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Facial dermatosis associated with Demodex: a case-control study

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Abstract

Demodex has been considered to be related with multiple skin disorders, but controversy persists. In this case-control study, a survey was conducted with 860 dermatosis patients aged 12 to 84 years in Xi’an, China to identify the association between facial dermatosis and Demodex. Amongst the patients, 539 suffered from facial dermatosis and 321 suffered from non-facial dermatosis. Demodex mites were sampled and examined using the skin pressurization method. Multivariate regression analysis was applied to analyze the association between facial dermatosis and Demodex infestation, and to identify the risk factors of Demodex infestation. The results showed that total detection rate of Demodex was 43.0%. Patients aged above 30 years had higher odds of Demodex infestation than those under 30 years. Compared to patients with neutral skin, patients with mixed, oily, or dry skin were more likely to be infested with Demodex (odds ratios (ORs) were 2.5, 2.4, and 1.6, respectively). Moreover, Demodex infestation was found to be statistically associated with rosacea (OR=8.1), steroid-induced dermatitis (OR=2.7), seborrheic dermatitis (OR=2.2), and primary irritation dermatitis (OR=2.1). In particular, ORs calculated from the severe infestation (≥5 mites/cm2) rate were significantly higher than those of the total rate. Therefore, we concluded that Demodex is associated with rosacea, steroid-induced dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and primary irritation dermatitis. The rate of severe infestation is found to be more correlated with various dermatosis than the total infestation rate. The risk factors of Demodex infestation, age, and skin types were identified. Our study also suggested that good hygiene practice might reduce the chances of demodicosis and Demodex infestation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology and Pathogen Biology, Xi’an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, Xi’an, 710061, China

    Ya-e Zhao, Yan Peng & Li-ping Wu

  2. Xi’an Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xi’an, 710054, China

    Yan Peng

  3. Department of Dermatology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, Xi’an, 710004, China

    Xiang-lan Wang, Mei Wang, Hu-ling Yan & Sheng-xiang Xiao

  4. Department of Clinical Laboratory, Chengdu First People’s Hospital, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Li-ping Wu

Authors
  1. Ya-e Zhao
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  2. Yan Peng
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  3. Xiang-lan Wang
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  4. Li-ping Wu
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  5. Mei Wang
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  6. Hu-ling Yan
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  7. Sheng-xiang Xiao
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Correspondence to Ya-e Zhao.

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Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30872199), and the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province (No. 2006C247), China

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Zhao, Ye., Peng, Y., Wang, Xl. et al. Facial dermatosis associated with Demodex: a case-control study. J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. B 12, 1008–1015 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B1100179

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B1100179

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