Malassezia Folliculitis versus Truncal Acne Vulgaris (Clinical and Histopathological Study)

The study compared Malassezia Folliculitis (MF) and truncal acne vulgaris in 113 Iraqi patients, revealing distinct clinical and histopathological differences. MF, caused by Malassezia yeast, primarily affected young adult males with a mean age of 28.88 years and was located at the center of the back, responding well to antifungal treatment. In contrast, truncal acne was more common in younger females with a mean age of 20.73 years, involved the periphery of the back and face, and did not respond to antifungals. Diagnostic criteria for MF included positive Wood’s light examination and skin scraping tests, which were negative in truncal acne cases. The study highlighted the importance of distinguishing between MF and truncal acne due to their different treatments and responses.