The prevalence of Malassezia folliculitis in acne patients is about 30%

 Malassezia folliculitis is a disease caused by Malassezia, a resident fungus of the skin, and its clinical symptoms are similar to acne vulgaris (acne), and it often appears in the form of chest acne and back acne. In addition, the prevalence of Malassezia folliculitis is often underestimated because it often coexists with acne. The current study sought to establish the prevalence of Malassezia folliculitis among 320 patients diagnosed with acne. Clinical symptoms of acne (location and severity), dandruff, and seborrheic dermatitis were evaluated by a dermatologist. Cytological examinations to determine abnormal growth of the Malassezia yeast were performed from pustules or comedo-like papules in the absence of pustules and comedones.

As a result, the prevalence of Malassezia folliculitis in patients with clinically diagnosed acne was 28.8%. Of these, 24.7% could be classified as acne with Malassezia folliculitis and 4.1% as Malassezia folliculitis alone. Patients diagnosed with Malassezia folliculitis were 7.38 times more likely to develop itching than those diagnosed with acne. Patients with Malassezia folliculitis had an 8.89-fold and 9.17-fold higher risk of acneiform lesions on the scalp/hairline and upper back, respectively, than those without Malassezia folliculitis.