The adult mites are only long, with "D. brevis" slightly shorter than "D. folliculorum". Each has a semitransparent elongated body that consists of two fused segments. Eight short, segmented legs are attached to the first body segment. The body is covered with scales for anchoring itself in the hair follicle, and the mite has pin-like mouthparts for eating skin cells and oils which accumulate in the hair follicles. The mites can leave the hair follicles and slowly walk around on the skin, at a speed of per hour, especially at night, as they try to avoid light. The mites are transferred between hosts through contact with hair, eyebrows, and the sebaceous glands of the face.