In 1841, German anatomist Jacob Henle was examining earwax under a microscope when, much to his surprise, tiny, worm-like creatures came into view.
Soon after, scientists realized that these animals were, in fact, tiny arachnids.
And now we know they belong to a group of mites, which scientists named Demodex, that contains more than 100 different species that live in and around mammals' hair follicles.
Two of these species — Demodex folliculorum and brevis — specifically inhabit human follicles.
And not just some people's.
Nearly everyone is thought to host mites from at least one of these two Demodex species.
One person's face might harbor hundreds or even thousands of individual mites.
So, yes: on any given day, microscopic arachnids are probably eating, mating, and laying eggs inside your pores.
So, is this okay?
Many mighty mysteries remain — in part because of how difficult it is to keep Demodex alive and investigate them off our skin — but scientists have begun teasing out the truth.
