Written by: Ansley Phan
Did you know that our skin is covered with hundreds of thousands of tiny, parasitic mites all over? Don’t freak out just yet because these mites are helpful in the skin microbiome.
Their name is the Demodex mite. These mites eat dead skin cells, oil, and hormones in our hair follicles. These mites are mainly active during the night because they are light-sensitive: when there's too much light, they scurry into our hair follicles. There are about one million of these mites on a single person.
While eating dead skin and oil sounds great, an excess of these mites can cause problems: specifically, irritation. Demodex mites can manifest as rosacea, or they can further exacerbate rosacea. Other conditions that excess Demodex mites can cause include madarosis, Grover's disease, and more.
No need to worry as there are plenty of ways to manage the amount of Demodex mites on the skin: washing your face at least once a day with a gentle cleanser, using gentle, non-abrasive exfoliants two-three times a week.
While the idea of Demodex mites is frightening, they are a natural and helpful asset to the skin. They can cause different skin conditions when they are in excess, but a healthy amount proves to be beneficial.
Sources:
Rather, Parvaiz Anwar, and Iffat Hassan. “Human Demodex Mite: The Versatile Mite of Dermatological Importance.” NCBI, N.D., https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3884930/. Accessed 16 March 2022.
Image Source: National Rosacea Society
Disclaimer: This organization's content is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice. Content provided on this website is for informational and educational purposes only. Please consult with a physician or other healthcare professional regarding any medical or health-related diagnosis or treatment options. Information on this website should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional.
留言