I have been on a campaign to understand why demodicosis
isn't listed as a subtype or variant of rosacea. Try to ask your
physician that question. Many physicians don't even know
that there are subtypes of rosacea since this is a relatively
new concept for physicians and a dermatologist who isn't
keeping up with rosacea and concentrating on other things
may have missed the new subtype classifications.

Since the RRDi MAC is available to ask questions, though on
a limited basis (each professional has agreed to answer questions
for 15 minutes a month on a volunteer basis and only if they
have the time and are not busy), I have patiently been waiting
for the results of my question. Here are the results so far:

Demodicosis apparently is a disease all on its own, which is
called a 'disease sui generis.' However, Dr. Plewig has explained
that "demodex mites heavily colonize pre-existing rosacea and
thus lead to demodectic rosacea ( rosaceiform dermatosis)."
Thus we have a new term I have never seen before, demodectic
rosacea or rosaceiform dermatosis. I am very happy that at the
very least we have a proper name for it. One physician in 1963
called it 'rosacea-like demodicidosis.' That is a mouth full. So
I really like this new term Demodectic Rosacea. Short, and to the
point. Now this opens up some more questions, like:

Since the demodex mites heavily colonize pre-existing rosacea,
could this be a chicken or egg problem? Is the demodex mites
causing the rosacea since demodex pre-exists the pre-existing
rosacea? Demodex mites are on everyone's face, regardless whether
one has rosacea or not. And since David Pascoe has so kindly
pointed out a new paper from Walter Reed that the "effects of antibiotics
in rosacea [might] be caused by their actions on intracellular bacteria of
Demodex rather than to a postulated anti-inflammatory mechanism" by
doctors Burroughs and Maggio (gotta get these docs on the MAC) and
the new one by Dr. Dr. Kavanagh that says that "this indicates that the Bacillus
bacteria found in the Demodex mite produce an antigen that could be
responsible for the tissue inflammation associated with papulopustular rosacea,"
now having a new term, demodectic rosacea, is appropriate to use.

You can read more about this at this url >

http://members.irosacea.org/index.php?showtopic=121

I still haven't figured out whether demodectic rosacea is a variant but I
am patiently waiting for more answers. The professionals in the MAC
are truly amazing to reply to such answers since it no doubts frustrates
them to answer such questions as it does me since rosacea is so complicated
and confusing. Hope springs eternal.

Brady