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What is Fungal Acne and How to Treat It
Developing fungal acne isn’t the end of the world. Sure, it may be a little irritating and hard to manage, but it’s definitely treatable — as long as you can identify it correctly!
If you’ve been itching to know all about it, then you’ve come to the right place. Let’s take a look at everything there is to know about this condition, how to treat it, and how to prevent it from happening.
What is fungal acne?
Fungal acne is actually a misnomer, because malassezia folliculitis — the scientific name for this skin condition — isn’t actually acne, although it does exhibit acne-like symptoms.
The truth is, fungal acne is a yeast infection of the hair follicle which is caused by excess Malassezia yeast, and since yeast is a type of fungus, the skin condition is called fungal acne. This can result in blocked pores and itchiness. The breakouts also tend to occur in the parts of the face and body with the most sebum production as well as parts with tight or restrictive clothing.
What causes fungal acne?
Bumps and irritation on the skin caused by yeast overgrowth
Malassezia yeast is naturally found in our body’s microflora, but its excess can be attributed to many factors. If you’ve been on certain medications like antibiotics or steroids that can affect the immune system, there’s a chance that your body overproduces yeast without the immune system response to keep it in check.
Once you’re done with the medication, often, the body overreacts to the overgrowth of yeast, thus the acne and inflammation. If you think this is the case with you, consult with a board-certified dermatologist for the next steps.
But antibiotic treatment is not the only factor that causes fungal acne. Some people have developed genetics that favor yeast growth. Likewise, having chronic conditions that are affected by your immune system like diabetes and HIV might cause fungal pimples.
Another factor is personal hygiene. Wearing sweaty workout clothes for too long, rewearing fitness gear without washing it thoroughly, or simply living in humid climates can create a favorable atmosphere in which yeast thrive.
How do you know if you have fungal acne?
The good thing about fungal acne is that symptoms are easy to detect and are easily preventable. The trickier part is how to spot it.
Here’s how to tell the difference between bacterial and fungal acne (Fungal Acne vs. Acne Vulgaris)
As we’ve established before, fungal acne is a completely different skin condition from acne vulgaris. The latter is an inflammation of the skin caused by clogged pores due to excess oil, dirt, or bacteria. These are your typical pimples, pustules, closed comedones, etc., which can be treated by a variety of options, including a solid skincare routine and even acne supplements.
Fungal acne is pityrosporum folliculitis, which is an infection of hair follicles caused by overgrowth of yeast. We can’t stress the difference enough, because it’s the key to treating this condition the right way!
How do I spot fungal acne?
Anyone can develop fungal acne. Wearing tight clothing, living in moist environments, and taking oral medication can all result in acne-like breakouts. But since the inflammation can look a lot like your typical skin infection, it may be difficult to go forward with the right maintenance treatment plan. Since the typical acne treatments can make fungal acne worse, it’s important to differentiate fungal acne and bacterial acne.
Can you show the symptoms of fungal acne?
There are a few key distinctions between the two: itchiness, placement, and uniformity. The biggest difference between a fungal infection and a regular acne breakout is that breakouts tend not to itch the way hair follicles with excess yeast do. The yeast responsible for pityrosporum folliculitis also causes red bumps.
Those who experience fungal acne will find it around oily parts of the face, the forehead, and chin. They can also be found on the upper chest and back. These clogged hair follicles also tend to break out in clumps of uniform size. A great tip is to look for tiny whiteheads the size of a point, or one centimeter.
The best course of action is to ask for a professional’s opinion. A dermatologist can perform skin scraping for yeast, and the skin sample will be able to confirm the diagnosis and determine the cause. They will also prescribe the best antifungal treatments and provide medical advice on how to prevent fungal acne from recurring.
Can you list the triggers for fungal acne?
Unlike inflammatory acne, which is caused by bacterial growth, excess oil, or hormonal changes, fungal acne has different triggers.
Since yeast grow in moist environments, overgrowth can be triggered by wearing sweaty clothes for too long. The yeast can thrive and grow in sweat glands and hair follicles, thus causing inflammation of these hair follicles.
But hygiene isn’t the only factor. Pre-existing medical conditions and taking certain medications, such as antibiotics, can affect your immune system and result in yeast overgrowth.
How to Identify and Treat Fungal Acne
Since treatment of fungal acne is different from typical acne treatments, it’s ideal to consult a dermatologist for your treatment options moving forward. A dermatologist will be able to provide fungal acne treatment that will take into account your physical health conditions and history in order to better treat your skin.
Oral treatment
Your doctor may prescribe an oral antifungal medication, such as itraconazole or fluconazole, which can go deeper into the hair follicle and act faster. As suggested by this article, fungal acne is best treated by oral medication.
Topical treatments
Topical treatments, like ketoconazole, can be applied to affected areas. Peer-reviewed studies agree that these are more effective when used in combination with a primary oral treatment.
Use an anti-dandruff shampoo
The use of an anti-dandruff shampoo on the area can help restore the cutaneous flora’s natural balance of yeast and bacteria.
Try a body wash
Similarly, you can use the anti-dandruff shampoos as a body wash 2-3 times a week in order to treat the problem areas if they happened to pop up on your body.
Wear loose clothing
Yeast thrives in occlusive garments, so wearing looser clothes, especially during physical activities, can reduce your chances of developing the condition.
Why is my acne not improving?
Fungal Acne Is Commonly Misdiagnosed
Believe it or not, even professionals have misdiagnosed fungal acne. One can easily mistake the skin condition for another because of their similar appearance. But when left untreated, the rash could spread to other parts of the skin.
Final Note
So, like we said: fungal acne isn’t the end of the world, and it’s not as serious as some parts of the world wide web make it sound!
Just make sure you’re taking good care of your skin and getting professional advice if you suspect you might have an infection. Along with good hygiene practices, seeking treatment right away is the best course of action.
We hope this article answered your burning questions. Let us know in the comments what else you’d like to hear!
