Scalp carriage of Pityrosporum species: the effect of physiological maturity, sex and race.

The change in carriage rates of Pilyrosporum sp. over the years before and after puberty were studied in Caucasoid and Negroid children using a semiquantitative cultural technique. Caucasoids yielded yeasts more often than did negroids; older or sexually mature children yielded yeasts more often than did prepubertal children. There appeared to be a decrease in numbers of yeasts isolated a few years after the pubertal peak.