Yes, tiny mites live on your face — but is that a bad thing? - M. Alejandra Perotti
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Two species of Demodex mites specifically inhabit human follicles. And not just some people’s— nearly everyone is thought to host mites. One person’s face might harbor hundreds or even thousands of individual mites. On any given day, these microscopic arachnids are probably eating, mating, and laying eggs inside your pores. So, is this… okay? M. Alejandra Perotti investigates.
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Follicular mites, although historically and currently external parasites, may be moving towards an existence as internal symbionts. While they currently live in the hair follicles on the face and nipples of their host, eating the sebum produced by cells in the pores, they could in the future be considered simply a part of normal animal functioning- like the bacteria in our gut!
The process by which follicular mites are becoming genetically simplified is thus: the mites have no exposure to internal threats, no competition for hosts, and no encounters with mites of different genes. Because of this existence, the mites exist with extremely low numbers of proteins. They are unable to produce UV protection and have lost the gene that causes animals to be awakened by daylight. They are only able to wake at night because of the melatonin supplied by their host- making their mating completely dependent on their host body.
Because mites are only passed between mother and child, some believe that the lack of genetic interaction between mites of different populations will cause extinction. But Alejandra Perotti insists that nature should take its course and healthy skin will be enough to sustain these tiny creatures for generations to come.
The process by which follicular mites are becoming genetically simplified is thus: the mites have no exposure to internal threats, no competition for hosts, and no encounters with mites of different genes. Because of this existence, the mites exist with extremely low numbers of proteins. They are unable to produce UV protection and have lost the gene that causes animals to be awakened by daylight. They are only able to wake at night because of the melatonin supplied by their host- making their mating completely dependent on their host body.
Because mites are only passed between mother and child, some believe that the lack of genetic interaction between mites of different populations will cause extinction. But Alejandra Perotti insists that nature should take its course and healthy skin will be enough to sustain these tiny creatures for generations to come.
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Meet The Creators
- Educator M. Alejandra Perotti
- Director Caitlin McCarthy
- Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
- Music Jarrett Farkas
- Sound Designer Weston Fonger
- Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
- Produced by Abdallah Ewis
- Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
- Editorial Producer Cella Wright
- Script Editor Emma Bryce
- Fact-Checker Charles Wallace
