UC Davis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing skin disease, often occurring within the first year of life and affecting up to 20% of children, the majority of whom outgrow the disease within few years. The prevalence of AD in the adult population has been estimated to be much lower (2–9%). Malassezia yeasts was described in a seminal publication by Guého et al. in 1996. Hitherto, basic and clinical research has established etiological links between Malassezia yeasts, pityriasis versicolor, and sepsis of neonates and immunocompromised individuals. A close association between skin and Malassezia IgE binding allergens in atopic eczema has been shown.IgE-mediated sensitization may not yet be evident in infants or young children but it develops with increasing age. As the skin barrier function in AD is weakened, and the skin is deficient in antimicrobial peptides such as defensins, various microbes are able to colonize the skin and cause secondary infections. IgE binding allergens have been identified in M. sympodialis, M. furfur, and, lately, M. globosa. M. globosa is the most common species on human skin.Clinically, Malassezia allergy may be suspected in patients with atopic dermatitis and; head and neck lesions. Malassezia yeasts stimulate keratinocytes to produce a variety of cytokines in a species-dependent manner. We present a case 22-years-old women with atopic dermatitis and with lesions on the neck.