measures as well.