scientists are closer to establishing a
1 2 cause for the skin condition
rosacea（红斑痤疮）. this will allow more targeted, effective treatments to be developed for sufferers, according to a review published in the journal of medical microbiology. rosacea is a common
dermatological（皮肤病学的） condition that causes reddening and inflammation of the skin mostly around the cheeks, nose and chin. in severe cases skin lesions may form and lead to disfigurement. rosacea affects around 3% of the population -- usually fair-skinned females
3 30-50 and particularly those with weak immune systems. the condition is treated with a variety of
4, even though there has never been a well-established bacterial cause.
a new review carried out by the national university of ireland concludes that rosacea may be triggered by bacteria that live within tiny
6 that reside in the skin.
the
5 species demodex folliculorum is worm-like in shape and usually lives harmlessly inside the
pilosebaceous unit（毛囊皮脂腺） which surrounds hair follicles of the face. they are normal inhabitants of the face and increase in number with age and skin damage -- for example, following exposure to sunlight. the numbers of demodex mites living in the skin of rosacea patients is higher than in normal individuals, which has
7 suggested a possible role for the mites in
8 the condition.
more recently, the
9 bacillus oleronius was
10 from inside a demodex mite and was found to produce
11 provoking an immune reaction in rosacea patients. other studies have shown patients with varying types of rosacea react to the molecules produced by this bacterium -- exposing it as a likely trigger for the condition. what's more, this bacterium is sensitive to the antibiotics used to treat rosacea.
dr kevin kavanagh who conducted the review explained, "the bacteria live in the digestive
12 of demodex mites found on the face, in a mutually beneficial relationship. when the mites die, the bacteria are released and leak into surrounding skin tissues -- triggering tissue
13 and inflammation."
"once the numbers of mites increase, so does the number of bacteria, making rosacea more likely to occur. targeting these bacteria may be a useful way of treating and preventing this condition," said dr kavanagh. "alternatively we could look at controlling the population of demodex mites in the face.. some
14 companies are already developing therapies to do this, which represents a novel way of preventing and reversing rosacea, which can be painful and embarrassing for many people."
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