Quantitative investigation on the distribution of Malassezia species on healthy human skin in Korea.

This study concerns a culture research based on the data gathered from Korean subjects to examine distribution of Malassezia yeast. Malassezia yeast were cultivated out of samples from scalp, forehead, chest, arm and thigh. Malassezia restricta was recovered more frequently in the teens and young adults, while M. globosa was the predominant species in subjects older than 50 years of age. The population density of Malassezia yeast was significantly higher in the age group (AG) of 21-30 years compared with other AGs (P < 0.05). It was also significantly higher in the chest compared with the forehead, arm and thigh (P < 0.05). The key is to recognise the existence of a difference in the amount and type of Malassezia species in different AGs as well as body areas, which reflects differing skin lipid levels in various AGs and different body areas.