6 weird facts about your body

How much do you know about your body? From little creepy crawlers living on your skin to passing millions of bacteria when you kiss, we dig into the lesser known facts about the human body.

Are dead skin cells the source of dust in your home?

Every time you scratch an itch, rub your nose or sit at your desk, dead skin cells fall off your body. Humans shed about 600,000 skin cells per day and up to 1.5 pounds of skin cells per year. Research from the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that shedding skin contributes to 69 to 88 percent of dust in our homes–now, that’s gross.

Why do you have fingerprints?

Fingerprints reveal the identity of individuals because no two are alike, but that’s not their only use. According to a study in the Journal of Experimental Biology, the ridges help fingertips behave more like rubber than hard solids, which allows you to grip objects with less surface area.

Does your body ache because of weather changes?

The temperature dropping can be a bearer of bad news for some people: joint pain is coming. If you suffer from inflammation in your joints, you may experience more pain on days with high humidity and lower temperatures, as indicated by research published in the Journal of Rheumatology. The Arthritis Foundation even features a joint pain level predictor based on your local weather on their website.

What is the dirtiest part of your body?

Your mouth is home to over 700 different species of bacteria, making it the dirtiest part of your body. In fact, a study found that you transfer 80 million bacteria every time you kiss someone for 10 seconds.

Are bugs living on your face?

This will make your skin crawl. A species of mites called Demodex live in the follicles and glands in your skin. A study published in PLoS one found that 100 percent of people over the age of 18 have mites, while they weren’t as prevalent on children. Little is known about how they are transmitted.

Does your smell change with age?

If you’ve ever noticed a distinct smell where elderly gather, it’s not just you. The old, and even the young, give off distinct odors. A study found that body odor changes over time and humans are able to associate smell to each stage of life. Interestingly, the study found that—contrary to stereotype—old-person smell isn’t necessarily bad, and it was rated as less unpleasant than body odor from younger people. There isn’t much evidence, though, explaining why the odor of elderly is more recognizable than young or middle-aged people.