Face scabies in the elderly: when dermoscopy can be a game changer

Andrea Corio; Enrico Zelin; Vanessa Mazzoletti; Benedetta Sonego; Camilla Brunello; Nicola di Meo; Iris Zalaudek

doi:10.4081/dr.2024.10115

Authors

Andrea Corio
andrea.corio.fe@gmail.com
Dermatology Clinic, Maggiore Hospital, University of Trieste, Italy. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7296-4583
Enrico Zelin Institute of Dermatology, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9276-3627
Vanessa Mazzoletti Institute of Dermatology, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy.
Benedetta Sonego Dermatology Clinic, Maggiore Hospital, University of Trieste, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6892-1445
Camilla Brunello Dermatology Clinic, Maggiore Hospital, University of Trieste, Italy. https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7742-3837
Nicola di Meo Dermatology Clinic, Maggiore Hospital, University of Trieste, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5987-1375
Iris Zalaudek Dermatology Clinic, Maggiore Hospital, University of Trieste, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7878-4955

Dear Editor,

Scabies is a common pruritic ectoparasitic infestation of the skin caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. It classically presents as an intensely pruritic eruption that usually involves hands and interdigital folds, wrists, axillae, areolae, abdomen, and genitalia. In immunocompetent adults, mite infestation affecting the face is considered exceptional; accordingly, if topical treatment is chosen, clinicians typically instruct patients to apply the product to the body, excluding the head area.

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Berger TG, Steinhoff M. Pruritus in elderly patients--eruptions of senescence. Semin Cutan Med Surg 2011;30:113-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sder.2011.04.002

Micali G, Lacarrubba F, Verzì AE, et al. Scabies: Advances in Noninvasive Diagnosis. Vinetz JM, ed. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016;10:e0004691. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0004691

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Alinovi A, Pretto ME. Scabietic infestation of the scalp: a clue for puzzling relapses. J Am Acad Dermatol 1994;31:492-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0190-9622(09)80007-8

Corio, A., Zelin, E., Mazzoletti, V., Sonego, B., Brunello, C., di Meo, N., & Zalaudek, I. (2024). Face scabies in the elderly: when dermoscopy can be a game changer. Dermatology Reports. https://doi.org/10.4081/dr.2024.10115