Demodicosis: Update and Treatment With Laser and Other Light Sources

Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis are common commensal mites of the human pilosebaceous unit that, under certain conditions, may proliferate excessively and cause demodicosis, generating a broad range of dermatological and/or ocular signs. Diagnosis is usually clinical but can be confirmed by quantifying mites using techniques such as standardized skin surface biopsy. The therapeutic approach to demodicosis includes topical and systemic treatments and, more recently, the use of laser treatments and other light sources. This review explores the pathogenesis, different clinical presentations, and therapeutic alternatives proposed for demodicosis, with special emphasis on therapies using light sources.