Does Tea Tree Oil Help Treat Fungal Acne
Multiple studies have shown that tea tree oil has strong anti-fungal propertiesparticularly against Malassezia, the main culprit in fungal acne. Tea tree oil should be combined with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to penetrate the clogged skin pores. The best products to fight fungal acne on the face should be oil-free and contain both benzoyl peroxide and tea tree oil. In severe cases of fungal acne/folliculitis, there is a need to use oral anti-fungal tablets such as fluconazole.
How To Treat Fungal Acne On Your Face
While shampoo isn’t usually suggested for the body and face, it’s proven one of the most effective treatments for fungal acne. âIt’s been noted that dandruff shampoo actually helps because it kills the pityrosporum fungal type,â Frank says.
Roff agrees, vouching for the method as well. âIt is recommended to wash the area and leave the shampoo on the skin for two to three minutes and then rinse. This is especially great to do after a workout.â But shampoo isn’t the only successful remedies. âIt’s best to use products with sulfur since this ingredient is antibacterial,â Roff explains. âSalicylic acid is another good option for acne. If a body wash or any other products with these ingredients donât work after a few weeks, then it might be time to see a dermatologist so they can prescribe an oral medication.â
However, trying to treat fungal acne with traditional treatments may actually make it worse. âCommon acne treatments, especially antibiotics, wonât help at all and might even make your fungal acne worse because they will kill the protective healthy microbiome,” Nabi says. âTo keep the results and the skin in optimal condition, it is also recommended to use gentle and microbiome balancing skin care that has the power to boost beneficial bacteria and that does not create an unbalance in skin microbiome.â
How To Treat Fungal Acne
Fungal acne typically does not respond to traditional acne medications, but it can be improved with the use of topical antifungals, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. If you suspect you have fungal acne, try using a dandruff shampoo as a body wash. These contain anti-fungal ingredients like pyrithione zinc or selenium sulfide, which help balance your skins pH levels and decrease yeast on the skin. Both he and Dr. King suggest Dove Dermacare Scalp Dryness and Itch Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo for sensitive skin types. With any product, the key is to let the product sit on your skin before rinsing off.
Other similar products containing active ingredients might also do the trick. Look for an antifungal cream with econazole nitrate, ketoconazole, or clotrimazole, and apply it to the affected area twice daily, says Dr. King. Don’t use topical or systemic antibiotics. This can deplete bacteria on the skin and allow yeast to grow unchecked.
If these treatments are not working, see your board-certified dermatologist, who can confirm the diagnosis, and if needed, prescribe an oral antifungal medication. This prescription will usually work much faster because it penetrates more effectively into the follicle, says Dr. King.
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Fungal Acne Signs & Symptoms
âFungal acne can look like regular acne, but there are key differences,â Sue Y. Nabi, founder of vegan skin care line Orveda says. While regular acne breakouts vary in size, type, and location , âfungal acne will usually appear as red bumps or pustules of the same size, but they will be visible mainly on the chest, upper arms, and back â rarely the face,â Nabi says.
If your regular acne treatments aren’t working, that may be a sign that it’s more than just the traditionally topical sort. âBe suspicious if acne doesn’t respond to traditional therapies that focus on bacteria and hormone imbalances,â Dr. Frank says. Another key factor to consider is the placement of the acne. According to Roff, rarely will fungal acne present as one-off bumps â âIt appears more in clusters,â she confirms.
How Fungal Acne Is Treated Vs Regular Acne
Fungal acne: change in diet , bentonite clay masks, chemical exfoliants , dandruff body wash, antifungal creams or medications, natural antifungals , more frequent showing, and looser clothes
Regular acne: change in diet , treatment of hormonal imbalances, increased water intake, bentonite clay masks, salicylic acid, topical retinoids, and oral antibiotics
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D Natural Remedies To Cure Fungal Acne
One of the best ways to treat fungal acne naturally, is by completely switching to a herbal skincare routine.
1. Cleansing
Keeping the affected areas clean helps control the spread of the fungus. Soak neem and tulsi leaves overnight and wash your face with this medicated water.
2. Exfoliation
Oat seed extracts are used in several antifungal skincare products. Oatmeal can gradually heal fungal acne with frequent use. Exfoliate the affected areas 2 to 3 times a week with an oatmeal scrub to clean your pores and treat your fungal acne symptoms.
3. Antifungal Face Packs
Prepare your own homemade fungal acne face pack with the herbs and natural ingredients mentioned in the article such as turmeric, ginger, black pepper, clove, vacha, yashtimadhu and others. Apply this regularly to heal fungal infection on the face and other areas.
4. Moisturizing
Though fungal acne is often caused by the excess secretion of sebum, moisturizing the affected areas with certain oils is actually beneficial. Gently massage antifungal oils on the fungal acne regularly at the end of your skincare routine. In case of sensitive skin, you can mix the essential oils with a carrier oil and apply.
Vedix Tip: Fungal acne can be very itchy making you feel uncomfortable. Apply aloe vera gel on the itch prone areas to calm your skin. Aloin present in aloe vera is also an antifungal agent that prevents growth and spread of fungal infections on your skin.
What Is The Best Treatment For Fungal Acne
If lifestyle changes dont help, your next step for a mild case of fungal acne should be trying an over-the-counter topical treatment. For example, Dr. McKenzie says Selsun Blue , despite being marketed as a dandruff shampoo, also works as an antifungal body wash, thanks to its active ingredients . Other similar products containing those active ingredients might also perform well. And the key with all of them is to let the product sit on your skin for about five minutes before rinsing, she says. That way, the active fungus-fighting ingredient has time to get the job done.
Other recommended topical treatments include creams containing 2% ketoconazole, econozole nitrate, or 1% clotrimazole cream, all of which are often used to treat athletes foot.
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Wear Loose Breathable Fabrics
A woman taking a shower.
Tight clothes create friction on the skin, and also limit airflow for certain areas of the body. All of these factors encourage yeast growth, putting you at risk for fungal acne. This gets worse if you pair it with sweating while wearing such clothes. By wearing loose, breathable fabrics, you encourage air circulation in the skin, avoiding yeast overgrowth.
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How Does Nizoral Cream Work For Fungal Acne
As an anti-fungal agent used for treatment of fungal infections, Nizoral anti-dandruff shampoo is also commonly used in treating seborrheic dermatitis as well as dandruff.
According to recent studies, Nizoral shampoo is also effective in treating acne vulgaris by reducing inflammation on affected areas of skin. Is this product safe?
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How Do You Know If Its Fungal Acne
Fungal acne typically appears as a cluster of small, uniform bumps on your cheeks, back, or chest. These bumps are usually painless and do not have blackheads, whiteheads, or cysts.
Additionally, traditional treatments likely wont work. If you find that nothing seems to make your blemishes go away, you could have fungal acne.
What Do Fungal Acne Symptoms Look Like And How Do I Know If My Acne Is Fungal Vs Bacterial
The bacterial or hormonal acne youre probably used to typically consists of pus-filled bumps or cysts. Regular acne breakouts vary in size and also tend to feature blackheads or whiteheads on the face, Dr. Chung says.
But what does fungal acne look like? Youll usually notice the following symptoms, Dr. Rodney says:
- Small, even-shaped bumps
- Bumps that usually appear on the forehead or on the upper portion of the back
Dr. McKenzie emphasizes that fungal acne will usually appear as uniform inflamed or reddened bumps and pustules on the chest, upper arms, and backrarely the face, but sometimes the forehead. Also, the bumps that result from malassezia dont usually come to heads. And, perhaps most noticeably, she adds that fungal acne breakouts will be itchy. Typical bacterial acne can be itchy sometimes, she says, but not that much.
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What Is Fungal Acne
According to dermatologists, fungal acnes name is misleading because this skin condition isnt actually a type of acne. Its in fact a skin problem caused by yeast that leads to small breakouts that look similar to acne.
This makes it different from other types of acne, which are caused by bacteria.
Fungal acne is actually an infection of the hair follicles. Its technically called pityrosporum folliculitis or Malassezia folliculitis.
Why is it called fungal acne if its due to overgrowth of yeast? Yeast is biologically a type of fungi.
Q Can You Use Honey For Fungal Acne Treatment At Home
A. Yes, honey has antimicrobial qualities, while also being intensely moisturising to the skin. As such, it can be used to treat fungal acne at home. Use raw honey to layer infected areas of the skin, keep for about 25-30 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water. Do this once a day for best results.
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Fungal Acne Is Folliculitis
Folliculitis causes your hair follicle to become inflamed and infected, which causes pustules on the skin. You can get folliculitis anywhere you have hair.â
Sometimes people think they have acne, but it doesnât seem to get better with treatment. This is usually a sign that you donât have acne, but a fungal infection in your hair follicle.
This is called pityrosporum folliculitis. It is caused by the Malassezia species and usually affects teenagers because of extra oil production in the skin. It typically is found on your shoulders, back, and neck and can be caused by sweating. It is often referred to as a yeast infection.
How We Chose The Best Fungal Acne Treatments
Heres how we curated this list of the very best products:
- Ingredients. We listened carefully to the derms we consulted with, giving priority to their No. 1 draft picks for zapping fungal acne.
- Skin and zit type. If your acne is definitely fungal , odds are, your pimples all look the same and your skin is likely to be the oily type. But we considered sensitive skin types, too.
- Reviews. We can handle the truth, so we look closely at what reviewers are saying. We like to make sure they are the real deal, too .
- Cost. We keep different price points in mind, but obviously if you want to test out one of the prescription options we mention, youll need a doc and some insurance, so that will vary.
- Vetted products only. We only included brands known for creating top-notch products with quality ingredients. We put every product through a thorough vetting process to make sure brands arent making any unsupported health claims or engaging in shady business practices. Only brands that passed made our list.
- Pros: go-to OTC option, budget-friendly, easy to use
- Cons: not best for severe cases, contains fragrance
You may be wondering how an anti-dandruff shampoo has anything to do with fungal acne. Like we mentioned, OTC options like this are the first line of defense suggested by the derms we chatted with .
They mention this shampoo by name and thats thanks to its all-star ingredient: 1 percent ketoconazole, a serious fungus fighter.
- Pros: oil-free, lightweight
- Cons: pricey
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Why Isnt My Acne Improving Could I Have Fungal Acne
Ever struggle with what looks like facial acne that just doesnt seem to respond to your typical acne treatments? You may have a condition called pityrosporum folliculitis, known commonly as fungal acne. This condition is routinely mistaken for acne but is actually related to a yeast called Malessezia furfur thats found naturally on the skin. Fungal acne can occur simultaneously with acne, can be mistaken for acne or can flare as a result of acne treatment. Because its related to a yeast overgrowth in the hair follicles, it wont respond to normal acne treatment and requires a different treatment approach.
What Is The Treatment For Pityrosporum Folliculitis
The best way to get rid of pityrosporum folliculitis is with lifestyle modifications and medications.
First, if youre on topical antibiotics for acne, its best to discontinue them.
Choose sweat-wicking fabrics whenever possible. Make sure to change out of sweaty clothes quickly. Avoid heat and humidity, especially while exercising. Dont use heavy moisturizers that can clog pores.
Treatment is with topical and/or oral antifungal medications such as:
The treatment you get will depend on how severe your breakout is, what medical problems you have, and what other medications youre taking.
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Where Is Fungal Acne Located
Because Pityrosporum and Malassezia fungi depend on oil for survival, fungal acne is most common in oil-rich areas of the face and body such as the forehead , sides of the nose, chin and the upper back, chest, and shoulders. It can pop up in the same areas as traditional acne and seborrheic dermatitis and can even occur simultaneously. If you’re not sure what skin condition you have, consult your local physician, or seek a dermatologist.
Pityrosporum folliculitis in a 34-year-old construction worker. The condition developed after working in a hot, humid environment for a few days. .
The Best Fungal Acne Routine
Treating fungal acne isn’t only about using the right productsyou’ll also want to make some changes to your everyday routine if you want to prevent it in the future. Since excess sebum production and sweating can worsen fungal acne, Dr. Kim says it’s super common in anyone who exercises a lot or sits around in tight, non-breathable fabrics, especially while getting all hot and sweaty. So make sure to change out of your sweat-soaked clothes right away and shower immediately after your workouts.
Dr. Kim also recommends stopping all antibacterial cleansers and topical and oral antibiotics for the time being, but of course, consult your doctor before making changes to your regimen. Actually, the best idea is to consult your doctor from the get-go because like the name implies, fungal acne looks just like acne, so better to leave it up to a doctor. Got it? Cool.
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What Does Fungal Acne Look Like
You can spot fungal acne by its itchy, red papules or pustules that are about 1 to 2 millimeters in size . These aren’t your cystic zits or giant, squishy whiteheadsthey’re usually smaller and pretty similar in size.
Fungal acne also tends to appear most often on the chest, back, shoulders, and sides of the armsbasically, anywhere you tend to trap sweat or bacteria, both of which aggravate fungal acnebut Dr. Kim says it can also be found on the neck and face, usually along the hairline and the sides.
Fungal Acne Treatment: How To Identify And Treat Fungal Acne At Home
Fungal acne is caused by an infection in the hair follicle. Also known as Pityrosporum folliculitis or Malassezia folliculitis, this form of acne is often itchy, inflamed and is a result of a yeast infection. Your skin always has a certain amount of yeast, which when imbalanced, leads to pus-filled bumps that are quite messy to look at. Given that fungal acne is an infection, it can be contagious and may spread to other parts of your skin. They show up as consistently sized papules and pustules and are commonly found on the chest and back, but can happen on your face as well. One of the best ways to deal with other, more severe forms of acne is through an expert, but fungal acne treatment at home is possible with changes in lifestyle and enriching your skincare routine with the right products.
Even though pore-clogging and excessive sebum do play a big part in triggering fungal acne, oil-control and drying routines may not be the remedy for it. This is why treatment options for other forms of acne may not work on blemishes caused by a fungal infection. Triggered by sweating, humidity, bad workout hygiene, occlusive clothing and use of certain antibiotics, it is important to identify fungal acne before treating it.
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How To Use Nizoral For Fungal Acne
Fungal acne, aka pityrosporum folliculitis, is caused by the same fungus that causes dandruff. If you’re struggling with acne does not seem to budge using products marketed to treat acne, you should look for fungal products like Nizoral. Nizoral shampoo is based on an anti-fungal medication called ketoconazole. It reduces fungus levels on the skin and is commonly used to treat dandruff pimples when resistant to other therapies. Nizoral treats fungal infections, reduces the overgrowth of fungi on the skin, and prevents fungal acne. You can use Nizoral shampoo every day, or every other day, for three weeks. Use it as a liquid cleanser. Leave it on the skin for it to do its job, so you should apply, lather, and count to 30 before rinsing off.
