Ask Dr Zac: Are there really tiny mites living on our faces?
Do you often get red, inflamed skin on your face? Dr Zac has revealed the troubling thing - or things - that could be behind it.
Welcome to Ask Doctor Zac, a weekly column from news.com.au. This week, Dr Zac Turner explores if there are really tiny mites living on your face.
QUESTION: Hi Dr Zac. I know this sounds gross but one of my friends said the reason I’m getting red flushes on my face is because my skin might be infected with mites and they’re feasting on my skin. Yuck! Surely that can’t be true. I thought we only got crabs from sleeping around or head lice when we were kids at school.
If this is true what can I do to kill those bugs because this is next level alien sh*t! My friend says she has highly sensitive skin and she tries to cover it up with lots of makeup but I’m thinking the makeup might be the problem because it’s probably not letting her skin breathe. What’s the truth here? I’m only 33 years old but my face is red like a beetroot and looking like a booze hound! - Sonia, 33, Kogarah NSW
ANSWER: Thanks for the great question, Sonia - it’s one I’ve been asked many times in my clinic. And it isn’t as weird as it sounds.
That’s because we do have microscopic creatures living on our face. Don’t worry though, you don’t need to start scrubbing your face like you’re an extra in some kind of horror movie.
What these little critters are called are Demodex mites. And there are two types that live on our skin. There’s Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis.
These guys are so small you need a microscope to see them. They live inside the tiny hair follicles and oil glands on our face.
Expect to see them on our noses, foreheads, and cheeks. Practically every adult has them and they are usually harmless. They are actually part of our skin’s ecosystem.
It all gets a bit troubling when their numbers get too high. And when that happens, your skin becomes irritated, red, and bumpy.
That’s when our faces can start looking like we’ve got acne or rosacea.
In the medical field we call this condition demodicosis, and this is what causes the redness on our face.
It’s not the mite themselves but your skin’s reaction to the bacteria and debris these guys leave behind when they die.
Yuck, I know! No one wants that, but it is far more common than you would realise.
Studies have shown people with rosacea can sometimes have up to 10 times more of these mites than people with healthy skin.
If you wear makeup, especially if you really cake it on, you’re adding petrol to the fire because what you’re doing is blocking those pores and trapping in the oil.
This is Club Med for mites - an ideal environment for them to go crazy. If you have oily or sensitive skin, you’re more likely to have these problems.
Now for the good news; it’s all very treatable. You need to start by cleaning your face gently twice a day with a mild non-soak cleanser.
You also don’t want to scrub overly hard or over wash your skin as that can make the inflammation worse.
When it comes to make up, choose ones that are lightweight and non-comedogenic. You also need to take it off before you hit the bed each night. Especially on Saturday night after a big night of drinking and all you want to do is crash.
If your face stays red and irritated, I recommend you seeing a dermatologist. They can prescribe a topical or oral medication such as ivermectin or metronidazole.
These not only kill the mites, but they’ll also calm the inflammation on your face.
You can also chat with your pharmacist for some over-the-counter cleansers that contain tea tree oil, which can also reduce mite numbers. But do be careful if you’ve got sensitive skin because they can sting a little.
So lighten up your skin care regime and let your skin breathe. And definitely see a dermatologist if this redness persists.
Good luck with it all, Dr Zac.
More Coverage
Got a question? Email askdrzac@drzac.com.au
Follow Dr Zac on Instagram
Dr Zac Turner is a medical practitioner specialising in preventive health and wellness. He has four health/medical degrees – Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Sydney, Bachelor of Nursing at Central Queensland University, and Bachelor of Biomedical Science at the University of the Sunshine Coast. He is a registrar for the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, and is completing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering (UNSW). Dr Zac is the medical director for his own holistic wellness medical clinics throughout Australia, Concierge Doctors.
