Impact of Demodex infestation on the physiological functions of human facial skin

doi:10.12140/j.issn.1000-7423.2026.01.020

CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES ›› 2026, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (1): 137-140.doi: 10.12140/j.issn.1000-7423.2026.01.020

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Impact of Demodex infestation on the physiological functions of human facial skin

LIU Siwen¹()(), ZHANG Dacun², LI Zhiqiang¹, LIU Chunsheng¹, CHEN Si³, TIAN Ruyu³, HUANG Zeyu³, SONG Ziyue³, QIN Lei³, ZHANG Ruzhi³, LIU Xiaolv⁵, GU Shengli¹^,⁴, ZHAN Xiaodong¹^,³^,⁴^,^*()()

¹ Department of Medical Parasitology, Wannan Medical University, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, China
² Shandong Jiuxin Bioengineering Co., Ltd, Tai’an 271000, Shandong, China
³ Department of Dermatology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical University, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, China
⁴ Wuhu Mite Inspection and Control Engineering Technology Research Center, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, China
⁵ Anhui International Travel Health Care Center (Hefei Customs Port Outpatient Department), Hefei 230000, Anhui, China

Received:2025-07-08 Revised:2025-10-21 Online:2026-02-28 Published:2026-02-14
Contact: *E-mail: xdzhan@126.com
Supported by:
Enterprise-commissioned Research and Development Project(H202313)

Abstract

Abstract:

To investigate the impact of Demodex mite infestation on the physiological functions of human facial skin, 240 university students were screened for Demodex infections using the transparent adhesive tape method. Base on the inclusion criteria, 32 students were tested positive for Demodex. Skin physiological function tests (skin erythema, melanin content, moisture, sebum, pore size, elasticity, and gloss) and skin image analysis were conducted among subjects positive for Demodex prior to treatment. Following testing, patients were given oral metronidazole tablets at a single dose of 0.4 g, three times daily, for successive 7 days. Facial skin was tested for presence of mites with transparent adhesive tapes 2 weeks post-treatment. Then, non-affected areas in the left-side mite-free face were randomly sampled for skin physiological function tests and skin image analysis, and the skin physiological and imaging parameters on face were compared between pre- and post-treatment. The facial skin erythema value, sebum secretion, proportion of skin pores, and gloss were 16.42 ± 16.48, (18.59 ± 3.58) µg/cm², (4.13 ± 0.31)%, and (3.59 ± 0.22) GU, respectively among patients tested positive for Demodex post-treatment, which were significantly lower than those [20.99 ± 17.79, (22.95 ± 4.42) µg/cm², (4.61 ± 0.33)%, (4.07 ± 0.23) GU] pre-treatment (t = 2.26, 3.86, 3.24, 2.29; all P < 0.05). The skin water content higher post-treatment than pre-treatment [(51.06 ± 11.41) a.u. vs. (39.18 ± 9.30) a.u.; t = -5.31, P < 0.01], and the melanin content (151.74 ± 6.80 vs. 155.56 ± 6.50; t = 1.14, P > 0.05) and gross elasticity (R₂) (63.04 ± 0.98 vs. 64.77 ± 1.51; t = 1.09, P > 0.05) were numerically lower post-treatment than pre-treatment. Skin image analysis revealed that, on near-infrared images, patients positive for Demodex exhibited facial erythema and extensive capillary dilation prior to treatment, and reduced erythematous areas and remarkable alleviation of capillary dilation and inflammatory acne post-treatment. On red channel images, extensive deep red areas were found on facial skin among patients positive for Demodex prior to treatment, and diminished deep red zones and partially turned pink were observed post-treatment, with markedly reduced deep inflammatory areas. These findings suggest that Demodex infestation may affect skin physiological functions, and lead to imbalance of water and sebum secretion in skin, thereby impairing the skin barrier function, and promoting capillary dilation, and increasing hemoglobin levels.

Key words: Demodex, Facial skin, Skin physiological parameter, Skin image analysis

CLC Number:

757.3

LIU Siwen, ZHANG Dacun, LI Zhiqiang, LIU Chunsheng, CHEN Si, TIAN Ruyu, HUANG Zeyu, SONG Ziyue, QIN Lei, ZHANG Ruzhi, LIU Xiaolv, GU Shengli, ZHAN Xiaodong. Impact of Demodex infestation on the physiological functions of human facial skin[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES, 2026, 44(1): 137-140.

Figures/Tables 2

References 32

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Impact of Demodex infestation on the physiological functions of human facial skin

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