From: traveller7@_.com
Date: Sat Feb 27, 1999 1:38 am
Subject: [rosacea] Demodex

From what I understand, demodex are little mites which are found on everyone’s skin. They basically hang out in your follicles and no big deal. Some studies have found increased demodex population on the skin of rosacea patients. What role demodex plays is I think still unclear (If there is a scientist or DR. Sy reading this perhaps you can enlighten us on the exact disease causing mechanism) One theory has to do with the fact that the mites might become overpopulated and thus lead to a skin reaction, that is, red irritated flushing skin. Another theory which embraces the proposition that rosacea is a vascular disorder states that increased flushing leads to an increase in the demodex population. Thus demodex overpopulation is the result, rather the cause of rosacea. Its a bit of chicken or the egg question I gather. I tend to favor the demodex overpopulation leading to rosacea theory as one plausible explanation simply because personally i think rosacea is more of a immunological disorder rather than a vascular one. That is not to say people with rosace might not also have a vascular problem like thinner blood vessels or blood vessels thinner to the skin. But, I am not a physician or a research scientist, and I may be in the minority on this one.  Anyways, from what i gather doctors can find out if you have a demodex problem by doing a skin biopsy. The treatment for demodex is very different from the standard rosacea threatment and involves some rather harsh preparations.

Alex.

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