Invisible parasites roam on your face every night while sleeping. Could they be causing skin problems?

While sleep is often viewed as a peaceful escape from the demands of the day, it's also when an invisible ecosystem on your face springs to life. Every night, microscopic creatures called Demodex mites emerge from your pores. These eight-legged parasites, which reside around the outer part of hair follicles, feed on the oily substances your skin naturally produces.
You can't see them or feel them, but nearly every adult human hosts these mites. Measuring just 0.15 to 0.4 millimeters in length — smaller than the tip of a needle — they are a permanent and largely unnoticed presence on our skin. Up to five mites can occupy just one square centimeter of your face. And despite the unsettling thought, experts say their presence is typically harmless.
Why They're on Your Skin
According to Alejandra Perotti, an associate professor of invertebrate biology at the University of Reading, the mites become most active while you sleep. 'While we are sleeping, they come out and are very happy, mating, visiting relatives, walking on our faces. The moment we wake up, they go back inside the pore,' Perotti said.
These mites aren't freeloaders. In fact, they perform a sort of maintenance service by clearing out pore blockages. In return, the human body provides melatonin — a sleep-inducing hormone produced in the skin — which gives the mites the energy they need to survive. Their ability to resist ultraviolet light also helps them thrive, as UV rays typically damage small organisms' DNA.
When Problems Arise
Though usually harmless, Demodex mites can sometimes cause skin and eye issues, particularly when their population increases uncontrollably. Dr. Richard Locksley, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, explained that overgrowth — a condition known as demodicosis — is more common in people with weakened immune systems, such as older adults or those undergoing chemotherapy.
In such cases, the body may react to both the mites and the bacteria they carry, leading to inflammation. Dr. Roberto Ricardo-Gonzalez, a dermatologist also at UCSF, noted that this inflammation can appear as rosacea, acne, flaking, or dryness, especially on oily areas of the face like the cheeks and forehead.
Doctors can diagnose mite-related conditions by examining skin or eyelash samples under a microscope. Dr. Cory Lappin, an optometrist in Ohio, pointed out that demodex waste and eggs often accumulate at the base of the eyelashes, causing dryness, itching, and even recurring sties in some patients.
Reducing the Risk
Fortunately, preventing mite overgrowth is often as simple as practicing good hygiene. Experts recommend gently washing the face each night with a cleanser to remove excess oil and debris. It's also advised to remove makeup and false lashes before sleeping to avoid irritation around the eyes.
Those with acne-prone skin may benefit from using a topical retinoid once or twice weekly, but moderation is key. Excessive cleansing or skin dryness can disrupt the skin's natural barrier, prompting the mites to multiply.
Additionally, a consistent sleep schedule can help regulate sebum production, which acts as food for these parasites. In cases where overgrowth leads to persistent irritation, dermatologists may prescribe topical or oral ivermectin to bring the mite population under control, although total eradication isn't possible. In 2023, the FDA also approved medicated eye drops specifically to treat eyelid inflammation caused by demodex mites.
Demodex mites have likely lived on human skin for centuries, passed on shortly after birth through close contact, especially from mothers. Yet, as Perotti's 2022 research suggests, these mites may be undergoing what she describes as 'a long-term evolutionary death.' This means that, while they're still here now, their long-term survival may be uncertain.
Despite how strange it may sound, these tiny organisms are just another part of the human body's ecosystem — mostly silent, invisible, and surprisingly useful.

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