Exploring the Comparative Efficacies of Allopathic and Homeopathic Treatments in Reducing Dermal Malassezia Folliculitis

Abstract

Malassezia folliculitis is a condition in which the naturally occurring yeasts on the skin proliferate within the sebaceous glands and cause inflammation. The lipophilic Malassezia yeasts colonize the sebaceous glands of the skin and havoc on the skin, leaving patients and dermatologists alike, unhappy. The issue is further exacerbated by a lack of research on the comparative efficacies of treatment types alternative to those heavily implemented in the public sphere, such as allopathic and homeopathic medicines. This paper seeks to narrow this knowledge gap and identify potentially more efficacious treatments to eradicate MF than those already recognized by the public domain. Thus, such will be executed through a two-part, quantitative correlational study that investigates response to both conventional and alternative treatment types to determine the most efficacious type of treatment for eradicating or reducing MF. To encompass a personal and professional perspective, a questionnaire was distributed to patients who have suffered or are currently suffering from MF (the Patient Survey) and dermatologists who have treated or are currently treating patients with MF (the Dermatologist Survey). The data produced from both surveys (though more heavily supported by the Patient Survey as there were more responses) ultimately suggested that a combination treatment may be most ideal- a routine that incorporates both allopathic and homeopathic treatments taken both orally and topically.