Defining Characteristics
Hyper- or hypopigmented patches with readily inducible scale; chest & back; warm/moist environment; usually asymptomatic but may be pruritic
Disease Development
Colonization at birth that peaks in early adult life with increased sebaceous gland activity
Unclear factors trigger overgrowth & conversion of yeast to pathogenic hyphal form
Potential Causes
Malassezia furfur (P. ovale, P.orbiculare; nl skin yeast)
Risk factors
People living in warm/ humid climates have higher bacterial carriage