Assessment of Demodex folliculorum density in seborrheic dermatitis patients

Background and Aim : The Demodex folliculorum is a saprophytic ectoparasite microorganism on human skin. Their food source is sebum, concentrating mainly on the facial skin and scalp. The density in normal skin is less than five per cm۲. Demodex can intensify some clinical complications such as seborrheic and perioral dermatitis, rosacea, acne, and hair loss. Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. The D. folliculorum is one of the most important factors that their concentration raised in the skin with SD implication.Methods : Patients, ۱۰۰ case with average ۳۴.۹ years old, presents SD on the facial skin, accompanied by intense itching and scaling. Control group were consist of ۱۸۶ case without dermatitis symptoms. We took five sample of facial skin sebum for soaking with clear oil. The direct microscopic examination, allows the observation and numeration of D. folliculorum.Results : D. folliculorum sampling was positive in ۷۱ patients (۷۱%) and ۱۶ controls (۱۶%). The average of Demodex mite density in patient with SD was ۴۹.۱۶. Demodex test was positive in ۱۹ men (۷۰.۳%) and in ۱۱۵ women (۷۲.۳%) in SD group.Conclusion : The number of DF mites was significantly higher in patients with SD. This suggests that DF can introduced as an important factor in aetiological cause of SD. The observation of fungal spores within Demodex mites has led to the suggestion that the mites may act as vectors for Malassezia spp. as an important intensifying factor in SD.

کلیدواژه ها:

Demodex folliculorum ، Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) ، Ectoparasite