In today’s visually driven digital world, it’s not unusual to encounter disturbing or shocking images while scrolling through social media feeds.
One particularly unsettling category includes pictures or videos showing insects or parasites seemingly embedded in human skin, often accompanied by clusters of eggs or larvae.
These visuals are crafted to elicit strong emotional reactions—fear, disgust, and sometimes morbid curiosity. Yet, beneath the surface of these sensational images lies an important question: how much of what we see is real?
Skin parasite myths have existed for centuries, long before the internet amplified them. Stories of creatures living under the skin appear in folklore across various cultures, driven by fear and the unknown.
While there are indeed real skin parasites such as scabies mites, botflies, and certain larvae, the extreme and grotesque depictions often seen in viral posts are rarely based on medical fact.
Instead, many of these visuals are the result of special effects (SFX) makeup, digital editing, or even 3D graphic design meant for entertainment or clickbait marketing.