Increased Demodex Mite Density Observed in Psoriasis Patients on Biologic Therapy: Study

The prevalence of demodicosis which is a condition caused by high Demodex density, was notably higher among the individuals who were receiving biologic treatments. The forehead and cheeks of these patients showed elevated rates of demodicosis when compared to controls. Also, 44.1% of patients on biologics showed high mite densities on the left cheek when compared to none in the control group.

The benefits of these findings suggest that while biologic agents are effective in treating the inflammatory symptoms of psoriasis, they might also impair the ability of the skin to control Demodex mite populations. This could be due to the inhibition of specific cytokines like interleukin-17 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha that play crucial roles in the immune response of body against these mites.

The outcomes emphasized the importance of this discovery, while biologic therapies offer significant benefits in controlling psoriasis symptoms, this study observed an increase in Demodex density that may contribute to skin discomfort or aggravate other dermatological issues. Further research is imperative to fully understand the impact of different biological agents on Demodex populations. Overall, the patients who receive these treatments should be monitored for signs of increased Demodex density and demodicosis, which could potentially be managed with appropriate skin care and medical interventions.

Reference:

Aksoy, H., Altıntaş Kakşi, S., Gönüllü, Ö., Aslan Kayıran, M., & Erdemir, V. A. (2024). Biologic therapy increases Demodex density in psoriasis patients. In International Journal of Dermatology. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.17161