You may not know but several tiny arachnids (or mites) live in our skin. These mites, however, are harmless and live harmoniously with humans for thousands of years. In our pores, there are at least two kinds of these microscopic arachnids: Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis. According to Live Science, Demodex mites (which are relatives of spiders and ticks) live in the skin of mammals, including humans.
Generally, these mites live in harmony with their hosts, but if this delicate balance is disturbed, they can cause problems such as scabies and even skin conditions such as rosacea and blepharitis (eyelid inflammation) in humans, due to a "overpopulation" of Demodex. It should be clarified that the pimples and comedones are not caused by the arachnid itself, but by the inflammatory process triggered by their presence.
In order to investigate how these arachnids act in our skin, scientists from the Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina and California Academy of Sciences have just published a study that reveals some previously unknown truths about these mites. Check it out below:
1 - Everyone has mites
According to the researchers, one of the most amazing discoveries is that these mites live in all people. But that was not always evident, because it was difficult to find a microscopic mite living on someone's face. However, DNA (genetic material) of the mites was found in all adult evaluated by the staff.
2 - Humans harbor two species of mites
One of the most intriguing (and unsolved) mystery is how humans acquired these parasites. According to the researchers, the co-evolution model is possible, ie humans and their mite species evolved simultaneously over time.
3 - Mites and human populations
Demodex mites live with us for a long time and therefore one of the curiosities of the scientists is whether the study of their DNA could provide a reflection of our own evolutionary history, allowing us to redo the old paths of human migration.
Thus, observing the DNA of a species (Demodex brevis), the scientists found that China's mites were genetically distinct from mites of the Americas. East Asians and European populations diverged over 40 million years ago and so far it seems that their mites also did!
On the other hand, there is no way to differentiate China's versus Americas Demodex folliculorum. The researchers found that this species is the most prevalent in most ethnic groups. However, further researchs will be required in order to analyse samples of people from many other parts of the world, in order to show the journey of Homo sapiens retold by their mites.
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