• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Could Rosacea be Caused by Tiny Skin Mites?

September 4, 2012 by ModernMom Staff Leave a Comment

Bad news for germaphobes everywhere – we’ve got some creepy crawly news that will make your skin tingle.

According to a recent study published by the Journal of Medical Microbiology, rosacea may be linked to bacteria carried by tiny mites that live in the sweat and oil glands on the face. 

While many people have these mites on their face, past research has suggested that people with rosacea – a condition where the skin is inflamed and becomes reddened, sometimes causing sores – might have more of these mites on their faces than others.

The mites carry a certain kind of bacteria in their digestive tracts and when they die, the bacteria spills out into the glands. For people who have a heavy infestation of these little bugs, that release can set off rosacea.

“In normal skin, the density of mites is low.  In rosacea there is a high density and therefore a large number of bacteria are released,” said the study’s lead author Kevin Kavanagh. “We believe that the high level of bacterial toxins overwhelms the immune response and leads to the inflammation.  It is interesting to note that [the mites] do not have an anus and therefore all their waste is stored until they die and then it is released in one go.”

While this all sounds pretty gross, there is a silver lining – hopefully, this research will lead to more effective treatments for rosacea. 

Until now, the treatments have involved antibiotics that only work temporarily because it is easy to pick up new mites from friends and family.  Once the patient stops using the antibiotics, any mites picked up from other sources will recreate the symptoms of rosacea.

But using this new information, researchers may be able to develop treatments to help the skin build an immunity to the mite’s excretions. 

Do you know anyone who suffers from rosacea?

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Hot Topics

About ModernMom Staff

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Search

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

20 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Had Kids

After seeing and holding the newest member of our family … [Read More...] about 20 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Had Kids

Must Have

STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

April has arrived which means it’s time to pull out the food … [Read More...] about STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

Did you know?

fade hair color quickly

How to Fade Hair Color Quickly

Fruit Salad Recipes With Fewer Than Five Ingredients

Fruit Salad Recipes With Fewer Than Five Ingredients

Signs of Allergies to Infant Formula

Signs of Allergies to Infant Formula

How to Cook Beef Round Cubes in a Pan

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

Freeze Cooked & Smoked Ham

How to Freeze Cooked & Smoked Ham

Natural Remedies to Increase Sperm Count

Natural Remedies to Increase Sperm Count

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2023 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.