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Malassezia: Understanding This Common Yeast

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All NiaHealth tests are processed in Canadian-certified labs, which are highly trusted by the medical community for their accuracy and reliability. Blood and urine samples are collected by licensed medical professionals and processed using state-of-the-art equipment. NiaHealth is SOC2 Type 2 certified.

What is it?

Malassezia is a group of yeast that is most commonly found in the human skin microbiome. It is associated with both healthy skin and skin conditions like dermatitis, eczema, and dandruff [1]. While Malassezia has been identified in other locations on the human body, it is still unclear whether this detection is due to it colonizing those locations or if they have been contaminated from skin exposure [1]. There is some evidence from studies in mice that high levels could cause inflammatory bowel disease. (Adapted from Tiny Health)

We consider a low or absent level of Malessezia to be optimum.

Why it matters

Reference ranges

This information is educational and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your results should be interpreted with a qualified healthcare professional in the context of your health history.