Fungal acne – The facts you need to know and how to get rid of it

Starting from our teenage most of us start getting an acne-prone skin and our acne-prone skin keeps staying with us till the end of our puberty. Acne is a fact of concern because even when it leaves us it leaves the scars on our face, which makes us feel uneasy in front of the others.

Acne happens when our skin gets attacked by pollution and fungus. Oily skins are more acne-prone because the oil on the skin opens access point to the fungus and it gets stuck in the facial hair follicles. As school and college-going students are more exposed in the environment their skin tends to be more sensitive than others.

The acne type that requires more concern is the fungal acne that makes people suffer a lot as if it is not diagnosed properly.

What is fungal acne?

Photo by Nika Akin

Fungal acne is nothing but a dermatological issue that makes causes inflammation on the skin. It happens due to the increase in the amount of a yeast called Malassezia that exists in our hair follicles. Though it has some similarities with the bacterial acne it indeed is more intimidating than that.

The fungal acne is the most misdiagnosed skin condition and has an inflammatory response on the skin. This is properly called pityrosporum folliculitis or Malassezia folliculitis.  It normally dwells in our skin though it does not harm anyway. The increase in the amount of the fungus leads to such skin conditions.

It feeds itself on the oil and grows up hastily. These acne bumps are itchy and create irritation. These bumps are small in size and sometimes outnumber itself. It happens mostly in the oily regions of our body such as on our t-zone of our face, on our back, and our neck.

It can also occupy your traditional acne region and makes its room.  If you are suffering from such issues then it is recommended to visit a doctor.

How does it happen?

Fungal acne breakouts on your skin without any warning sign. It mostly tends to happen in the oily areas of your skin where it is easier for the fungi to break out. You may have fungal acne but you will not know whether they are fungal acne or not until you see a dermatologist, as commonly these are the most uncertainly diagnosed skin condition. Now let us observe how we get these fungal infections on our skin.

  • Climate plays an intimidating role in initiating the issue. In humid and hot places our skin overproduces oil or sebum. The oil aids the fungus so that it can thrive in our skin. This is why people that belong to tropical regions possess acne-prone skin.
  • Unhygienic habits lead to a very bad skin type and several dermatological issues. Spending hours of work or gym (especially gym because while exercising we sweat a lot) in the same clothes can be a reason for fungal acne.  So try to keep yourself clean as much as possible. Otherwise, this acne will keep happening and will not stop any sooner or later.
  • People who possess oily skin are most commonly get affected by this type of skin condition. If someone having such issues, they must be careful of which product they are using and how much using as per their skin-health. People must watch out the products thoroughly before they plan to buy it. People who are affected by fungal acne, they must avoid oily makeup products.
  • Many a time an unhealthy diet can give rise to such a condition. Yeast enjoys a higher sugar level and oily food products. This together can be the cause of fungal acne. So watch out the amount of sugar you intake.

Fungal Acne Treatment

get rid of the fungal acne
Photo by Shiny Diamond

It is indeed a matter of concern, how to get rid of the fungal acne? Fungal acne can be stubborn and take a longer time than usual to get better if you have an oily skin type. Not taking proper medication can affect the longevity of the acne. It might stay longer if not treated properly with affecting the skincare routine. Here we will discuss how to treat fungal acne?

1. Proper shampoo

Fungal acne can also affect our scalp. Oily itchy scalps are prone to fungal infections. To treat this kind of fungal infection one can use an antifungal shampoo. Antifungal shampoos work wonders for such infectious scabs. Massage the shampoo on your scalp and leave it on hair for 3-4 minutes and then rinse it thoroughly. It will stop the irritation on your scalp. It is recommended to use the shampoo straight for 3 months to get rid of it.

2. Use prescribed medication

Using any random product to treat fungal acne shall not help in getting a better result. Rather it might give rise to an unknown event. It is better to go to a dermatologist with proper experience. The dermatologist will do the treatment after examining the skin type.

If somebody has a dry skin type but they are consuming the treatment that is supposedly the required treatment for an oily skin type then it may worsen the condition. That is why medical consultation is needed to treat fungal acne.

3. Prescribed acne cleanser

Acne cleansers are the most needed medication for treating fungal acne on the face. A prescribed acne cleanser with salicylic acid will help in cleaning up the oil from the facial pores. That is the major need for the treatment to work properly. Use the acne cleanser along with antifungal shampoo accordingly to get a view of the visible improvement.

4. Anti-fungal face cream

For treating fungal acne on the face, make sure to check out for an antifungal face cream. It will help eliminate the fungal infection in a quick motion. Add the antifungal cream into a dry moisturizer and use it in the night time just before bed. It will help to reduce the irritation. This acne cream is also effective on fungal acne on the forehead.

5. Maintain a proper dietary pattern

To get rid of the fungal acne, maintain a proper dietary pattern with easily digestive foods. A disciplined diet develops good health. If your liver works well the medications will be easily absorbed. Cut out the oily and junk foods from your diet routine and add healthy foods such as leafy vegetables and fruits that are rich in Iron.

Drink a lot of water. It hydrates our skin and keeps it healthy. Try to cut out the sugar consumption. Because sugary elements increase the blood sugar levels and that increases the acne as sugar is the ideal food do the yeast. Try to eat foods with low protein that is easy to break down and digestive. Remember, fruits with high sugar levels and carbs that are broken down into sugar easily are supposed to be avoided. A clear skin would surely boost your confidence.

6. Maintain hygiene

Maintaining hygiene is important as this sort of skin condition prefers proper hygiene otherwise the fungal acne will not be treated so easily. The yeast prefers sweat, so remember to keep extra clothes with you when going to the gym or somewhere else for a longer period. Always keep cleaning your face with normal water and do not allow your face to sweat like anything. If something related happens then tries to rinse your face using an antifungal acne face cleanser.