DistantNews
Support us
🇹🇼 Taiwan /Health & Science

Rash on Chest and Back Mistaken for Acne, Doctor Reveals Key Clues

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • A patient's chest and back rash, initially mistaken for acne and treated for three weeks without improvement, was diagnosed as Malassezia folliculitis.
  • The condition, caused by an overgrowth of normal skin yeast, resembles acne but can be distinguished by factors like itching and location.
  • Treatment with antifungal medication, particularly oral antifungals, is highly effective, though the condition can recur.

A dermatologist in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, has highlighted a common misdiagnosis where rashes on the chest and back are mistaken for acne, leading to ineffective treatment. Dr. Lin Yun-hsuan of Lin Zhengxian Dermatology Clinic shared the case of a patient who treated persistent red bumps on their chest and back as acne for three weeks without success.

Chest and back rashes, be careful, they may not all be acne.

— Dr. Lin Yun-hsuanIntroducing the topic of misdiagnosed skin conditions.

Upon examination, Dr. Lin identified the condition as Malassezia folliculitis, a fungal infection of the hair follicles. She explained that Malassezia, a yeast normally present on the skin, can overgrow under certain conditions, such as heavy sweating, hot weather, intense exercise, or weakened immunity. The use of antibiotics or steroids can also disrupt the skin's natural balance, promoting yeast proliferation.

Dr. Lin outlined key differences to distinguish Malassezia folliculitis from acne. Over 70% of patients with fungal folliculitis experience itching and typically develop uniform-sized red bumps on the chest (about 70% of cases) and back (about 69%). Unlike acne, fungal folliculitis rarely presents with blackheads or whiteheads.

Malassezia folliculitis and acne look very similar.

— Dr. Lin Yun-hsuanExplaining the challenge in differentiating the two conditions.

Acne, conversely, is less commonly itchy and often appears on the face, though it can also affect the chest and back. Acne lesions can include papules, pustules, and nodules, and often feature comedones (blackheads and whiteheads).

Over 70% of patients will itch; it commonly occurs on the chest and back.

— Dr. Lin Yun-hsuanDescribing the symptoms and common locations of Malassezia folliculitis.

Treatment for Malassezia folliculitis is generally effective. Studies show oral antifungal medications achieve about a 92% improvement rate, while topical antifungals yield around 81.6%. Dr. Lin noted that oral antifungals are more potent but require medical evaluation due to potential liver toxicity and drug interactions. She also advised that the condition can recur, and some patients may require ongoing treatment or regular use of antifungal shampoos containing ingredients like selenium sulfide or zinc pyrithione to prevent relapse.

Oral antifungal drugs have a high improvement rate of about 92%.

— Dr. Lin Yun-hsuanDiscussing the effectiveness of treatment options.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog