A Cross-Sectional Survey of the Relationship between Rosacea and Demodex Mite Infestation in Patients Referred to the Medical Centers of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Shahab  Gitifard; Aliakbar  Shekarchi; Mehdi  Amirnia; Rahim  Asghari-Azar; Teimour  Hazratian

doi:10.18502/jad.v19i2.20195

Shahab Gitifard Department of Parasitology, Medical Entomology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Aliakbar Shekarchi Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Mehdi Amirnia Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Rahim Asghari-Azar Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Teimour Hazratian Department of Parasitology, Medical Entomology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jad.v19i2.20195

Abstract

Background: Rosacea is a common chronic and recurrent skin disease whose etiology is not precisely clear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between rosacea and Demodex mite infestation in patients referred to the medical centers of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences during 2023.

Methods: Patients’ information, including age, gender, and clinical symptoms of rosacea diagnosis, was recorded. 60 out of 71 patients underwent standard superficial skin biopsy with a thickness of 5 μm from their faces, with a drop of immersion oil, and were examined under a light microscope.

Results: The mean Demodex density was 19.20 mites/cm². Of these 60 rosacea patients, 47 (78.3%) were female and 13 (21.7%) were male. The highest Demodex mite infestation was in the 31^_40 age group (38%). Out of 50 patients with positive Demodex (83.3%), 41 (68.3%) were related to D. folliculorum and 9 (15%) were related to D. brevis. Of the 41 patients infected with Demodex, 31 (out of 47, 66.0%) were women and 10 (out of 13, 76.9%) were men. The p-values for the relationships between age, gender, and mite species with mite count were all greater than 0.05. This indicates no statistically significant evidence of a direct relationship.

Conclusion: Demodex mite density was higher in rosacea than the normal benchmark of <5 mites/ cm². This strong association suggests Demodex overpopulation plays a key role in the disease. Therefore, treatment strategies for rosacea should include acaricidal therapy targeting the mites.