Study on correlation between demodex folliculorum density and androgenic alopecia

Background and Aim : Demodex folliculorum is an obligate parasite of the human hair follicles. D. folliculorum can mechanically block follicles. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a kind of hair loss that affected by testosterone hormone. Inflammatory activators such as Demodex infestation may play a role in the pathogenesis of some cases of androgenetic alopecia. The goal of this study is to assess the relationship between Demodex density and AGA.Methods : The study comprised ۱۰۰ patients with AGA and ۱۰۰ controls without alopecia symptoms. We take sebum smear from hairless areas, examined under a microscope, and counted Demodex mites/cm۲. Based on references positive Demodex test means five or more mites/cm۲.Results : In our study, positive Demodex tests were seen in ۳۶ patients with AGA (۳۶%) and in ۴ controls (۴%). Among ۳۶ patients with positive test, ۲۸ cases of them were women (۳۴.۵%) and ۸ cases of them were men (۴۲.۱%). The average of Demodex density in AGA cases was ۳.۸۵ mites/cm۲Conclusion : There are some mechanisms that seem intensify hair loss by Demodex. The Demodex use the chelicerae to cut the epithelial cells of the host skin, feeding nutrients and bacteria from the hair roots. Demodex may be one of second factor (co factor) in hair loss and one of main factor in resistant to cure alopecia and the other disorder that lead to hairless.

کلیدواژه ها:

Androgenetic alopecia ، Demodex folliculorum ، Hair less