Yeah, I'm surprised Aquaphor is non-clogging to the pores, but blended at 2% it isn't. It's very pleasant and hydrating.

Malassezia isn't an infection, it's an immune system deficiency, or it's simply a yeast cell that evolved a long time ago and before humans even existed, in a way that allows it to tinker with the host's immune system and avoid detection.

It's treated with Nizoral 1% shampoo (OTC in the US but you can buy it only online), and OTC 2% Nizoral everywhere else. The active ingredient is ketoconazole. Nizoral is effective on malassezia yeasts and nothing else.

Hegor 150 climbazole shampoo, where the active ingredient is climbazole, is sold in the US only on eBay, but is OTC in Europe, is milder to the skin and more effective than Nizoral on malassezia.

You can easily do a differential diagnosis for malassezia. About 3-4 days after using Nizoral 1% shampoo on a daily basis (where you let the shampoo-lather stay on your head for 5-10 minutes), dry off, get dressed, and then stand in very bright sunlight and scratch your scalp -- if the air around you has a small cloud of dandruff looking skin flakes, then you have a good diagnosis for a malassezia-induced skin condition, which most people call seb derm because it appears as red bumps on the skin or around hair follicles, or as slightly thickened areas of skin that are itchy. It hides from detection so you can't really determine whether or not it's a problem, except by trying to treat it and then seeing what happens.

Ive never heard of this but im kind of wondering if my symptoms match any of malassezia's symptoms. My scalp doesnt get super itchy, but when it is, i scratch the itch and generally pull out whats kind of like a blackhead. I worry that its blocking my hair from growing or making it thinner. (I have an oily scalp, and very fine blonde hair)

I recently threw out all of my favorite redken shampoos that i had been using for 15 years and went to johnson and johnsons baby shampoo and i no longer use conditioner. Just the detangler spray when i comb it out. Im not getting near the same scalp build up and it seems less oily too which is kind of weird. Wasnt expecting that result but im happy with it.

I tried some medicated shampoos but i have very long hair and its too drying even though i only wash the top of my head. The bumps that i did have were red and itchy from time to time, but they are nearly gone. I think discontinuing use of the stronger sulphates is what my problem was. Ive read so much about sulphate free shampoos lately so i think it was a good switch for me.