Vulvar demodicosis: a case report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36097/rgcs.v3i1.3205Keywords:
Demodex folliculorum, vulvar demodicosis, Fordyce spots, genital parasitosisAbstract
Demodicosis is a cutaneous parasitic infection caused by the abnormal proliferation of mites of the genus Demodex, commonly found in the pilosebaceous follicles of the face, scalp, and trunk. It is generally an asymptomatic parasite; however, it is proposed that Demodex spp. contributes to the pathogenesis of certain dermatoses such as folliculitis, blepharitis, and rosacea. The occurrence of demodicosis in the genital areas is very rare and poorly documented. We present the case of a 32-year-old woman with no relevant medical history who presented with pain, erythema, and edema at the vaginal introitus, along with a nodular formation and Fordyce spots. Through clinicopathological correlation, a timely diagnosis of this cutaneous infection was made. The finding of multiple Demodex spp. in the sebaceous glands of the skin and the presence of Fordyce spots on the vulva strongly suggest the diagnosis of this condition. The relevance of recognizing this entity in cases of persistent lesions in the genital area is discussed.
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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Sirced Salazar, Verny D. Cedeño, Ritha V. Bravo, Elizabeth Carballosa Elizabeth Carballosa, Gustavo J. Palma, Evelyn E. Loor
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