pink patches

how common is malassezia folliculitis?  I have red patches on my chest, but they only appear after i take a shower. Sometimes some of the patches have a small bump.  These patches are usually pink, never red.  These patches usually go away within 30 minutes to an hr.  I wasnt sure if it was malassezia folliculitis or just a cause of taking too hot of showers.


This discussion is related to Rash with hot shower and sweating.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Folliculitis is the inflammation of one or more hair follicles. The condition may occur anywhere on the skin. It starts when hair follicles are damaged by friction from clothing or blockage of the follicle. In most cases of folliculitis, the damaged follicles are then infected with the bacteria Staphylococcus (staph) but it can be infected with yeast infections and fungi also. Pityrosporum ovale is the most common yeast to cause folliculitis. It is an itchy acne-like infection that is referred to as pityrosporum folliculitus (folliculitis).
KOH examination and bacterial culture may help in clinching the diagnosis. Antibiotics are not very helpful and topical and oral antifungals are the main treatment.

My sincere advice is to discuss this possibility with your dermatologist and get investigated for this.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.