Background

Malassezia folliculitis (FM) is an infection of the hair follicle caused mainly by M. furfur. It affects adolescents and adults, it is characterized by itchy papulopustular follicular skin lesions affecting the trunk.

Objective

To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients of the Dermatologic Center of Yucatan (CDY), which diagnosis of FM was made by direct microscopy (EMD).

Methods

A Cross-sectional, descriptive and retrospective study was performed between January 2009 and December 2015. EMDs records of the Laboratory of Micology of CDY were reviewed.

Results and conclusions

We identified 56 cases, the 78.6% were males, trunk was the most frequent topography (94.6%), followed by face (16.1%), neck (12.5%), upper limbs (10.7%) and lower limbs (3.6%). Twenty-two cases (39.3%) were observed in 2015, and 86.3% of these cases were observed between June and September. Six cases (27.7%) had a history of having used topical steroids and 3 cases (13.6%) of systemic antibiotics. All cases were diagnosed by EMD with methylene blue, a fast and non-invasive technique that allows early treatment.