Korean J Dermatol.  2011 May;49(5):452-456.

Malassezia folliculitis Resembling Erythema Annulare Centrifugum

• Hong JW
• Jeon SY
• Lee KY
• Song KH
• Kim KH

Abstract

Malassezia yeasts are lipophilic fungi that are regarded as normal flora of the skin. They are associated with a number of diseases affecting human skin, such as pityriasis versicolor, Malassezia folliculitis, and seborrheic dermatitis, and less commonly with other dermatologic disorders, such as confluent and reticulated papillomatosis and transient acantholytic dermatosis. Clinically, Malassezia folliculitis shows erythematous papules, sometimes pustules. Here, mutiple erythematous papules and pustules over the trunk and upper arms developed in a 37-year-old man. The skin lesions became enlarged and confluent, resulting in the formation of an annular configuration. They spread gradually to form a large plaque with central hyperpigmentation, with the edge of the lesions showing multiple papules and pustules. Microspores were found in potassium hydroxide preparations of these lesions, and large-sized circular, cream colored, raised, smooth, and dentate colonies were found in culture media. Histologically, sectioning showed mild acanthosis of the epidermis and perivascularinflammation in the superficial dermis. PAS-stained sections showed spheric to oval yeast organisms in the follicularepithelium. In PCR analysis, Malassezia sympodialis was identified. The patient was treated with oral itraconazle, resulting in complete clearing of the lesions. Here, we report an interesting case of Malassezia follicultis that showed clinical configuration of erythema annulare centrifugum.

Keyword

Erythema annulare centrifugum; Malassezia folliculitis

MeSH Terms

Acantholysis
Adult
Arm
Culture Media
Dermatitis, Seborrheic
Dermis
Epidermis
Erythema
Folliculitis
Fungi
Humans
Hydroxides
Hyperpigmentation
Ichthyosis
Malassezia
Papilloma
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Potassium
Potassium Compounds
Skin
Skin Diseases
Tinea Versicolor
Yeasts
Acantholysis
Culture Media
Hydroxides
Ichthyosis
Potassium
Potassium Compounds