Antifungal agents in modern antidandruff shampoos suppress the growth of which organism?

• A. Malessezia
• B. Candida
• C. Staphylococcus
• D. Pseudomonas

Answer: (A)

Antifungal agents in antidandruff shampoos target a fungus that commonly inhabits the scalp. The main organism linked to dandruff is a lipophilic yeast called Malassezia, which thrives on scalp oils and triggers irritation that leads to flaking. By inhibiting Malassezia’s growth or disrupting its cell membrane, these shampoos reduce the yeast population and the associated inflammation, which decreases flakes. Candida is another fungus but is more associated with infections elsewhere and is not the target of standard anti-dandruff formulas. The other two are bacteria, so antifungal agents don’t primarily suppress them. Therefore, the organism suppressed is Malassezia.