Association of Demodicosis With Acne Rosacea

Abstract

Objectives: Demodex spp of humans are encountered frequently all over the world. The role of these parasites is controversial in the causation of skin diseases. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence and the association of Demodex spp with acne rosacea. Methodology: The study was conducted between the years of 2005-2008 in the output clinic of Dermatology and Parasitology Laboratory of Health Research and Training Hospital of Yuzuncu Yil University. One hundred two patients (patient group) composing of 59 females and 43 males with acne rosacea and randomly selected 50 healthy subjects (control group) were examined for Demodex spp. Twenty seven patients were under the age of 35, and 75 patients were aging 35 years old and over. Samples were plucked out from surface of nose and forehead of patients with acne rosacea and healthy subjects by standardized surface skin biopsy (SSSB) method in the Laboratory. The preparations prepared in Hoyer solution were examined under 4X and 10X objectives of light microscope. Results: The detected parasites were higher in the patient group with acne rosacea (67.65%) than the control group (6%), in females (76.27%) than males (55.81%) and in patients aging 35 years old and over (74.67%) than the patients under 35 years of age (48.15%). Significant relationships were detected between acne rosacea and demodicosis, sex and demodicosis, and age and demodicosis (p<0.001, p<0.05 and p<0.05, respectively). Conclusion: It was concluded that there is a relationship between the demodicosis and acne rosacea, and dermatologists should take into consideration the Demodex spp. in the etiology of acne rosacea.