Demodex folliculorum is detected in abundance in persons with rosacea like lesions and acne. At the same time the mite is occasionally found around nose in some apparently normal looking persons. What is the significance of abundance of the mite in rosacea like lesions? Is it that the mite is finding opportunity on the diseased skin or it is actually involved in the cause of the disease?
Article Demodicidosis Involving Human Face
yes It does. basically in immunocompromised individuals
location face, lesions red papules number few to plenty
There is no indication that demodex affects other structures than skin, occasionally causing folliculitis or folliculitis-like reactions
like Propionibacterium acnes in acne or Malassezia species in seborrheic dermatitis, it's a question of balance, skin integrity, genetic predisposition, environnemental (food, pollution, stress...)
Demodex folliculorum is implicated in a number of dermatological diseases like Rosacea, Non specific facial dermatitis, Androgenetic alopecia, Madarosis, Dissecting folliculitis, peri-oral dermatitis, Demodex abscess, and demodicosis gravis (granulomatous rosacea like demodicosis)
However in most of these a definite causal link has not been associated.
In Rosacea, a lot has been investigated between demodex mite and its direct relation with this disease but the results are conflicting with some studies in favour of causation while others refute this association.
It can cause facial dermatosis in immunosuppressed individuals, we have published a paper of a patient with mucormycosis with facial dermatosis.
Demodex mite infestation of unknown significance in a patient with rhinocerebral mucormycosis due to Apophysomyces elegans species complex.
Hallur V, Singh G, Rudramurthy SM, Kapoor R, Chakrabarti A.
J Med Microbiol. 2013 Jun;62(Pt 6):926-8. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.054338-0. Epub 2013 Mar 8.
My dermatologist colleagues report that Soolantra cream can be very effective in pustular rosacea. Since this cream's active ingredient is directed towards killing the mite it would tend to support at the very least that the mite is implicated in some aspects of rosacea. Whether the mite is causing an allergic response or is implicated in a mediating a secondary infection remains to be seen. Either way, it seems a useful tool and is easy to prescribe....
I have a question here that perhaps people will respond to in passing... I have noted that topical estriol may help with mild rosacea, possibly by reducing the inflammatory response. Has anybody else noticed this?
Please also take a look at the following RG link.
Article Demodex species in human ocular disease: new clinicopatholog...
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