Background Demodex folliculorum (DF), which is a resident in human piloseba
ceous follicles, has been implicated in rosacea, blepharitis, pityriasis fo
lliculorum, pustular folliculitis, and skin lesions of immunosuppressed pat
ients 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- an
d sex-matched controls. Two standardized skin surface biopsies were taken f
rom 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 effe
ct on mite density.