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May (Maine) on 06/17/2017: 
Needless to say, be good to your feet from now on and careful of the shoes you wear. Melanoma is nothing to mess around with. Best of luck. Do let us know how you are doing.
Joru (Northeast US) on 12/09/2014:
Key points about Malassezia:
- It infects melanocytes in the skin.
- It accumulates melanin.
- Non-lethal exposure to UV radiation stimulates the growth of fungi.
- Unlike candida and most other common yeasts, Malassezia feeds on LIPIDS rather than sugar/starch. Note that because of this, Malassezia will *not* be found in serum fungal cultures because the medium they use is sugar/starch based; it does not contain lipids which are required for Malassezia to grow.
- It is very slow growing, meaning overgrowth occurs over years or even decades.
- Risk factors may include: prolonged use of antibiotics or steroids, exposure to UV radiation (sun, CT scans & other medical procedures, etc), use of oil-based skin lotions, diet high in vegetable oils/animal fats (sources of oleic acid), excessive alcohol (with the possible exception of beer and dry red wine), high cholesterol/triglycerides. High sebum/skin oil and high triglycerides could in theory also be CAUSED by Malassezia. It might release acids etc. that cause the body to respond with increased lipids. (Makes sense since that is its food source).
If I am correct, it may be possible to reduce one's risk by eliminating things that favor the growth of Malassezia. I don't know what treatment options there might be once Melanoma occurs. In general, sulfur seems to inhibit the growth of fungi so that's at least something to think about. Not sure whether levels in food would be high enough to have an effect. Foods high in sulfur include garlic, onions, brassica vegetables like broccoli. Highly pigmented/colorful foods (red-purple-green) are another avenue to explore. I would be careful about supplements containing Vitamin D or iron, as these can feed yeast from what I've read.
Heather (Leicester) on 09/04/2012:
