Demodex folliculorum in pregnancy

Background Demodex folliculorum (DF), which is a resident in human pilosebaceous follicles, has been implicated in rosacea, blepharitis, pityriasis folliculorum, pustular folliculitis, and skin lesions of immunosuppressed patients on chemotherapy or with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Objective We aimed to determine the influence of pregnancy on the carriage of DF. Methods Mite density in 40 pregnant women was compared with that of age- and sex-matched controls. Two standardized skin surface biopsies were taken from each subject. Results In pregnant women, DF was found at 0.55/cm(2), compared with a mean value of 1.2/cm(2) in nonpregnant controls. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.22). Conclusions Our findings indicate that pregnancy may not have a direct effect on mite density.