The Hair Follicle Mites (Demodex Spp.): Could They Be Vectors of Pathogenic Microorganisms?

January 1988 in “ PubMed ”

Rodney Y. Wolf, J Ophir, J Avigad, J. Lengy, Andrew C. Krakowski

Demodex folliculorum Demodex brevis Microsporum canis hair follicle mites

TLDR Hair follicle mites might spread harmful microorganisms.

The study explored the potential role of hair follicle mites, specifically Demodex folliculorum and D. brevis, as vectors for pathogenic microorganisms. Although these mites were typically considered harmless to humans, the researchers discovered spores of Microsporum canis within Demodex mites in a skin scraping from a mycotic plaque. This finding suggested that Demodex mites might ingest and transport microorganisms within their environment, potentially spreading them to other skin areas or individuals.

View this study on pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 8 results

community Fixed redness & itching with tea tree oil shampoo. Hair also became thicker. Demodex may be the cause.

in Treatment 8 upvotes 2 years ago

Tea tree oil shampoo resolved redness, itching, and increased hair thickness for the user, suggesting demodex mites as a possible cause. Nizoral was ineffective, but tea tree oil showed significant improvement over several months.

community Reversed my hairloss without fin/min. 2023 December to 2025 April. IDK what happened.

in Progress Pictures 566 upvotes 8 months ago

A user reversed hair loss using 10% sulfur soap, which reduced scalp inflammation and possibly demodex mites. The user did not use finasteride or minoxidil, suggesting inflammation may contribute to hair loss.

community [24M] - been taking oral Finasteride 1mg/day for 6 months + been using nanoxidil for 10 months, recently switched to Oral minoxidil 2.5mg daily - Literally no progress. What should I do? I dont have problem with budget, but I dont want to do something useless. Should I undergo PRP + exosomes? Ideas?

in Treatment 3 upvotes 1 year ago

A 24-year-old male has been using oral Finasteride 1mg/day for 6 months and nanoxidil for 10 months, recently switching to oral Minoxidil 2.5mg daily, with no progress. Suggestions include getting a scalp biopsy, consulting a dermatologist, and possibly trying higher doses of oral Minoxidil or switching to dutasteride.

community Has anyone figure out how to deal with their itchy scalp when most ingredients aren't working?

in Treatment 7 upvotes 3 years ago

The user has chronic itchy scalp and dandruff, unresponsive to ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, coal tar, and salicylic acid. Topical steroids were also ineffective for long-term use.

community Vicious male pattern baldness TINGLING ITCH!

in Chat 9 upvotes 2 years ago

A user struggles with male pattern baldness and a persistent tingling itch on their crown, trying various treatments like aloe vera, tea tree oil, and Nizoral without success. Another user suggests the itch might be psychosomatic, linked to worrying about hair loss.

community Dutasteride has been nuking me

in Finasteride/Dutasteride 156 upvotes 1 month ago

The user experienced significant hair loss after 9 months of using 0.5mg dutasteride and oral minoxidil, possibly due to alopecia areata. It is advised to consult a doctor for accurate diagnosis and treatment, as dutasteride and finasteride may not be effective.

Related Research

2 / 2 results

research Method to Identify Demodex in the Eyelash Follicle Without Epilation

39 citations , May 2013 in “Optometry and vision science”

A new way to find eyelash mites without pulling out eyelashes.

research The Hair Follicle Mites (Demodex Spp.): Could They Be Vectors of Pathogenic Microorganisms?

46 citations , January 1988 in “PubMed”

Hair follicle mites might spread harmful microorganisms.