Rosacea Review - Newsletter of the National Rosacea SocietyRosacea Review - Newsletter of the National Rosacea Society

demodex mites

Chicken or Egg? Debate Continues

Demodex mites, the microscopic parasites that are normal inhabitants of facial skin, have long raised the question, "Which comes first, Demodex or rosacea?" as medical experts debate whether their increased numbers on rosacea patients are a cause or a result of the disorder. Now there may be some evidence that the "chicken" — Demodex mites — and not the "egg" comes first, according to a recent scientific report.

Reaction to Mites May Mimic Rosacea Signs

Some patients who have red scaly faces may in reality have an increased reaction to the Demodex mite rather than rosacea, according to Dr. Joseph Bikowski, clinical assistant professor of dermatology, Ohio State University.

Dr. Bikowski noted that he has treated more than 100 patients with this condition, which involved reaction to these microscopic mites that are normal inhabitants of human skin. In these cases, he reported that patients treated with a topical medication for Demodex cleared within two to four weeks and remained clear for one to two years.

New Study Links Demodex and Eye Symptoms of Ocular Rosacea

A new study has found there may be a link between ocular rosacea and bacteria associated with Demodex mites, microscopic inhabitants of normal skin that tend to occur in much greater numbers in those with rosacea.

In the recently published study of 59 rosacea patients, Dr. Jianjing Li and colleagues at the Ocular Surface Center in Miami found a significant correlation between facial rosacea, infestation of the eyes with Demodex mites and reaction to certain mite-related organisms previously shown to stimulate an immune response in rosacea sufferers.1

Mite Infestation Mimics Rosacea

A severe infestation of microscopic skin mites may mimic rosacea but fail to respond to standard therapy, according to a presentation by Dr. Martin Schaller, assistant professor of dermatology at Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany, during the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

The tiny mites, known as Demodex folliculorum, are normal inhabitants of human skin. Studies have found an elevated incidence of Demodex in rosacea patients, but it is uncertain whether this is a contributing factor or a result of the disorder.

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