Are there bugs in human eyelashes?

You probably don't think of your face as a home for bugs, but it's true. Our skin is literally crawling with microscopic insects called mites, and these critters have a fondness for hair follicles, especially on eyelashes and in the nose. read more

Whereas there are mites that reside within hair follicles, consider also the occasional presence of human crab (=pubic) lice, Pthirus pubis. These -and their eggs - are sometimes found on (but not in) the eyelashes of human beings. read more

There are more than 60 species of parasitic mite, but only two, Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis, like to live on human beings. Both can be found on the face, as well as the chest, back, groin, and buttocks. read more

Some good and bad news for people who've heard that insects live on human eyelashes. The good news is that they don't. The bad news -- the mites that do are arachnids, not insects -- they're relatives of spiders, although they look more like worms. read more