Where is Malassezia yeast found?

Malassezia yeasts have been found in human dandruff, deep-sea vents, and pretty much everywhere in between. The skin of most if not all warm-blooded animals is covered with these microbes, and while they mostly live in peaceful co-existence with their hosts, they can cause serious diseases in humans and other animals.

Which pigment is present in skin?

Melanin is a natural skin pigment. Hair, skin, and eye color in people and animals mostly depends on the type and amount of melanin they have. Special skin cells called melanocytes make melanin. Everyone has the same number of melanocytes, but some people make more melanin than others.

Are dermatophytes yeast?

Tinea unguium, a dermatophyte infection of the nail, is a subset of onychomycosis, which also may be caused by yeast and non-dermatophyte molds. 19 Risk factors for this infection include aging, diabetes, poorly fitting shoes, and the presence of tinea pedis.

What is Malassezia yeast?

Yeasts of the genus, Malassezia, formerly known as Pityrosporum, are lipophilic yeasts, which are a part of the normal skin flora (microbiome). Malassezia colonize the human skin after birth and must therefore, as commensals, be normally tolerated by the human immune system.

What causes Malassezia yeast on skin?

Predisposing factors to Malassezia skin disease include: Humidity. Sweating – hence pityriasis versicolor is common in tropical areas. Oily skin (seborrhoea) – hence it is found mainly on scalp, face and upper trunk.

What does Malassezia yeast feed on?

Unlike other yeasts that use sugars as their food source (Saccharomyces and Candida) Malassezia feeds on fats. Because Malassezia depends on fats rather than sugars and because it lives on the skin, NOT in the intestines, it is unaffected by sugars and carbohydrates that are consumed in the diet.

What are the 3 skin pigments?

The color of skin is influenced by a number of pigments, including melanin, carotene, and hemoglobin. Recall that melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found scattered throughout the stratum basale of the epidermis.

Is melanin a protein?

Melanin is a complex polymer derived from the amino acid tyrosine. Melanin is responsible for determining skin and hair colour and is present in the skin to varying degrees, depending on how much a population has been exposed to the sun historically.

Are dermatophytes molds or yeast?

Dermatophytes belong to the mold group of fungi and cause cutaneous infections. Although specific organisms usually cause dermatophyte infections in particular parts of the body, dermatophyte diseases are usually classified according to site of infection, and are often referred to as tinea.

What type of fungi is dermatophytes?

Dermatophyte fungi are the ringworm fungi (tinea). They depend on their host, which may be an animal (“zoophilic”) or a human (“anthropophilic”) and need to spread from one host to another to survive. Dermatophytes may also prefer to live in the soil (“geophilic”).

What kills Malassezia fungus?

Pyrithione zinc kills Malassezia and all other fungi, and is highly effective against the Malassezia species actually found on scalp.

How do you treat Malassezia yeast on skin?

In general, malassezia infections are treated with topical or oral antifungal agents, such as ketoconazole shampoo and oral fluconazole. Seborrhoeic dermatitis may also be treated with topical steroids.