{"id":28488,"date":"2022-01-24T20:17:26","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T20:17:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=28488"},"modified":"2022-01-25T20:35:58","modified_gmt":"2022-01-25T20:35:58","slug":"fungal-acne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/fungal-acne\/","title":{"rendered":"Pimples Not Clearing Up? You Might Be Dealing With Fungal Acne"},"content":{"rendered":"

Social media<\/a> is obsessed with <\/em>fungal acne<\/em>\u2014but what is it? A dermatologist breaks down everything you need to know about this trending skincare topic.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

So you\u2019re dealing with new breakouts, but they aren\u2019t going away no matter what you do. If this sounds familiar, you might be dealing with fungal acne. It\u2019s often confused with traditional acne, but it won\u2019t respond to acne medication (think: salicylic acid face washes and benzoyl peroxide spot treatments). That\u2019s because it\u2019s not a classification of acne at all\u2014it\u2019s actually an infection of the hair follicle (known as folliculitis) caused by an overgrowth of yeast.<\/p>\n\n\n

Despite claims on TikTok that fungal acne breakouts aren’t treatable, they actually are. The key is to correctly identify the skin concern first, and then treat it appropriately. HUM tapped Dr. Marisa Garshick<\/a>, board-certified dermatologist in New York City to demystify the trending skincare concern. From what it is to what it looks like to how to treat it, she answers every question you might have about fungal acne. Step away from the pimple patches, and read up on why this skin concern won\u2019t respond to your typical acne treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n

What Is Fungal Acne?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Despite its name, fungal acne isn\u2019t actually a type of acne. \u201cFungal acne refers to a medical condition known as pityrosporum or malessezia folliculitis, as it is named for the yeast that causes it: malessezia furfur,\u201d Garshick explains. \u201cPityrosporum folliculitis is due to the overgrowth of a normal yeast that lives on the skin, known as malassezia, which can lead to inflammation<\/a> of the hair follicle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

But what causes fungal acne exactly? There are a few different factors that can lead to an overgrowth of yeast. \u201cIt\u2019s more common in individuals who are immunosuppressed or immunocompromised and may be more likely to occur in high heat or humid environments,\u201d she says. \u201cIt can also occur in individuals who are currently taking or recently took antibiotics.\u201d It is also common in people who wear tight clothing, such as workout clothes (especially if you\u2019re guilty of sitting in your sweaty outfit after your workout is done).<\/p>\n\n\n

And while you might assume fungal acne symptoms include breakouts on your face, Garshick says that isn\u2019t always the case. \u201cFungal acne often occurs on the chest, back, shoulders and hairline,\u201d she says. \u201cWhile it can involve the face\u2014especially on the forehead along the hairline\u2014it does not primarily involve the face as we often see in bacterial acne.\u201d So if you\u2019re dealing with red bumps on your body, you might be dealing with fungal acne.<\/p>\n\n\n

What Does Fungal Acne Look Like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The key to treating fungal acne is identifying it first. Fungal acne is described as \u201cmonomorphic red papules and pustules,\u201d says Garshick, which means all the bumps appear similar to each other. You may experience some bumps that have a bit of yellow-ish pus, but typically you won\u2019t experience white heads or blackheads you often get with bacterial acne. (If you do see pus-filled breakouts, don\u2019t pop your pimples<\/a>\u2014it will only do more harm than good.)<\/p>\n\n\n

The uniformity of its bumps differentiates fungal acne from the bacterial acne we\u2019re familiar with. \u201cTraditional acne tends to appear with different types of bumps including papules, pustules, cystic breakouts and nodules and may also appear with comedones which are the blackheads and whiteheads,\u201d Garshick says. \u201cThe bumps in pityrosporum folliculitis may also be associated with itching, which is not typical of traditional acne.\u201d Note: While fungal acne may itch, it won\u2019t be painful (like deep, cystic acne<\/a>). If you\u2019re experiencing pain, consult a board-certified dermatologist ASAP.<\/p>\n\n\n

How to Get Rid of Fungal Acne<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Here\u2019s the good news: If you\u2019re dealing with fungal acne, it\u2019s completely treatable. The different types of treatments include a topical cream or gel, a shampoo (which can also be used as a body wash, or a pill. What treatment you need depends on the severity of your breakouts, which is why it\u2019s best to seek out help from a professional first. They may prescribe you medication or advise you to get something over-the-counter.<\/p>\n\n\n

These treatments are different from the familiar acne medications you\u2019ve seen before. \u201c[Fungal acne] treatment typically includes topical or oral antifungal medications, as opposed to traditional acne-fighting ingredients such as retinoids, salicylic acid, or benzoyl peroxide,\u201d Garshick says. (However, it\u2019s still a good idea to have these in your rotation to deal with bacterial breakouts, should they occur.)<\/p>\n\n\n

Fungal Acne Products<\/h2>\n\n\n

When shopping for fungal acne products, Garshick says there are a few key ingredients to look for. \u201cOver-the-counter shampoos include those that contain ketoconazole (such as Nizoral), selenium sulfide (such as Selsun Blue), or pyrithione zinc<\/a> (such as Dove Dryness and Itch-Relief Shampoo). Psst: Head & Shoulders Dandruff Shampoo contains pyrithione zinc too. You\u2019ll notice that these treatments include dandruff shampoos\u2014that\u2019s because dandruff is also caused by fungi. All of these antifungal products will help treat the root cause of your fungal acne (plus they can be used as body washes too).<\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cWith the shampoos, it\u2019s best to apply to the general affected area, leave it on for five to 10 minutes, and then rinse off,\u201d Garshick says. If you wash it off too fast, then the active ingredients won\u2019t have time to fight against the infection. If you\u2019re looking for a topical cream of gel, Garshick says it\u2019s best to speak to a board-certified dermatologist to determine the best course of action.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n