Right Now, There are Tiny Spiders Crawling on your Face

Summary

The article discusses the common fear of spiders juxtaposed with the reality of harmless Demodex mites, which are tiny arachnids living on human faces.

Abstract

The author recounts a childhood incident that fueled an irrational fear of spiders, which has significantly impacted their life choices. Despite efforts to overcome this fear through methods like hypnosis, the author admits to killing spiders when alone, contrary to their otherwise non-violent lifestyle. Ironically, the author has unknowingly coexisted with Demodex mites, microscopic arachnids that inhabit human skin and are generally harmless. These mites, which are too small to be seen with the naked eye, are part of the human microbiome and typically do not cause issues for healthy individuals. However, they can pose problems for those with weakened immune systems or conditions like rosacea. The article emphasizes the ubiquity of microbes in the human environment and the importance of respecting all life forms, even those that may be aesthetically displeasing.

Opinions

The author acknowledges their fear of spiders as irrational and feels guilty for not adhering to the principle of non-violence when it comes to spiders.
Despite the fear, the author recognizes the need to respect all creatures, including those that are typically unwelcome, like spiders and Demodex mites.
The author suggests that the presence of Demodex mites on our bodies should challenge our perceptions of what we consider harmful or fear-inducing.
There is an implication that humans often overstep in deciding which creatures live or die, potentially disrupting ecological balance.
The article conveys a sense of wonder and acceptance towards the myriad of microscopic life forms that coexist with humans, advocating for a more harmonious relationship with these

They are especially active at night

One night when I was about seven years old my mom was walking by my bedroom and heard me moving around.

“Why aren’t you asleep?”

“I’m afraid there’s a spider in my bed.”

“If you don’t go to sleep right now, I’m gonna go outside and get a whole bucket full of spiders and dump them in your bed.”

Yeah, not her most impressive parenting moment.

All of my life I’ve been terrified of spiders. My sister is the same way. My fear of spiders has kept me from camping, traveling to South America, and joining the Peace Corps. I don’t know where this fear came from and I know that most common house spiders are completely benign.

Still, a spider is the only insect that I will kill if there’s no one around to take it outside. Every time this happens, I feel guilty. As a yoga teacher, I am aware of the first principle of yoga, Ahimsa, or non-violence. I don’t eat meat. I don’t buy leather. I don’t kill any other bugs, even mosquitoes. But my spider fear endures, even after trying hypnosis, where I was told to address the spider’s soul and promise not to harm it.

How ironic that since the time I’ve been about 18, microscopic arachnid-like creatures called Demodex mites, have been crawling all over my face.

In her fascinating book The Reality Bubble: Blind Spots, Hidden Truths, and the Dangerous Illusions that Shape Our World, author Ziya Tong describes the activity of Demodex mites:

Nestled in the beds of our pores and tucked into our eyelashes, the nocturnal creatures emerge each night, moving at a rate of 8 to 16 mm an hour, to feed and search for mates on our faces. Scientists still aren't sure exactly what they eat. It could be the sebum, or oil, our pores secrete, or they could be feasting on meals of dead skin cells or bacteria on our skin. One thing scientists do know: while these mites have mouths, they do not have anuses, and the build up of food means that when they die they explode a flush of material from their guts, which ends up on our faces.

Hopefully, you weren’t eating while reading this.

But don’t panic. For most people, these mites are just part of our natural bodily flora and don’t cause any harm. They are only.3mm long, and can only be seen with a microscope.

For some people, especially those who are immunocompromised, Demodex mites may cause dry eye, conjunctivitis (red eye), or lash dandruff. Your eye doctor can tell you if you have an excessive amount of mites, and treating the condition is simple: an eyelash wash, mixing one part baby shampoo and one part water and gently scrubbing your eyelid skin. If you have rosacea, you may also have an abundance of these mites, and doctors advise washing your face thoroughly and avoiding heavy moisturizer. Any moisturizer you use should be lightweight and oil-free.

As Tong points out, humans are covered in microbes. There is much that scientists still don’t know about the bacteria and microbes that live on and around us: “So far, only 0.001 percent of microbial species are known to science” (Tong 26).

All this time, I’ve been afraid of spiders, and these creatures from the arachnid family have been having a heyday on my face. So am I only afraid of the spiders I can see?

If I can live with them on my face, perhaps I can live with them in my house, or at least gently remove them to a safe distance.

Why do humans always get to decide who lives and who dies? Who knows how many other creatures I may kill if I kill their host? All creatures deserve respect, even if we don’t like the look of them.

This is something I am continuing to work on.

Right Now, There are Tiny Arachnids Crawling on your Face

They are especially active at night