Unseen Residents Thrive on User's Facial Surface Without Awareness
Peering into the Unseen: Microscopic Creatures Settled on Our Skin
From the minuscule critters residing in our bodies that we're oblivious to, the tardigrade being one example, there's another fascinating discovery - us, humans, harboring a plethora of microscopic organisms called microbes. These microscopic friends and foes call nearly every corner of our bodies home, even in the most unexpected areas like our eyes.
Fortunately, most of these microbes are helpful, contributing to digestion, warding off infections, and even aiding in protecting our skin from dehydration, thanks to the humble Staphylococcus epidermidis. But there's another type of microscopic inhabitant that dwells on us for their entire lives — the skin mites known as Demodex folliculorum.
Despite their seemingly creepy appearing, these mites aren't really as horrifying as they sound. They subsist by feeding off dead skin cells and eventually disappear.
Demodex Mites: Delving Deeper
Along with Demodex brevis, Demodex folliculorum is a common find on human skin, particularly in hair follicles and sebaceous glands. They maintain a normal equilibrium, aiding in keeping our skin's oil balanced by breaking it down into acids, creating an environment where harmful bacteria struggle to survive. However, when these mites multiply, it could lead to conditions such as demodicosis, known for causing discomforts like redness, itching, inflammation, and even blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids) or keratitis (inflammation of the cornea) [1][3][5].
That being said, Demodex mites are, to an extent, a common part of human life, and while they might give you the lurking-in-the-dark-shadows vibe, they're generally not dangerous unless their numbers dramatically increase. In situations where they become a problem, treatments are accessible to alleviate symptoms and brought the population under control.
A Skin Condition Called Demodicosis
When it comes to demodicosis, symptoms may included redness, itching, and inflammation of the skin or eyelids. In severe cases, it may even cause blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids) and keratitis (inflammation of the cornea).
Demodex Mites and Rosacea
One intriguing connection between Demodex mites and rosacea patients has been discovered in scientific studies — Demodex mites appear to be more prevalent in rosacea sufferers, suggesting a possible role in the disease's development [3].
Demodex Mites and Acne
While links between Demodex mites and acne have been established, the relationship is not completely understood, and more research is required to clarify the connection [4].
In the fascinating realm of human health-and-wellness, Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis are common skin-care inhabitants, residing primarily in hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Normally, these mites contribute to maintaining a balance in our skin's oil production, but excessive multiplication can lead to skin conditions such as demodicosis, characterized by redness, itching, inflammation, blepharitis, and keratitis.
