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Malassezia furfur in infantile seborrheic dermatitis

A Tollesson1, A Frithz, K Stenlund

  • 1Karolinska Institute, Department of Dermatology, Stockholm, Sweden.

Pediatric Dermatology
|January 22, 1998
PubMed

Insights

This study investigated Malassezia furfur in infantile seborrheic dermatitis (ISD), finding no direct link between M. furfur growth and clinical symptoms despite altered essential fatty acids (EFA) in affected children.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Mycology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Malassezia furfur is implicated in adult seborrheic dermatitis.
  • M. furfur is a suspected cause of infantile seborrheic dermatitis (ISD).
  • ISD presents with distinct serum essential fatty acid (EFA) abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and role of Malassezia furfur in infantile seborrheic dermatitis (ISD).
  • To assess the impact of borage oil treatment on M. furfur growth in ISD patients.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 21 children diagnosed with ISD.
  • Analyzed serum essential fatty acids (EFA).
  • Sampled M. furfur from skin, assessed growth on borage oil plates.

Main Results:

  • Aberrant EFA patterns, including elevated 18:1w9 and 20:2w6, were observed in ISD patients.
  • Topical borage oil treatment did not inhibit M. furfur growth.
  • No correlation was found between M. furfur growth and ISD clinical symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Malassezia furfur's role in the pathogenesis of ISD appears limited.
  • The study suggests M. furfur is not directly related to clinical manifestations of ISD.
  • Further research is needed to understand ISD etiology and EFA alterations.

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