Demodex mites Crawling on scalp and hair loss

There are studies that shows that populations of demodex in the hair follicles have been highly correlated with the male pattern baldness. From the statistics on 99 subjects involved in the study, 87.3% of patients suffering from alopecia were found to have a Demodex infestation. 12% of patients suffering from alopecia tested negative for having Demodex infestation.

The control group were people who had a full head of hair. 13.6% of the control group tested positive for Demodex and 86.4% of the control group tested negative for Demodex infestation.

As the numbers show, a significant majority of people suffering from hair loss have found Demodex in their follicles.

Demodex mites are microscopic parasites which live off sebum oil. Demodex mites can be found on the skin of humans and animals. There are total of 65 different species of demodex but only three: Demodex folliculorum, Demodex brevis and Demodex canis can live on people.  For the first time, demodex mites (Demodex folliculorum) were identified in 1842.

The size of demodex or as it commonly called "the face mite" is .1mm to .4 mm long. It has worm-like body with tiny claws, and scales. The female may lay up to 25 eggs in one hair follicle.

The mites have good digestive system which allows them to eat sebum oil. Demodex can leave hair follicles and stay on the skin surface. They cannot stand the sun light. During the day, demodex mites go deep inside hair follicles, avoiding the light. They come out at night to feed, to breed and to visit neighbours. Cruising speed is 2-4 cm/ hour. It seems slow but when you multiply by 8 - 10 hours (average sleeping time for people), the mites can cover pretty long distances.

The female demodex mites is shorter and rounder compare to males. These skin parasites live very short life - only a few weeks. The female demodex lay eggs in depths of hair follicle and sebaceous gland. New babies - skin mites are born withing 3-4 days. The old demodex dies decomposing in the hair follicles and sebaceous glands.

In small numbers, demodex mites are harmless. Tipically, your immune system can keep the population under control. For many people the immune system does not function as effective as it should. There are many reasons for immune system failure: stress, pollution, alcohol, cigarettes, medical drugs,illness, taking treatments without caution etc. If immune system fails to provide protection, the human demodex mites start to multiply without control. Increased number of demodex mites leads to demodicosis.

The sebaceous glands are not the only places in human body where Demodex mites live. This microscopic parasite can be found in the skin pores and hair follicles. The scalp, cheeks, nose, eyebrows and even the roots of eyelashes are places where follicle mites live.