MANË RESOURCES Skin & scalp knowledge

Malassezia

A normal skin resident. Not every rash has the same cause.

Understanding the skin microbiomewww.maneapp.com

01 What Malassezia means

Malassezia is a group of yeasts that normally live on human skin. Their presence alone does not mean disease. Under certain conditions, these yeasts can contribute to skin or scalp problems. The pattern of symptoms and a clinician’s assessment matter more than a social-media label. ^{2, 3}

Keep these distinctions in mind ^{2, 3, 4}

Normal skin resident
Yeast is a type of fungus
Associated with several conditions
Seborrheic dermatitis is not poor hygiene

02 Three care priorities

Confirm what you are treating

Itchy bumps, flakes and discolored patches can have different causes. A dermatologist may examine the skin and, when needed, take a sample. ^{2, 5}

Keep care gentle

For seborrheic dermatitis, use gentle, fragrance-free cleansing and moisturizing. Rinse thoroughly; irritating skin care can trigger a flare. ⁶

Follow a condition-specific plan

Medicated shampoos and topical antifungals may help certain conditions. The product, application site and contact time should match your clinician’s advice and label. ^{5, 2}

03 Different conditions, different care

Seborrheic dermatitis

Can cause itchy, flaky or greasy-scaled skin on the scalp, face or beard area. Yeast and skin oils appear to play a role. ^{7, 3}

On darker skin, affected areas may look lighter, darker or purplish rather than simply red.

Tinea versicolor

Yeast overgrowth can cause scaly patches that are lighter or darker than surrounding skin; patches may itch. ^{4, 8}

Also called pityriasis versicolor. A change in skin color alone does not identify its cause.

Malassezia folliculitis

Often causes small, similarly sized itchy bumps or pustules around hair follicles, commonly on the chest and upper back. ^{2, 1}

Often nicknamed “fungal acne,” but it is not acne vulgaris. Similar-looking conditions may need different treatment.