[Human Demodicosis: Emerging Dermatosis Caused by Demodex].

Abstract

Demodex mites were discovered 175 years ago. However, the pathogenicity of Demodex remains questioned by clinicians due to the high infection yet low incidence of demodicosis and incomplete correlation between mite loads and clinical symptoms. In the recent decades, the pathogenicity of Demodex has attracted public concern as there are continuous case reports of skin lesions caused by mite infection. The pathogenicity of Demodex remains poorly understood. Demodex infection is suspected to be assocaited with rosacea, but its relation with other types of facial lesions such as papule and pustule is usually misdiagnosed or missed in clinical practice. This review gives an overview on the discovery, typical cases, pathogenesis, and clinical diagnosis and treatment of demodicosis, in the aim of promoting social recognition and attention on demodicosis.