When you think of creatures living on your skin, you might imagine germs or bacteria, but what about the microscopic mites quietly residing in your face’s pores?
These tiny creatures, known as Demodex folliculorum, spend their entire lives living deep within our skin follicles, per Sky News.
They might sound like a nightmare, but don’t reach for the face wash just yet — these mites may be more beneficial than you think.
More than 90% of us are hosts to these 0.3mm long mites, and they've been living with us since birth, passed down during breastfeeding.
But recent research has revealed that these mites could be facing an evolutionary crisis due to their increasingly eroded DNA.
What Do These Mites Actually Do?
Despite their somewhat unsettling appearance — with their stubby legs and worm-like bodies — Demodex folliculorum actually plays a role in maintaining healthy skin.
These mites feed on the oils secreted by our skin and help keep our pores clean.
They’re often found around areas like our noses and eyelashes, living deep within our pores and coming out at night to find mates and reproduce.
Dr. Alejandra Perotti, a co-author of a study from the University of Reading, suggests that we should appreciate these mites: "We should love them because they're the only animals that live on our bodies our entire life, and we should appreciate them because they clean our pores."
She even goes as far as to describe them as "cute," per BBC News.
We'll let you be the judge of that.
The Growing Threat of Extinction
Unfortunately, these little mites are facing a potential extinction crisis.
According to the research, the mites’ genetic makeup is eroding over time, making them increasingly dependent on humans for survival.
Dr. Perotti and her colleagues discovered that the mites have the smallest number of genes of any arthropod (insects, arachnids, and crustaceans).
They have lost vital genes, such as the one that protects them from UV light — a necessity they no longer need because they are only active at night.
As these mites become more reliant on our skin, they lose their ability to adapt and reproduce in their natural environment.
The study shows that, rather than having the typical genetic markers that tell the mites when to wake and sleep, they now rely on the level of melatonin in our skin secretions to signal when it's time for them to wake up.
A Deeper Connection: Parasite or Symbiote?
The relationship between humans and these mites has evolved from a parasitic one to something more symbiotic.
The more the mites adapt to human hosts, the more their genetic diversity diminishes.
This puts them at risk of eventual extinction — particularly if humans face significant environmental changes or if these mites lose their ability to leave our pores to find new mates.
Dr. Perotti explains: “As their genetic diversity gets smaller, their dependence on us increases – meaning they are at risk of possible extinction.”
What Happens If We Lose Them?
While these mites might seem a little creepy, they actually play a helpful role in maintaining skin health by preventing clogged pores, which could lead to acne.
In fact, a lack of these mites could result in skin problems, so their possible extinction may pose a threat to the health of our skin.
Dr. Perotti adds: “They are associated with healthy skin, so if we lose them you could face problems with your skin.”
The mites are part of a larger ecosystem that depends on human skin.
And with biodiversity at risk globally, we should consider the Demodex mites as part of our own environmental responsibility.
“We are living in a world where we should be protecting biodiversity — and these are our very own animal,” says Dr. Perotti.
These microscopic creatures may seem insignificant, but they highlight the delicate balance between us and the tiny organisms that live on and within our bodies.
Losing these mites may seem trivial, but it reflects a broader issue of human impact on natural ecosystems.
Can We Do Anything to Help?
If you were hoping to scrub these mites away with your regular skincare routine, you’re out of luck.
These mites live too deeply embedded in the skin to be washed away.
So, while you can’t eliminate them, it’s comforting to know that they’ve been with us since birth and that their relationship with humans has been built over time.
Rather than causing harm, Demodex mites help keep our skin in balance — so perhaps we should all be a little more grateful for these tiny residents.