Tiny mites on your face may cause rosacea

[Mosby]

Scientists may have finally found what sparks the inflamed and reddened skin in people suffering from rosacea: tiny mites that crawl across most of our faces, unseen and unfelt.

The new finding may eventually lead to more effective treatments, researchers say.

As it turns out, the mites, which spend daytime hours in the glands that produce sweat and sebum, harbor a certain kind of bacteria in their digestive tracts. When the mites die, the bacteria spill out into the glands, according to a new report published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology.

That’s not a problem for most of us, says the study’s lead author Kevin Kavanagh, a researcher at the National University of Ireland. But when people have an especially heavy infestation of the little bugs, the release of bacteria can set off rosacea.

http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/29/13554038-tiny-mites-on-your-face-may-cause-rosacea?lite

[elleng]

1. Thanks. Hope they find ways to destroy MY mites!

[Mosby]

3. same here

I use generic metrogel which is working great for me though I only had redness around my nose.

[elleng]

4. BEEN using it, for more than a year. Moves around my face, in small bits.

Unpredictable.

[NV Whino]

2. Facinating

The Scots seem to suffer from this more than most. I wonder if it also has to do with a cold climate… not to mention Scotch.