How to know if you have a facial mite? - briefly
Look for microscopic, moving specks or tiny raised lesions, typically on the nose, cheeks, or forehead; a dermatologist can confirm their presence by performing a skin‑scraping test examined under a microscope.
How to know if you have a facial mite? - in detail
Facial mites, primarily Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis, inhabit hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Their presence becomes problematic when population density exceeds normal limits, leading to visible clinical signs.
Typical manifestations include:
- Fine, cylindrical scales (often called “dry skin flakes”) at the base of eyelashes or eyebrows.
- Persistent itching or a burning sensation on the cheeks, nose, or forehead.
- Redness, papules, or pustules that resemble acne or rosacea.
- Rough skin texture and occasional swelling around affected areas.
- Occasional loss of eyelashes or thinning of eyebrow hairs.
Self‑assessment steps:
- Examine the skin under good lighting, using a magnifying glass (10–15×). Look for tiny moving specks at the edge of lashes or within pores.
- Gently press a clear adhesive tape on the affected area, then place it on a microscope slide. Observe for elongated, worm‑like organisms measuring 0.3–0.4 mm.
- Note any persistent cylindrical debris that cannot be removed by regular washing.
Professional evaluation methods:
- Dermoscopic examination: A dermatoscope reveals characteristic “telescopic” structures within follicles.
- Skin surface biopsy (SSB): A cyanoacrylate glue strip is applied to the skin; the removed specimen is examined microscopically for mite count. A density greater than five mites per cm² is considered abnormal.
- Standardized skin scrapings: Scraped material from lesions is placed on a slide with mineral oil and examined at 100–400× magnification.
- Confocal laser scanning microscopy: Provides in‑vivo imaging of mites within the follicular canal, useful for confirming diagnosis without invasive sampling.
- Laboratory culture: Rarely used; mites are isolated and identified by morphology under light microscopy.
Diagnostic criteria generally require:
- Presence of ≥ 5 mites per cm² in SSB.
- Correlation of mite density with clinical signs described above.
- Exclusion of other dermatological conditions (e.g., bacterial folliculitis, seborrheic dermatitis) through history and laboratory tests.
Treatment decisions depend on confirmed infestation. Accurate identification through the outlined procedures prevents unnecessary medication and directs appropriate therapeutic measures.