Demodicosis and Rosacea: Epidemiology and Significance in Daily Dermatologic Practice

The 2005 study involving 3,213 patients and 4,372 diagnoses by 10 dermatologists found that demodicosis, a skin condition caused by Demodex mites, is frequently diagnosed in immunocompetent patients and is the 9th most common diagnosis in dermatologic practice. The study revealed that demodicosis is often underdiagnosed, with a prevalence of 39:100,000 and an incidence of 17:100,000 per year in the general Russian population. The mean Demodex density was higher in patients with pityriasis folliculorum compared to those with papulopustular rosacea. The study concluded that demodicosis should be more widely recognized and treated among dermatologists, recommending a specific topical acaricidal treatment regimen to reduce Demodex density and suggesting a possible link between demodicosis and androgenic alopecia.