Fungus
Malassezia furfur
Lipophilic yeast of tinea versicolor
mal-uh-SEE-zee-uh FUR-fur
High-yield clue
'Spaghetti and meatballs' short hyphae plus round yeast on skin scraping with discolored trunk patches is the core study clue.
Overview
A lipid-dependent yeast that is part of normal skin flora and overgrows to cause tinea (pityriasis) versicolor, hypo- or hyperpigmented patches on the trunk. It is the classic example of a lipophilic superficial-mycosis yeast.
Classification
- Lipophilic (lipid-dependent) yeast
- Basidiomycota
- Round to oval yeast with short curved hyphae
- Skin commensal that overgrows
- Requires exogenous long-chain fatty acids
Lab & identification clues
- 'Spaghetti and meatballs' hyphae-plus-yeast microscopy vocabulary
- Lipophilic culture requiring an oil/fatty-acid overlay concept
- Skin-scraping preparation clears pigmentation differences
- Fluorescence under Wood lamp vocabulary
Associations
- Tinea (pityriasis) versicolor with pigment-altered macules
- Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff association
- Catheter-associated fungemia in patients on lipid infusions vocabulary
- Warm humid climate and sebum-rich skin as risk vocabulary
Commonly confused with
- Dermatophytes (true ringworm molds)
- Vitiligo (non-fungal pigment loss)
Frequently asked questions
What is Malassezia furfur?
A lipid-dependent yeast that is part of normal skin flora and overgrows to cause tinea (pityriasis) versicolor, hypo- or hyperpigmented patches on the trunk. It is the classic example of a lipophilic superficial-mycosis yeast.
What are the lab clues for Malassezia furfur?
Lab clues for Malassezia furfur include 'Spaghetti and meatballs' hyphae-plus-yeast microscopy vocabulary, Lipophilic culture requiring an oil/fatty-acid overlay concept, Skin-scraping preparation clears pigmentation differences, and Fluorescence under Wood lamp vocabulary.
What is Malassezia furfur commonly confused with?
Malassezia furfur is commonly confused with Dermatophytes (true ringworm molds) and Vitiligo (non-fungal pigment loss).
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.