Simple Diagnostic Test -
A Skin Biopsy for Demodectic Rosacea

A report at RSG shows that a simple skin biopsy examination under a microscope in the doctors office is all that is required to get a demodex density count. No lab work, no sending off to some far away laboratory for the results. Just a simple disgnostic test, a skin biopsy for demodex density. Any physician could easily do it. Why is it so rare?

Basically it is because most authorities on rosacea dismiss the role of demodex and rosacea as only a minor role, if any at all. However, there is a plethora of demodex research papers done on the 'minor' role demodex plays in rosacea. The number of papers is staggering yet physicians simply will not perform a simple diagnostic skin biopsy for demodex density in the office. Why?

Maybe they feel it is not worth the effort because of their belief that demodex plays only a minor role. Maybe they are afraid of possible legal repercussions doing their own skin biopsies on patients. Maybe there is another reason?

In my book, Rosacea 101, I encourage all rosaceans to insist upon a skin biopsy demodex density count. This will establish a baseline for future tests in case you get another skin biopsy later. While not all rosacea is aggravated by demodex mites, you should at the very least rule demodex mites out of your skin problem and the best way is to get a skin biopsy. If a physician refuses to give you a skin biopsy demodex mite density count test, then find one who will. Just think if over a million rosaceans begin demanding this test! The results will have repersussions for years ahead. Either demodex plays a minor role as all the papers say or they will discover the actual number of cases of demodectic rosacea is higher than originally thought.

Simple Microscopic Skin Biopsy

Demodectic Rosacea Info

Notice what Alice says:
"I'm totally convinced that many of us have had rosacea due, at least in part, to demodex mites, and that dermatologists need their heads examined for not doing a simple check to rule out that possibility first of all (even though the mites are not always visible under the microscope because most of the time they're hiding away in the follicles)."