In Vitro Activity of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet (APPJ) Plasma Against Clinical Isolates of Demodex Folliculorum

Rosacea is a frequent and often disfiguring and chronic dermatologic disease mainly of the midface causing central facial erythema, teleangiectasia, papules, and pustules. In the context of complex pathogenicity, Demodex folliculorum plays an important role showing significant density in the skin of patients with papulopustular rosacea. Rosacea belongs to the hard-to-heal diseases, and new approaches for treatment are strongly required. As atmospheric low-temperature plasma [atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ)] proved high efficacy against bacterial and fungal pathogens, we tested its potency as nonantibiotic-based method to inactivate Demodex folliculorum. We isolated five parasites of Demodex folliculorum from a 54-year-old patient suffering from chronic pustulous rosacea and irradiated the living parasites by APPJ ex vivo. The APPJ plasma killed Demodex folliculorum after an exposure time of 2 resp. 60 s. Low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma seems suitable for the treatment of dermatologic and veterinarian diseases caused by Demodex spp.