You
know for sure that your face measures 26cm, but you may not be aware that it is
also a home to thousands of tiny creatures living in the pores of your face.
Yes,
we share it with thousands, if not millions, of microscopic mites who like to
live on our faces and elsewhere; that look like stubby little worms and are known as
Demodex (Demodicosis) or eyelash mites.
These
eight-legged creatures are technically arachnids and are distantly related to
our other favorite bugs, ticks and spiders.
Their
mostly transparent critters are too small to see with the naked eye. At about
0.3 millimeters long, it would take about five adult face mites laid end to end
to stretch across the head of a pin, which simply means you won't catch sight
of them when you look in the mirror.
They
eat sebum, the greasy oil your skin makes to protect itself and keep it from
drying out. The sebum is produced in sebaceous glands, which empty into the
hair follicles and coat both the hair shaft and face mite.
That's
why the greasiest parts of your body, such as around the eyes, nose and mouth,
likely harbor a higher concentration of mites than other areas.
Since
they live inside your pores, you can't scrub them off by washing. It's
basically impossible to get rid of all of your face mites.
Interestingly
enough, we aren't born with facial mites. They're typically passed by
skin-to-skin contact during childhood. Demodex are completely harmless to us.
They also have an average lifespan of only 20 days.
Although
they don't live for too long, demodex mites make their time count; mating with
the opposite sex at the entrance of our pores and laying up to 24 eggs each
time. Overall, the mites get busy at night and come out while we're asleep to
lay their eggs.
According
to an article published in the British Journal of Dermatology, your immune
system prevents them from overpopulating. In some cases, however, the mites do
breed out of control and cause demodicosis, a skin condition.
Symptoms,
Demodicosis often appears in
individuals with suppressed immune systems, such as those taking
immunosuppressant drugs. Demodicosis symptoms include a red rash made up of
small-pimple-like bumps, other signs
include itching and rosacea-like redness.
Other
symptoms include:
Dryness
Itchy,
scaly skin
Redness
and irritation
Red
or white pustules
Acne-like
eruptions
Sores
from scratching
Lines
(burrow marks) on the face3
Eczema
Loss
of eyelashes
Eye
inflammation
Decreased
vision
Consult
a dermatologist if you believe you're experiencing a demodicosis outbreak.
How
does Demodex harm us?
Most
of the time, the body defence keeps Demodex mites in check. The system prevents
Demodex and other micro-residents from over-multiplying and keeps our body
ecosystem in balance.
However,
if the immune system does not function properly; for instance, in the case of a
flawed immune system or patients taking immunosuppressive drugs – Demodex may
grow more and more, exceeding 5 per cm square of skin. Now, they are no longer
an example of commensalism but act like parasites. That is, they harm our
bodies.
It is
commonly said that Demodex cannot cause skin and hair problems; they only
aggravate or trigger them.
Prescribed
Drugs For Demodicosis,
Dermatologist's
prescribed medications with the least amount of side effects to treat demodicosis
are-
Metronidazole: This antibiotic may help by
hampering the mites' movement and potentially even killing them. It comes in
oral tablet and topical cream forms. Possible side effects of tablets include
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
Crotamiton: This is a topical cream used to
treat mites and itching. Apply after washing your face. Mild skin irritation is
possible.
Ivermectin: This cream is used for face mites
that don't respond to other treatments. It is most commonly used in those with compromised
immune systems. Possible side effects include dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
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