Clinicopathological differentiation between Pityrosporum folliculitis and acneiform eruption

Distinguishing between Malassezia folliculitis (Pityrosporum folliculitis [P. folliculitis]) and acneiform eruption, based on clinicopathological features, is challenging for clinicians. In the literature, the histopathological differences between P. folliculitis and acneiform eruption lesions have been poorly described. We aimed to determine the clinicopathologic distinctions between P. folliculitis and acneiform eruption by retrospectively analyzing the histology of hematoxylin and eosin stained tissue sections obtained from 52 patients diagnosed with these lesions. The presence of fungal spores in the follicular lumen was most consistent with a P. folliculitis diagnosis (P