14/06/2025
There Are Tiny Bugs Living in Your Eyelashes—And That’s Totally Normal
Brace yourself for a truth that’s equal parts creepy and fascinating: almost every human has tiny bugs living in their eyelashes.
They’re called Demodex mites, and they’ve been with you your whole life. These microscopic arachnids yep, they’re technically related to spiders set up shop in the hair follicles around your eyes, especially in your lashes and eyebrows. They’re about 0.1 mm long, completely invisible to the naked eye, and they spend their days eating dead skin cells and oils.
Before you panic don’t. These mites are harmless for the vast majority of people. In fact, they’re so common that scientists consider them a normal part of the human microbiome, like friendly bacteria in your gut. Most people live their entire lives without ever knowing they’re there.
Sometimes, if there’s an overgrowth (which can be triggered by poor hygiene or immune system changes), they might cause irritation or skin conditions like blepharitis but in most cases, it’s a quiet coexistence.
So yes, your lashes are hosting tiny roommates. And while it might sound unsettling, it’s just one more example of how weird and wonderfully complex your body really is.
