Disseminated candidiasis with extensive folliculitis in abusers of brown Iranian heroin.

Two cases of heroin abusers who developed disseminated candidiasis are reported. Cultures of skin lesions revealed Candida albicans, which on histology were shown to be located in and around hair shafts. Both patients recovered after treatment with amphotericin B combined with 5-fluorocytosine and either ketoconazole or dexamethasone. This unusual cutaneous syndrome of candidal infection associated with extensive folliculitis seems to be related to the use of a particular type of heroin, the so-called brown Iranian heroin.