Malassezia (Pityrosporum) Folliculitis Treatment & Management

1. Potter BS, Burgoon CF Jr, Johnson WC. Pityrosporum folliculitis. Report of seven cases and review of the Pityrosporum organism relative to cutaneous disease. Arch Dermatol. 1973 Mar. 107(3):388-91. [Medline].

2. Levin NA. Beyond spaghetti and meatballs: skin diseases associated with the Malassezia yeasts. Dermatol Nurs. 2009 Jan-Feb. 21(1):7-13, 51; quiz 14. [Medline].

3. Gaitanis G, Velegraki A, Mayser P, Bassukas ID. Skin diseases associated with Malassezia yeasts: facts and controversies. Clin Dermatol. 2013 Jul-Aug. 31(4):455-63. [Medline].

4. Gaitanis G, Magiatis P, Hantschke M, Bassukas ID, Velegraki A. The malassezia genus in skin and systemic diseases. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2012 Jan. 25(1):106-41. [Medline].

5. Akaza N, Akamatsu H, Sasaki Y, et al. Malassezia folliculitis is caused by cutaneous resident Malassezia species. Med Mycol. 2009. 47(6):618-24. [Medline].

6. Helm KF, Lookingbill DP. Pityrosporum folliculitis and severe pruritus in two patients with Hodgkin's disease. Arch Dermatol. 1993 Mar. 129(3):380-1. [Medline].

7. Cholongitas E, Pipili C, Ioannidou D. Malassezia folliculitis presented as acneiform eruption after cetuximab administration. J Drugs Dermatol. 2009 Mar. 8(3):274-5. [Medline].

8. Alves EV, Martins JE, Ribeiro EB, Sotto MN. Pityrosporum folliculitis: renal transplantation case report. J Dermatol. 2000 Jan. 27(1):49-51. [Medline].

9. Bufill JA, Lum LG, Caya JG, et al. Pityrosporum folliculitis after bone marrow transplantation. Clinical observations in five patients. Ann Intern Med. 1988 Apr. 108(4):560-3. [Medline].

10. Blaes AH, Cavert WP, Morrison VA. Malassezia: is it a pulmonary pathogen in the stem cell transplant population?. Transpl Infect Dis. 2009 Aug. 11(4):313-7. [Medline].

11. Nasir A, El Bahesh E, Whitten C, Lawson A, Udall JN Jr. Pityrosporum folliculitis in a Crohn's disease patient receiving infliximab. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2010 Jan. 16(1):7-8. [Medline].

12. Heymann WR, Wolf DJ. Malassezia (Pityrosporon) folliculitis occurring during pregnancy. Int J Dermatol. 1986 Jan-Feb. 25(1):49-51. [Medline].

13. Parlak AH, Boran C, Topcuoglu MA. Pityrosporum folliculitis during pregnancy: a possible cause of pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Mar. 52(3 Pt 1):528-9. [Medline].

14. Kavanagh GM, Leeming JP, Marshman GM, Reynolds NJ, Burton JL. Folliculitis in Down's syndrome. Br J Dermatol. 1993 Dec. 129(6):696-9. [Medline].

15. Klotz SA, Drutz DJ, Huppert M, Johnson JE. Pityrosporum folliculitis. Its potential for confusion with skin lesions of systemic candidiasis. Arch Intern Med. 1982 Nov. 142(12):2126-9. [Medline].

16. Jacinto-Jamora S, Tamesis J, Katigbak ML. Pityrosporum folliculitis in the Philippines: diagnosis, prevalence, and management. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1991 May. 24(5 Pt 1):693-6. [Medline].

17. Bulmer GS, Pu XM, Yi LX. Malassezia folliculitis in China. Mycopathologia. 2008 Jun. 165(6):411-2. [Medline].

18. Prindaville B, Belazarian L, Levin NA, Wiss K. Pityrosporum folliculitis: A retrospective review of 110 cases. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Mar. 78 (3):511-514. [Medline].

19. Back O, Faergemann J, Hornqvist R. Pityrosporum folliculitis: a common disease of the young and middle-aged. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1985 Jan. 12(1 Pt 1):56-61. [Medline].

20. Archer-Dubon C, Icaza-Chivez ME, Orozco-Topete R, Reyes E, Baez-Martinez R, Ponce de Leon S. An epidemic outbreak of Malassezia folliculitis in three adult patients in an intensive care unit: a previously unrecognized nosocomial infection. Int J Dermatol. 1999 Jun. 38(6):453-6. [Medline].

21. Gupta AK, Batra R, Bluhm R, Boekhout T, Dawson TL Jr. Skin diseases associated with Malassezia species. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004 Nov. 51(5):785-98. [Medline].

22. Levy A, Feuilhade de Chauvin M, Dubertret L, Morel P, Flageul B. [Malassezia folliculitis: characteristics and therapeutic response in 26 patients]. Ann Dermatol Venereol. 2007 Nov. 134(11):823-8. [Medline].

23. Rubenstein RM, Malerich SA. Malassezia (pityrosporum) folliculitis. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014 Mar. 7(3):37-41. [Medline]. [Full Text].

24. Gupta P, Chakrabarti A, Singhi S, Kumar P, Honnavar P, Rudramurthy SM. Skin Colonization by Malassezia spp. in Hospitalized Neonates and Infants in a Tertiary Care Centre in North India. Mycopathologia. 2014 Jul 19. [Medline].

25. Aytimur D, Sengöz V. Malassezia folliculitis on the scalp of a 12-year-old healthy child. J Dermatol. 2004 Nov. 31(11):936-8. [Medline].

26. Jakhar D, Kaur I, Chaudhary R. Dermoscopy of pityrosporum folliculitis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Feb. 80 (2):e43-e44. [Medline].

27. Ayers K, Sweeney SM, Wiss K. Pityrosporum folliculitis: diagnosis and management in 6 female adolescents with acne vulgaris. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005 Jan. 159(1):64-7. [Medline].

28. Yu HJ, Lee SK, Son SJ, Kim YS, Yang HY, Kim JH. Steroid acne vs. Pityrosporum folliculitis: the incidence of Pityrosporum ovale and the effect of antifungal drugs in steroid acne. Int J Dermatol. 1998 Oct. 37(10):772-7. [Medline].

29. Shibata N, Saitoh T, Tadokoro Y, Okawa Y. The cell wall galactomannan antigen from Malassezia furfur and Malassezia pachydermatis contains beta-1,6-linked linear galactofuranosyl residues and its detection has diagnostic potential. Microbiology. 2009 Oct. 155:3420-9. [Medline].

30. Faergemann J, Bergbrant IM, Dohse M, Scott A, Westgate G. Seborrhoeic dermatitis and Pityrosporum (Malassezia) folliculitis: characterization of inflammatory cells and mediators in the skin by immunohistochemistry. Br J Dermatol. 2001 Mar. 144(3):549-56. [Medline].

31. Elmets CA. Management of common superficial fungal infections in patients with AIDS. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994 Sep. 31(3 Pt 2):S60-3. [Medline].

32. Ferrandiz C, Ribera M, Barranco JC, Clotet B, Lorenzo JC. Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Int J Dermatol. 1992 Mar. 31(3):193-5. [Medline].

33. Hald M, Arendrup MC, Svejgaard EL, Lindskov R, Foged EK, Saunte DM. Evidence-based Danish Guidelines for the Treatment of Malassezia-related Skin Diseases. Acta Derm Venereol. 2014 Feb 20. [Medline].

34. Prohic A, Jovovic Sadikovic T, Krupalija-Fazlic M, Kuskunovic-Vlahovljak S. Malassezia species in healthy skin and in dermatological conditions. Int J Dermatol. 2015 Dec 29. [Medline].

35. Viana de Andrade AC, Pithon MM, Oiticica OM. Pityrosporum folliculitis in an immunocompetent patient: clinical case description. Dermatol Online J. 2013 Aug 15. 19(8):19273. [Medline].

36. Pedrosa AF, Lisboa C, Gonçalves Rodrigues A. Malassezia infections: a medical conundrum. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014 Jul. 71 (1):170-6. [Medline].

37. Friedman SJ. Pityrosporum folliculitis: treatment with isotretinoin. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1987 Mar. 16(3 Pt 1):632-3. [Medline].

38. Goodfield MJ, Saihan EM. Failure of isotretinoin therapy in Pityrosporum folliculitis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1988 Jan. 18(1 Pt 1):143-4. [Medline].

39. Lee JW, Lee HI, Kim MN, Kim BJ, Chun YJ, Kim D. Topical photodynamic therapy with methyl aminolevulinate may be an alternative therapeutic option for the recalcitrant Malassezia folliculitis. Int J Dermatol. 2011 Apr. 50(4):488-90. [Medline].

40. Longley BJ, Hinshaw M. Fungal Diseases. Elder DE, Elenitas R, Rosenbach M, Murphy GF, Rubin AI, Xu X, eds. Lever's Histopathology of the Skin. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Wolters Kluwer; 2014. 727-60.

Sarah Sweeney Pinney, MD, FAAD Dermatologist, Clear Dermatology

Sarah Sweeney Pinney, MD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Texas Dermatological Society, Texas Medical Association, Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Rashid M Rashid, MD, PhD Director, Mosaic Clinic Hair Transplant Center of Houston

Rashid M Rashid, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Council for Nail Disorders, Houston Dermatological Society, International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, Texas Dermatological Society, Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Ronald P Rapini, MD Professor and Chair, Department of Dermatology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Distinguished Chernosky Professor and Chair of Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston

Ronald P Rapini, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Dermatological Association, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, American Society of Dermatopathology, Association of Professors of Dermatology, Society for Investigative Dermatology, Texas Dermatological Society

Disclosure: Book royalties from Elsevier publishers.

Michael J Wells, MD, FAAD Dermatologic/Mohs Surgeon, The Surgery Center at Plano Dermatology

Michael J Wells, MD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Lester F Libow, MD Dermatopathologist, South Texas Dermatopathology Laboratory

Lester F Libow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

William D James, MD Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Elsevier; WebMD<br/>Served as a speaker for various universities, dermatology societies, and dermatology departments.

Jaggi Rao, MD, FRCPC Clinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Dermatology and Cutaneous Sciences, Director of Dermatology Residency Program, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Canada

Jaggi Rao, MD, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Canadian Dermatology Association, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Medical Protective Association, Pacific Dermatologic Association, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Daniel J Hogan, MD Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine (Dermatology), Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Investigator, Hill Top Research, Florida Research Center

Daniel J Hogan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Contact Dermatitis Society, and Canadian Dermatology Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Siobahn M Hruby, MD Internal Medicine Physician, Boys Town National Research Hospital

Siobahn M Hruby, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Stephen H Mason, MD

Stephen H Mason is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Skin Cancer Foundation, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Brittany J Oswald, MD Resident Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, Ochsner Clinic Foundation Hospital

Brittany J Oswald is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association and American Medical Student Association/Foundation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

• Print this section
• Print the entire contents of
• Print the entire contents of article