A demodectic eruption (demodicidosis) of the face: Case report

Infestation from hair mites can affect the facial region. Demodex folliculorum, a normal inhabitant of the sebaceous glands in small numbers, can be encouraged to multiply by excessive use of facial cream and avoidance of soap, causing dermatoses to develop. Because the manifestations of Demodex may be quite inconspicuous to causal inspection, these patients may be misdiagnosed as having chronic contact dermatitis, dry skin, or psychogenic pruritis, and bland creams may be prescribed with instructions to avoid soap. This simply perpetuates the vicious circle. This report describes a case of Demodex infestation of the glabellar region that mimicked a basal cell epithelioma. The initial failure to recognize the condition, which could lead to unnecessary treatment, prompted the presentation of this report.