Ubiquity and Diversity of Human-Associated Demodex Mites

August 2014 in “ PLoS ONE ”

Megan S. Thoemmes, Daniel J. Fergus, Julie Urban, Michelle Trautwein, Robert R. Dunn

Demodex mites 18S rRNA gene D. brevis phylogenetic analysis

TLDR All adults have Demodex mites, which vary by region.

The study used a new molecular method to explore the prevalence and diversity of Demodex mites on humans, revealing that 100% of individuals over 18 years old hosted at least one species, indicating these mites were universal associates of adult humans. The research also employed the 18S rRNA gene to investigate the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of Demodex lineages, finding intraspecific structure within the human-associated species D. brevis. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that the D. brevis clade was geographically structured, implying that further sampling from different regions could uncover new lineages.

View this study on journals.plos.org →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

1 / 1 results

research The Biology of Hair Follicles

1113 citations , August 1999 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Hair follicle biology advancements may lead to better hair growth disorder treatments.

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 9 results

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

in Treatment 7 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 563 upvotes 9 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 Has anyone figure out how to deal with their itchy scalp when most ingredients aren't working?

in Treatment 6 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 7 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 We need to talk about DHT itch

in Treatment 3 years ago

DHT Itch and its link to balding, with various treatments such as finasteride being discussed. Members shared their experiences of scalp itch before and after taking 5AR inhibitors, and potential underlying causes such as seborrheic dermatitis were discussed.

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.

Similar Research

5 / 296 results

Evolving Approaches to Profiling the Microbiome in Skin Disease

research Abstracts

October 2020 in “Veterinary Dermatology”

New treatments and diagnostic methods for various animal skin conditions showed promising results.

research Mite Burden and Immunophenotypic Response to Demodex Musculi in Swiss Webster, BALB/c, C57BL/6, and NSG Mice

June 2020 in “Comparative medicine”

NSG mice had the most mites, and genetic factors affect immune response and susceptibility.