In contact with the skin, mites could cause melanocytes to detach from the epidermis and thus depigmentation, according to French researchers from Inserm.
Of microscopic size (less than 0.5 mm) and generally found in hot places like bed linen, pillows, clothesbut also in the dust of the house (carpets, curtains, etc.), mites are known to be risk factors allergy in sensitive people. Thing more surprising : they could also be involved in the occurrence of a disease autoimmune which depigments the skin, according to French researchers fromInserm. This disease linked to a dysfunction of the immune system leads to the appearance of white spots on the affected areas (hands For example). This phenomenon is due to the disappearance of melanocytes, the cells of the epidermis that produce melanin, the main pigment that colors the skin. These depigmentations can occur at any time of life, at any age and on all parts of the body including at the level of the face.
“There may be an increased susceptibility of certain skin to dust mites”
How dust mites can trigger allergiesthis led us to suspect that they might have a link to immune system abnormalities observed in vitiligo” explains Méri Tulic, an Inserm researcher who participated in the study. To confirm the hypothesis, they taken skin samples of vitiligo patients and healthy patients and exposed them to dust mites. The exposure caused the secretion of several inflammatory molecules and an increase in the concentration of proteins called “proteases”. Mites produce a large number of proteases. “The analyzes confirmed thata mite protease called “Der p1” destroys E-cadherin in the epidermis and causes detachment of melanocytes [donc des pertes de pigmentation]“ commented Méri Tulic. “And if this phenomenon was observed in all samples, it was approximately one hundred times greater in those from patients with vitiligo than with samples from non-diseased skin. There would therefore be an increased susceptibility of certain skin to dust mites.” Scientists now want to know if Patients allergic to dust mites are more vulnerable to the risk of developing vitiligo.