Psoriasis and infestation with Malassezia

Psoriasis is a chronic proliferative condition of the skin. Its accuratepathogenesis has not been known yet, but interactions between genes and environmental factors have been implicated in its initiation. The role of malassezia in psoriasis is still undetermined, but several reports have associated these lipophilic yeastswith the development of skin lesions in psoriasis.Our aim was to investigate the correlationbetween malassezia and psoriasis. In this case control study over a 6 month period skin samples were obtained from lesions of 50 psoriatic and 50 healthy volunteers to evaluate malasseziainfestation. Obtained data were collected by questionnaires and analyzed by SPSSsoftware and applying statistical tests of χ2 and Mann-Whitney. There was no difference between malassezia infestation in scalp lesionsof psoriatic and control cases (P=0.86). Malassezia infestation in psoriatic patientswith scalp involvement was more than those without it, but it was not a significant relationship (P=0.069). There was an inverse significant correlation between scalp infestation with malassezia and chronicity of psoriasis (P=0.04). This infestation intrunk skin of patients was less than normal individuals (P<0.000). There seems to be an initiating role in inducing immune mechanismsinvolved in the pathogenesis of scalp psoriasis by malassezia, but with chronicity andformation of dry and hyperkeratotic plaques, the environment will be inappropriatefor malassezia, so malassezia infestation decreases with chronicity of disease.