Acne

Do you have persistent blemishes that just never seem to go away? If you're caught in this situation, don't just diagnose yourself with fungal acne just yet!

We’ll dive into fungal acne, also known as malassezia folliculitis. First, we’ll explain the key differences between fungal acne and regular acne. Then, we’ll go over its characteristics so you can more accurately self-diagnose your acne condition. Finally, we’ll also give you some essential skin care tips that will teach you how to care for your skin if you suffer from fungal acne and what you can do to prevent the problem from getting worse. Let’s get started!

What is the difference between fungal acne and regular acne?

Regular acne is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria. However, fungal acne forms when there is an overgrowth of fungi/yeast (or malassezia) on the skin. The overgrowth of yeast causes inflammation in our hair follicles and creates a lesion that can look like regular acne!

Furthermore, the fact that people mistakenly refer to common acne as 'fungus' due to their similarity in appearance does not help this case of confusion.

What are its characteristics?

Before we start, remember that it is common for acne and fungal acne to coexist. This makes it even harder to distinguish between the two just by looking at their appearance!

However, here are some clues you can pay attention to:

– Monomorphic papule/pustule

Your acne appears as a cluster of raised bumps of the same size and shape of 1-2 mm in different colors.

– It feels itchy.

One of the most telling signs of a yeast infection is that it can be very uncomfortable and feel extra itchy. However, note that regular acne can sometimes leave an itchy sensation as well.

– Affected areas

Areas most exposed to sweat and hot, humid conditions are most likely to develop this condition. Some of the most common areas are the T-zone, forehead, hairline, chest, upper back, or neck.

What are the possible causes?

There are many factors that can potentially cause the microbial imbalance in your skin microbiome, leading to the buildup of fungi on your skin! Some common culprits include:

1. High temperatures, humid weather and sweat

Warm and humid weather is a good breeding ground for the fungal colony. This is probably why the condition can worsen in the summer and in a country with humid weather.

2. Oily skin

Fungi feed on the natural sebum that our skin produces and even topical oil products that we apply on top of our skin.

3. Immunosuppression

Long-term use of products that suppress immune responses may disrupt the balance of your skin microbiome.

4. Long-term use of antibiotics

Long-term use of topical or oral antibiotics can also affect our skin microbiome and lead to fungal overgrowth.

How do I know if I have a fungal infection with acne? The only way to be absolutely sure that a fungal infection is the cause of your acne is to see a dermatologist. The process is less scary than it sounds! All your dermatologist will need to do is scrape or extract parts of the lesion. Then, a simple examination under the microscope to check for the presence of fungi will help determine the cause of your acne.

If you have fungal acne, you need to be extra careful with your skincare routine. Most importantly, make sure you don't use anything that could potentially worsen your skin condition!

Ingredients to avoid

Now we will talk about some of the ingredients that can worsen your fungal acne.

– Fatty acids and oils

Since fungi feed on oils and fatty acids, it's best to avoid these elements altogether. Some oil exceptions that are safe for fungal acne include squalene, mineral oil, and capric triglycerides.

– Esters

Another ingredient to avoid are esters, whose scientific names usually end in ‘ate.’ For example, these include:

– alcohol + fatty acids = isopropyl palmitate

– glycerin + fatty acid = glyceryl stearate (glycerol esters)

There are many more examples! Look out for ingredients that end in 'ate' and you should be good to go. (This is typically in the English spelling)

– Polysorbates

– Galactomyces and other fermented ingredients

– Amino acids

– White kerosene

Ingredients to use

You should also actively include certain ingredients in your routine:

 Ketoconazole

This ingredient is commonly found in dandruff shampoos. Here's a tip: take a dandruff shampoo, apply it to the affected areas while bathing, and rinse. Its antifungal properties will help treat acne caused by fungal infection.

Zinc pyrithione

Another ingredient that can also be found in dandruff shampoos.

Sulfur

Also a common ingredient in skin care products known for its antifungal properties.

Lifestyle tips

Now that you have your skincare routine in place, here are some additional lifestyle tips you can follow:

Change into clean clothes immediately after exercising.

Make sure your skin temperature is kept cool at a comfortable temperature

Avoid over-moisturizing your skin

The moisture from over-moisturizing your skin will create a comfortable space where the fungi can reside on your skin longer! Follow a simple, no-frills skincare routine with the ingredients to avoid and use above in mind.