Effects of topical vehicles on growth of the lipophilic Malassezia species

In the present study, the abilities of major Malassezia species, M. sympodialis, M. globosa and M. furfur, to assimilate topical agents, which have been widely used as a material of ointment for skin diseases, were tested. Obvious growth of M. furfur on GYEP agar plate was noted in the presence of white petrolatum, purified white petrolatum, hydrophilic ointment and heparinoid in hydrophilic ointment, and also M. sympodialis showed similar growth when they were cultured with hydrophilic or heparinoid in hydrophilic ointment. In contrast, M. globosa did not grow on GYEP in the presence of the any topical agents tested. These results suggest that Malassezia species, especially M. furfur and M. sympodialis, assimilate several topical agents and showed the drug-depended cell growth.