värekarvojen

Värekarvojen, often translated as "beard mites" or "face mites," refers to microscopic arachnids that inhabit the hair follicles of mammals, including humans. In humans, these mites are primarily of the species Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis. They are a common and generally harmless component of the skin's natural microbiome, found most frequently in areas with a higher concentration of hair follicles and sebaceous glands, such as the face, eyebrows, eyelashes, and ear canals.

These mites are translucent, worm-like in appearance, and possess eight short legs. They feed on dead skin cells and sebum, the oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands. Their life cycle is spent entirely on the host, from hatching to mating and dying. Adult mites are typically less than a millimeter in length.

While usually asymptomatic, an overpopulation or an altered immune response to these mites can sometimes lead to skin conditions. This can include demodicosis, which may manifest as redness, itching, scaling, and inflammation, particularly in individuals with compromised immune systems or certain skin disorders. Diagnosis is typically made through microscopic examination of skin scrapings or plucked hairs. Treatment, when necessary, often involves topical medications such as ivermectin or metronidazole, or sometimes oral antibiotics.