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There are two types of Demodex mites: Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis. It’s quite common for all people to have some Demodex mites since they naturally occur on the skin.
Demodex folliculorum is a microscopic mite that can survive only on the skin of humans. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Most people have D. folliculorum on their skin. Usually, the mites do not cause any harm, so are considered an example of commensalism rather than parasitism ; [ 4 ] but they can cause disease, known as demodicosis .
Demodex / ˈ d ɛ m ə d ɛ k s / is a genus of tiny mites that live in or near hair follicles of mammals. Around 65 species of Demodex are known. [ 2 ] Two species live on humans : Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis , both frequently referred to as eyelash mites , alternatively face mites or skin mites .
Demodicosis / ˌ d ɛ m ə d ə ˈ k oʊ s ɪ s /, also called Demodex folliculitis in humans [1] and demodectic mange (/ d ɛ m ə ˈ d ɛ k t ɪ k /) or red mange in animals, is caused by a sensitivity to and overpopulation of Demodex spp. as the host's immune system is unable to keep the mites under control. Demodex is a genus of mite in the ...
Sarcoptes and Demodex species are involved in mange, but both of these genera are also involved in human skin diseases (by convention only, not called mange). Sarcoptes in humans is especially severe symptomatically, and causes the condition scabies noted above. [citation needed]
[1] [2] [3] In the elderly, xerosis, is the most common cause for an itch due to the degradation of the skin barrier over time. [4] However, the cause of senile pruritus is not clearly known. [ 5 ] Diagnosis is based on an elimination criteria during a full body examination that can be done by either a dermatologist or non-dermatologist physician.
Mange (/ ˈ m eɪ n dʒ /) is a type of skin disease caused by parasitic mites. [1] Because various species of mites also infect plants, birds and reptiles, the term "mange", or colloquially "the mange", suggesting poor condition of the skin and fur due to the infection, is sometimes reserved for pathological mite-infestation of nonhuman mammals.
The individual mites remain external to the epidermis within the follicle, but appear to be within the skin because they are below the general outer surface of the host. The mite Demodex canis is a common cause of demodicosis in dogs. Demodex mites are microscopic, cigar-shaped and have very short legs. These mites seem to feed on epidermal cells.