ABSTRACT

It has been reported that Demodex mites play a role in the pathogenesis of rosacea, acne vulgaris, perioral dermatitis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, micropapular-pruritic dermatitis, and blepharitis. Methods used for diagnostic purposes included cyanoacrylic adhesives, comedone extractor, cellophane tape preparations, skin scraping, punch biopsy and standardized surface skin biopsy. This study is a retrospective work. The aim of the present retrospective study was the investigation of the incidence of Demodex mites using histopathological examination of skin biopsy specimens of keratinized cysts, fungal spores, tricholemmal cysts, nevi, dermatitis, fibrosis, carcinoma and inflammation of the scalp. Fifty-nine biopsy specimens were examined histologically after staining with hematoxylen-eosin. Demodex mites (i.e., tricholemmal cyst, dermatitis, sebaceous cyst, carcinoma, keratose cysts, nevi, fungal spores) were found in 9 (15.3%) of them. It was concluded that since this parasite is found in pathological cases of the scalp, the possible role of Demodex in the pathogenesis of such diseases should also be evaluated.