Meet Demodex: Mites That Living On Your Face

 

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.