Actuality Of Skin Scales Microscopy In Patients With Seborrheic Dermatitis

Abstract

Background. Fungal infection of the scalp (tinea capitis) and seborrheic dermatitis (SD) of the scalp are sometimes difficult to distinct because of absence the exact clinical symptoms. In such cases physician may use the result of skin scales microscopy. Aim of this study was the estimation of results of skin scales microscopy for the presence of yeast and dermatophyte fungi among SD patients. Materials and Methods. Two groups of SD patients – the first with clinical diagnosis “SD of scalp” (n = 21) and the second with the same diagnosis which needed accurate definition because of excluding of mycosis (n = 39). Microscopy of skin scales was carried out after refining of specimens with alkali solution. Results. The dermatophyte fungi were frequently detected in patients of both groups:  in the first group 90,5% of patients had spores and 47,6% had mycelium, with that in the second group - 97,4% and 46,2% correspondingly. Yeast blastospores, predominantly of Malassezia genus, were find out with frequency of 23,8% in the first group and 25,6% in the second. Conclusions. It is obvious that microscopic research in general should lead to updating of diagnosis: “seborrheic dermatitis, mycosis of the scalp”.