Hyperkeratotic Head and Neck <i>Malassezia</i> Dermatosis

Vol. 212, No. 1, 2006

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Clinical and Laboratory Investigations

Hyperkeratotic Head and Neck Malassezia Dermatosis
Franck Boralevi^a, Josefina Marco-Bonnet^a, Sebastien Lepreux^c, Christel Buzenet^a, Bernard Couprie^b, Alain Taïeb^a

^aDepartment of Dermatology and
^bLaboratory of Mycology, Hôpital Saint-André,
^cDepartment of Pathology, Hôpital Pellegrin, Bordeaux, France

Address of Corresponding Author

Dermatology 2006;212:36-40 (DOI: 10.1159/000089020)

Key Words

Pityriasis versicolor
Seborrheic dermatitis
Dermatitis neglecta
Malassezia

Abstract

Background: Pityriasis versicolor (tinea versicolor) is a common skin disorder due to Malassezia usually affecting adolescents and young adults, more frequently in the tropics. Facial involvement, isolated or not, is not frequent in white adults. Objective: Here, we report a possible atypical hyperkeratotic form of dermatosis of the face, in two young immunocompetent Caucasian patients, particularly recalcitrant to therapy. Results: Skin scrapings grew yeasts belonging to the genus Malassezia, including both M. globosa and M. sympodialis. This unusual variant needs long-term therapy with systemic and topical imidazoles together with facial cleansing. Conclusion: We propose the name hyperkeratotic head and neck Malassezia dermatosis for this distinctive clinical entity. This variant of pityriasis versicolor should be considered in the differential diagnosis of seborrheic dermatitis and dermatitis neglecta.

Author Contacts

Prof. Alain Taïeb
Department of Dermatology, Hôpital Saint-André
1, rue Jean Burguet
FR-33075 Bordeaux (France)
Tel. +33 556 795 622, Fax +33 556 795 987, E-Mail alain.taieb@chu-bordeaux.fr

Article Information

Received: May 13, 2004
Accepted: April 20, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 4, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 18

Medline Abstract (ID 16319472)

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