Primary facial demodicosis as a health problem and aesthetic challenge: A case report

Shared Makeup Cosmetics as a Route of Demodex folliculorum Infections

Purpose

The aim of the study was to examine Demodex survival in makeup cosmetics, i.e., powder cream, mascara, and lipstick, and to determine whether cosmetics shared with others can be a source of D. folliculorum infection.

Methods

Live D. folliculorum adults were placed in cosmetic samples and their motility was observed under a microscope. The mites were fully or partially immersed in the powder cream and lipstick, and only partially immersed in the mascara. Partial immersion means that only the opisthosoma was covered by the cosmetic, whereas the gnathosoma and podosoma had no contact with the cosmetic. Cessation of motility was regarded as a sign of death.

Results

In the control (mites placed on a microscope slide with no cosmetics), the survival time was 41.2 h. D. folliculorum that were immersed fully or partially in the lipstick substrate were viable for 38.5 h and 148 h, respectively. The survival time of the mites at full and partial immersion in the powder cream was 0.78 h and 2.16 h, respectively. The average survival time in the mascara was 21 h.

Conclusions

Makeup cosmetics used by different individuals at short intervals (from several hours to several days) can be a source of transmission of Demodex sp. mites.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11686-020-00332-w.

Primary facial demodicosis as a health problem and aesthetic challenge: A case report

Colonization of skin by Demodex mites developing as a single facial lesion with a limited range is diagnosed relatively rarely. The presence of this type of skin lesions may hinder and thus delay the diagnostic process and application of appropriate treatment. The persistent cosmetic defect on the face is extremely onerous/embarrassing to the patient and impedes normal functioning. Describe a case of atypical presentation of primary facial demodicosis and its successful treatment. We present a case of a 38-year-old patient who consulted an aesthetic medicine doctor about a skin lesion, that is, erythematous-papular lesion with single pustules persisting for more than half a year around the right eye corner and below the lower eyelid. Previous topical antibiotic treatment has proved ineffective. Diagnosis was targeted at detection of Demodex spp. invasion, which yielded a positive result. Targeted therapy with 1% topical ivermectin was implemented. Complete resolution of the skin lesions was observed after 8.5 weeks of the treatment with no further recurrence. In the case of limited scaly erythematous-papular skin lesions with single pustules, Demodex mites should be considered as an etiological factor or one of the factors in the case of a mixed-etiology lesion. A delayed diagnosis of visible lesions on facial skin has a negative impact on patient's well-being and normal functioning. As diagnosis of primary demodicosis is underestimated, knowledge about this dermatosis and its clinical manifestations should be disseminated among cosmetologists and doctors of various specialties.