Current treatment of cutaneous Pityrosporum and Candida-infections

Pityrosporum and Candida-yeasts are opportunistic pathogens and infections require predisposing factors. These factors are also of major importance in treatment and the reason for recurrence and sometimes chronicity of the disease caused by these yeasts. Pityrosporum orbiculare and P.ovale are both lipophilic, probably identical, and both are members of the normal human cutaneous flora. In pityriasis versicolor they change from the blastospore form to the mycelial form. My favourite treatment for pityriasis versicolor is propylene glycol 50% in water applied with a gauze pad twice daily for 2 weeks. This will clear 95-100%. Other treatment modalities are: zinc pyrithione shampoo, selenium sulfide shampoo and the imidazoles. For extensive cases, patients who frequently relapse, and infections refractary to other treatments ketoconazole orally may be an effective alternative both therapeutically and prophylactically. In another disease caused by these yeasts, Pityrosporum folliculitis, both propylene glycol and ketoconazole are effective. Although Candida species are only seldom found on normal-looking skin predisposing factors are still the main reason for disease. Under the influence of these factors the organism changes from the blastospore to the mycelial form. The main predisposing factors important to control are: occlusion, underlying skin diseases, diabetes mellitus and immunodeficiency diseases. The imidazoles in a cream vehicle are very effective for many infections and applied for 2-3 weeks they will clear most lesions. The addition of a corticosteroid to the imidazole will not shorten the time of treatment but will give a more prompt symptomatic relief. In extensive cutaneous lesions and lesions refractary to other treatments ketoconazole is an effective alternative.