Is It Acne, or Could It Be Fungal Acne? Here’s What You Need to Know

 

For many people, seeing anything less than clear skin is a signal to start a treatment plan—especially when acne appears. Those inflamed bumps can be frustrating to manage, but what happens when you’ve tried every acne product under the sun, and nothing seems to work?

Sometimes, what looks like “regular acne” might be something entirely different. A condition known as fungal acne can mimic the appearance of whiteheads, blackheads, and red bumps, but is caused by an entirely different issue—an overgrowth of yeast in your hair follicles. Unfortunately, typical acne products aren’t effective against it.

 

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What is Fungal Acne?

Despite the name, fungal acne isn’t actually acne, nor is it caused by fungus. Its medical name is Pityrosporum Folliculitis, and it’s an infection of the hair follicles on the face or body. This results in small, raised bumps that resemble pimples.

While fungal acne can be easy to treat, the challenge lies in identifying it since it looks so similar to regular acne.

 

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What Causes Fungal Acne?

Traditional acne is caused by clogged pores, with triggers such as hormones, skincare products, diet, medications, and stress varying from person to person. The root cause of fungal acne is different—it stems from an overgrowth of Malassezia yeast, which naturally exists on your skin. When the yeast multiplies excessively, hair follicle infections occur, leading to acne-like symptoms.

Wondering if your breakout is fungal? A key clue is itching—fungal acne often triggers an immune response that makes it itch. It may also worsen with sweating or flare up in hot, humid conditions. If traditional acne treatments aren’t working, it’s worth consulting a dermatologist who can confirm the diagnosis, sometimes using skin scraping to detect yeast.

 

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What Does Fungal Acne Look Like?

Fungal acne typically presents as small, uniform red bumps arising from hair follicles. These breakouts might appear in symmetric rows on your forehead, scatter across your cheeks, or even pop up on your upper back and chest. Unlike regular acne, you won’t find blackheads, pustules, or deeper nodules and cysts.

 

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How Do You Treat Fungal Acne?

The solution to fungal acne lies in targeting the yeast overgrowth. With the right anti-fungal washes or creams, you can start seeing improvements in as little as two to four weeks. Dandruff shampoos containing zinc pyrithione or selenium sulfide can also be effective—just use them as a skin rinse several times a week during a breakout.

 

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How to Avoid Fungal Triggers

Since Malassezia yeast naturally resides on your skin, complete prevention isn’t possible. However, you can adopt habits to keep the yeast in check:

• Wash your face twice daily with a gentle cleanser, like our Goat Milk + Turmeric Soap, to clear away oil and build-up.
• Reinforce your skin’s protective barrier with a lightweight moisturiser, like our Brightening Daily Moisturiser Cream, applied morning and night.
• Avoid tight or restrictive clothing for extended periods.
• Shower and change into clean clothes promptly after sweating.
• Use anti-fungal shampoo as a body wash a few times per week for prevention.
• Consider anti-acne products and exfoliating body washes to help manage oily skin, as yeast thrives on oil.

 

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Take Control of Your Skin

Fungal acne can be persistent, but understanding its root cause and adopting the right treatments can make a world of difference. Finding a skincare routine that works for you—and keeps Malassezia in check—is the key to managing and preventing flare-ups. With patience and a thoughtful approach, clear, calm skin is within reach!