Scott Walter, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist at the Hill Center for Dermatology, educated individuals about two species of mites of the genus Demodex that live in the pores of the face in a recent video posted on TikTok, according to an article published in Newsweek. To demonstrate the appearance of the mites, Dr. Walter proceeded to trap several of them in a piece of tape in a subsequent video. Dr. Walter explained that Demodex brevis feeds off the sebum secreted by the skin, while Demodex folliculorum consumes skin cells around the eyelashes—and noted that they may be present in a majority of the human population. Both species of Demodex mites are extremely small, ranging between 0.3 to 0.4 mm in length, and typically live across the forehead and on the nose, eyelashes, and eyebrows. They can also travel to a new individual through contact with dust and other individuals. Dr. Walter revealed that while the mites could potentially contribute to the development of rosacea, demodicosis, or blepharitis in rare instances; they are generally beneficial to human health in that they devour excess oils and dead skin cells on the surface of the skin.
June 08, 2023