The Role of Fungi in Atopic Dermatitis

There is little doubt that Malassezia spp plays a role in atopic dermatitis because it may interact with the local skin immune responses and barrier function, and sensitization against this skin-colonizing yeast can correlate with disease activity. Also, antifungal therapy shows beneficial effects in some patients. However, the pathogenetic mechanism and mutual interaction between Malassezia spp and atopic dermatitis still remain partly unclear and need further investigation.