What animal do we have the closest relationship with?
我们与哪种动物关系最密切?
Many people would say dogs or cats, but it's actually the tiny arachnids that live all over your face.
很多人会说是狗或猫,但实际上是最小的蛛形纲动物,它们生活在你的脸上。
Don't worry it's probably fine.
别担心,可能没问题。
Demodex mites live in the hair follicles around the peach fuzz hair that grows on your face.
蠕形螨生活在脸上桃色绒毛周围的毛囊里。
They are just one of the parasites that make our bodies a habitat.
它们只是把我们的身体当作栖息地的寄生虫之一。
Some are harmless, while there are some that can cause problems.
有些无害,而有些可能引起问题。
Demodex mites are usually harmless.
蠕形螨通常是无害的。
They live in our pores and feed on sebum, the oil produced by our skin.
它们生活在我们毛孔里,以皮脂为食。
This means that you find the most in the greasiest areas of your face, particularly around your eyes, nose and mouth.
这意味着它们在脸上最油腻的区域最多,尤其是眼睛、鼻子和嘴巴周围。
According to associate professor of invertebrate biology Alejandra Perotti, we should be grateful because demodex clean our pores and keep them flat.
根据无脊椎动物生物学副教授亚历杭德拉·佩罗蒂的说法,我们应该心存感激,因为蠕形螨清洁我们的毛孔并保持它们平坦。
She even describes them as 'cute'.
她甚至形容它们“可爱”。
However, you can have too many of them.
然而,也可能有太多它们。
It is possible to find your face covered with a white frost of demodex mites.
有可能发现你的脸上盖着一层白色的蠕形螨霜。
This usually only affects people if their immune system is compromised.
这通常只影响免疫系统受损的人。
But some people may also have an allergic reaction to these creatures.
但有些人也可能对这些生物有过敏反应。
Not all mites are as cute and useful as demodex.
并非所有螨虫都像蠕形螨一样可爱和有用。
Scabies is a condition that is caused by mites that burrow into our skin and lay eggs.
疥疮是由钻入我们皮肤并产卵的螨虫引起的疾病。
This is very itchy and usually spreads to most of a person's body.
这非常痒,通常会扩散到人的大部分身体。
It can also be quite uncomfortable to think about and is often stigmatised.
想到它可能相当不舒服,并且经常被污名化。
Now, this is a problem because it can delay people getting treatment.
现在,这是个问题,因为会延误人们接受治疗。
Some of this stigma can come because we often associate scabies with people being unclean.
部分污名源于我们常把疥疮与不洁联系在一起。
This, however, is a complete myth.
然而,这完全是个误解。
This stigma may also be linked to how we feel.
这种污名也可能与我们的感受有关。
Mites and other parasites often cause us to feel disgust.
螨虫和其他寄生虫常常让我们感到厌恶。
This is something that we may have evolved to help us avoid illnesses, but here it could be stopping people getting the help they need or causing us to worry about something that can even be beneficial.
我们可能进化出这种反应来帮助避免疾病,但在这里却可能阻止人们获得所需帮助,或让我们担心某些甚至有益的东西。