Final Thoughts
Although the thought of microscopic mites living on your face may seem surprising, there is little reason for concern. Nearly every adult carries Demodex folliculorum, and in most cases these tiny creatures coexist with us peacefully throughout life.
Far from being dangerous invaders, they appear to be long-term evolutionary companions that have adapted so completely to human skin that they can no longer live without us. Their story reminds us that the human body is not just an individual organism—it is an entire ecosystem, home to countless microscopic partners whose roles scientists are only beginning to understand.
Source: Smith, G., Manzano-Marín, A., Perotti, M. A., & Braig, H. R. (2022). Human follicular mites: Ectoparasites becoming symbionts. Molecular Biology and Evolution.
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