THE ROLE OF DEMODEX IN PATIENTS WITH FACIAL DERMATOSIS

GÜNSELİ KEKEÇ, Hatice Meral Ekşioğlu, EMİNE YALÇIN EDGÜER

  • GÜNSELİ KEKEÇ: KONYA EĞİTİM VE ARAŞTIRMA HASTANESİ
  • EMİNE YALÇIN EDGÜER: SAĞLIK BAKANLIĞI ANKARA EĞİTİM VE ARAŞTIRMA HASTANESİ
  • Year : 2025
  • Vol : 41
  • Issue : 3
  •  Page : 165-170
ABSTRACT
Objective:
In this study, we aimed to investigate the frequency of Demodex spp. using the superficial skin biopsy method in patients with facial dermatosis and healthy individuals and to determine the relationship between this pathogen and facial dermatosis, hygiene habits, and skin type.
Materials and Methods: A total of 103 patients of all age groups who were clinically and/or histopathologically diagnosed with rosacea, steroid-induced perioral dermatitis, perioral dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, or acne vulgaris were included in the study. As a control group, 104 volunteer patients of the same age distribution who were admitted to the Skin and Venereal Diseases Polyclinic and did not have facial dermatosis were included in the study. A non-invasive standard superficial skin biopsy (SSSB), the most appropriate method for detecting Demodex spp. density, was performed. The patients and dermatose subgroups were statistically compared with the volunteers in the control group in terms of variables such as age, sex, Demodex positivity, skin type, and hygiene habits.
Results: The age distribution of the patient group ranged between 8-81 years with a mean age of 37.37±17.15 years. The age distribution of the control group ranged between 10-76 years and the mean age was 35.42±15.76 years. There was no statistically significant relationship between the presence of Demodex in the patient and control groups in terms of age, sex, and hygiene habits (p>0.05). When the subgroups of patients with facial dermatosis were compared, Demodex was detected in 60.7% of patients with seborrheic dermatitis (p=0.015). Significant Demodex positivity was also detected in patients with oily skin. (p=0.010).
Conclusion: Oily skin type and seborrheic dermatitis, one of the facial dermatoses, has a significant association with Demodex, while factors such as age, sex, hygiene habits were not found to be associated with the presence of Demodex.
Keywords: Demodex, facial dermatosis, seborrheic dermatitis, oily skin
Cite this Article As : Kekec G, Eksioglu HM, Yalcin Edguder E. The Role of Demodex in Patients with Facial Dermatosis. Selcuk Med J 2025;41(3): 165-170

Download Citation: Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS) RIS File

Download Citation: BibTeX BibTeX File

Conflict of interest : The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Selcuk Medical Journal
2025, Vol. 41 (3)
ISSN: 1017-6616
E-ISSN: 2149-8059
Received : , Accepted : , Published Online :

References

  1. 1. Aycan ÖM, Otlu GH, Karaman Ü, et al. Çeşitli Hasta ve Yaş Gruplarında Demodex sp. Görülme Sıklığı. Türkiye Parazitoloji Dergisi. 2007;31(2):115-8.
  2. 2. Baima B, Sticherling M. Demodicidosis Revisited. Acta Derm Venereol. 2002;82:3-6. DOI: 10.1080/000155502753600795
  3. 3. Jansen T, Melnik BC, Schadendorf D. Steroid Induced Periorificial Dermatitis in Children Clinical Features and Response to Azelaic Acid. Pediatr Dermatol. 2010;27(2):137-42. DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1470.2009.00979.x
  4. 4. Karincaoglu Y, Bayram N, Aycan O, Esrefoglu M. The Clinical Importance of Demodex Folliculorum Presenting with Nonspecific Facial Signs and Symptoms. J Dermatol. 2004;31:618-26. DOI: 10.1111/j.1346-8138.2004.tb00567.x
  5. 5. Zhao YE, Peng Y, Wang X, et al. Facial Dermatosis Associated with Demodex: A Case-Control Study. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2011;12(12):1008-15. DOI: 10.1631/jzus.B1100179
  6. 6. Bonnar E, Eustace P, Powel FC. The Demodex Mite Population in Rosacea. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1993;28:443–8. DOI: 10.1016/0190-9622(93)70065-2
  7. 7. Akilov OE, Mumcuoglu KY. Association Between Human Demodicosis and HLA Class I. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2003;28(1):70-3. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2230.2003.01173.x
  8. 8. Budak S, Yolasığmaz A. Demodicosis Folliculorum. İmmun Yetmezlikte Önemi Artan Parazit Hastalıkları. Türkiye Parazitoloji Derneği Yayınları. 1995;12(l):169–71.
  9. 9. Basta-Juzbasic A, Subic JS, Ljubojevic S. Demodex Folliculorum in Development of Dermatitis Rosaceiformis Steroidica and Rosacea Related Diseases. Clin Dermatol. 2002;20:135–140. DOI: 10.1016/s0738-081x(01)00244-9
  10. 10. Aycan OM, Otlu GH, Karaman U, et al. Frequency of Demodicosis in Various Patient and Age Groups. Acta Parasitologica Turcica. 2007;31:115–8.
  11. 11. Litwin D, Chen W, Dzika E, et al. Human Permanent Ectoparasites; Recent Advances on Biology and Clinical Significance of Demodex Mites: Narrative Review Article. Iran J Parasitol. 2017;12:12-21.
  12. 12. Taş CZ, Yılmaz H, Akdeniz N, et al. Association of Demodicosis with Acne Rosacea. Pak J Med Sci. 2010;26(3):640-3.
  13. 13. Roihu T, Kariniemi AL. Demodex Mites in Acne Rosacea. J Cutan Pathol. 1998;25:550-2. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0560.1998.tb01739.x
  14. 14. Polat E, Aygün G, Ergin R, et al. Akne Vulgaris Patogenezinde Demodex Folliculorum ve Propionibacterium Acnes'in Rolü. Türkiye Parazitoloji Dergisi. 2003;27(2):148-51.
  15. 15. Baysal V, Aydemir M, Yorgancigil B, et al. The Role of Demodexes on Etiology and Pathogenesis of Acne Vulgaris. Acta Parasitologica Turcica. 1997;21:265–8.
  16. 16. Siadat AH, Iraji F, Shahmoradi Z, et al. The efficacy of 1% metronidazole gel in facial seborrheic dermatitis: a double blind study. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2006;72(4):266-9. DOI: 10.4103/0378-6323.26745. PMID: 16880571.
  17. 17. Aktaş Karabay E, Aksu Çerman A. Demodex folliculorum infestations in common facial dermatoses: acne vulgaris, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis. An Bras Dermatol. 2020;95(2):187-93. DOI: 10.1016/j.abd.2019.08.023
  18. 18. Kilinç F, Akbaş A, Özkara Duman ZT et al. Presence of Demodex in Seborrheic Dermatitis Lesions and its Relationship with Disease Severity: A Case Control Study. Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Dermatology. 2023;33.67-72. DOI: 10.5336/dermato.2023-95656
  19. 19. Karincaoglu Y, Tepe B, Kalaycı B, et al. Is Demodex Folliculorum an Aetiological Factor in Seborrhoeic Dermatitis? Clin Exp Dermatol. 2009;34(8):516-20. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2009.03343.x
  20. 20. Fabienne F, Marie Anne G, Thierry B. Demodicosis and Rosacea: Epidemiology and Significance in Daily Dermatologic Practice. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005;52:74-87. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2004.05.034
  21. 21. Zhao YE, Guo N, Xu J, et al. Sociodemographic Characteristics and Risk Factor Analysis of Demodex Infestation (Acari: Demodicidae). J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2011;12(12):998-1007. DOI: 10.1631/jzus.B1100079
  22. 22. Cao YS, You QX, Wang L, et al. Facial Demodex Infection Among College Students in Tangshan. Chinese Journal of Parasitology. 2009;27(3):271-3.
  23. 23. Zhao, Ye., Peng, Y., Wang, Xl. et al. Facial dermatosis associated with Demodex: a case-control study. J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. 2011;B12, 1008–1015. DOI: 10.1631/jzus.B1100179