The effect of 577-nm pro-yellow laser on demodex density in patients with rosacea.

Background: The pro-yellow laser is a yellow light wavelength (577-nm) laser system. Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disorder that occurs with facial flushing, erythema, papules, pustules, and telangiectasia. Demodex parasites (Demodex folliculorum and brevis) also play a role in the pathogenesis of rosacea.

Aim: The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of pro-yellow laser on demodex density (Dd) in patients with rosacea.

Patients/methods: This retrospective study was planned for the patients with rosacea whose demodex mite densities were examined and treated with pro-yellow laser and were evaluated between 2019 and 2020 in the cosmetology unit. The laser light was applied at a dose of 20 J/cm in the scanner mode (the 80% coverage) in all the patients. The demodex density per cm was routinely evaluated before the treatment, and the demodex density values in the fourth week after the treatment were recorded from the patients' files.

Results: There were 27 females (79.4%) and seven males (20.6%) evaluated in the study. While the demodex density was 18.1 ± 10.7 (min: 0-max: 48, Q1:12-Q3:22) per cm before the pro-yellow laser treatment in the cases, the demodex density was 10.2 ± 7.9 (min: 0-max: 30, Q1:4.75-Q3:12) per cm in the fourth week after the treatment. After the pro-yellow laser treatment, the demodex intensity decreased significantly compared to before the laser treatment (p = 0.001). There was no significant correlation between the decrease in the density of the demodex mite and the success of the treatment (p = 0.46).

Conclusion: This is the first study in the literature investigating the change in demodex density in rosacea patients treated with pro-yellow laser therapy. In this study, it was shown that pro-yellow laser treatment is effective in reducing the density of demodex.