# Eyelash mites & mascara

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyelash-mites-mascara/959396>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 13, 2022, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyelash-mites-mascara/959396 "2022-02-13T09:40:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2022, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyelash-mites-mascara/959396/1 "2022-02-13T09:40:18Z")

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What happens to eyelash mites when you apply mascara?

Don’t need answer fast. Was getting ready for work and started idly wondering.

Is it like Godzilla attacking? Do they run screaming for their little lives, covered in black goop?

> **[Demodex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demodex)**
>
> Pages for logged out editors learn more
> 
> 			 
> Demodex /ˈdɛmədɛks/ is a genus of tiny mites that live in or near hair follicles of mammals. Around 65 species of Demodex are known. Two species live on humans: Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis, both frequently referred to as eyelash mites, alternatively face mites or skin mites. Different species of animals host different species of Demodex. Demodex canis lives on the domestic dog. The presence of Demodex species on mammals is common an...

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**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2022, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyelash-mites-mascara/959396/2 "2022-02-13T13:21:08Z")

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They reside within the hair follicle. Mascara application is superficial.

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**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2022, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyelash-mites-mascara/959396/3 "2022-02-14T13:45:01Z")

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Well, damn. I was sort of hoping for a ‘running [slithering?] in panic from a tidal wave of black goo’ =)

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**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2022, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyelash-mites-mascara/959396/4 "2022-02-15T01:30:18Z")

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I came across this related and interesting question today:

[How do eyelash microorganisms get to a newborn?](https://old.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/ssdqus/how_do_eyelash_microorganisms_get_to_a_newborn/)[https://old.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/ssdqus/how\_do\_eyelash\_microorganisms\_get\_to\_a\_newborn/](https://old.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/ssdqus/how_do_eyelash_microorganisms_get_to_a_newborn/)