Fungal acne

We all have acne from time to time, but do we know the difference between pimples and fungal acne? I’m sure most of us here are not aware of this, fungal acne is caused by an infection in your hair follicles.

Fungal acne appears in small pimples, it can cause whiteheads and skin irritation. However, fungal acne is quite different from your usual acne and it is not suggested to use anti-acne products on your fungal acne as it can make your condition worse.

A lot of people do not realize that they have fungal acne and resort to acne treatments which makes the condition worse. Fungal acne is caused by the overgrowth of yeast present in the follicles of the hair, it thrives on the sweat produced by the skin.

Symptoms of fungal acne

After talking about fungal acne in brief let us move on to the symptoms of this type of acne to get a better insight into it. Here are all the symptoms of fungal acne.

What makes fungal acne worse is that people are often unable to differentiate between fungal acne and a bacterial one, the use of harmful products on fungal acne makes it worse.

Size: Fungal acne is filled with pus and the bumps are near all the same size. However, bacterial acne can cause pimples and whiteheads that may vary in size, this is one of the best ways to differentiate between the two.
Location: Fungal acne is often seen on the arms, chest, and back. It can also be seen on the face at times with bacterial acne and it can multiply if you use products that are meant for bacterial acne.
Itching: Fungal acne often causes a lot of itchiness, however, bacterial acne does not.
Clusters: Fungal acne is often seen in clusters of small whiteheads or redness.

Causes of fungal acne

After looking at some of the major symptoms of fungal acne let us now find out all the causes of fungal acne. Unlike normal acne fungal acne is not caused by oil and bacteria, the oil secretion does play a major role but it usually happens due to an overgrowth of yeast which is a type of fungal.

The yeast that is mainly responsible for fungal acne is always present on our skin and our body is able to manage the levels of yeast and other fungi, but if the natural balance gets upset, an overgrowth of yeast can occur. Here are some of the other reasons for fungal acne.

Wearing sweaty workout clothes for a long time can encourage yeast production by trapping in the moisture. Make sure you always wear clean and dry clothes as wearing clothes that have not been cleaned can also cause fungal acne.
Medications like antibiotics can reduce the bacteria on your skin which can lead to an overgrowth of fungus. Make sure you consult your doctor if you are facing fungal acne while being on antibiotics.
People who have suppressed immune systems are more likely to develop fungal acne.
Your diet can also be a cause of fungal acne, fungi, and yeast feed on carbohydrates and hence it is important to consume a balanced diet that will keep a strict check on your carb intake.
Wearing tight and non breathable clothes on a regular basis can encourage extra sweat and moisture which can lead to yeast overgrowth and be a cause of fungal acne.
People that live in hot climates, where you may face a lot of sweating and heat may face yeast overgrowth which can lead to fungal acne.

How to treat fungal acne?

After talking about all the symptoms and causes of fungal acne let us dig into some of the ways in which we can treat fungal acne. Here are all the tips and tricks that will help you in treating fungal acne.

Taking regular baths

If you like working out or you have a field job then you are mostly exposed to sun, heat, and a lot of sweat which are the prime reasons for yeast overgrowth. Taking regular baths even 2-3 times a day can help wash away the excess yeast from your body that might have developed due to the moist environment.

Wear comfortable clothes

Waist cinching clothes may look good once in a while but make sure you are not wearing them on a regular basis. It is important to wear comfortable, loose breathable clothes that encourage circulation. Weaning loose clothes help in reducing the change of fungal acne.

Prescription medicines

If you have already developed fungal acne then you must visit your doctor to get all the required help. He may be able to prescribe you some oral medications that may help your case.

A lot of doctors prescribe Fluconazole and Ketoconazole depending on the severity of the patient’s condition.

OTC and creams

A lot of doctors also recommend OTC and creams to treat fungal acne, depending on the area and the scarcity. Most of the OTC and creams contain ketoconazole, butenafine, or clotrimazole cream.

Take Away

Fungal acne is different from bacterial acne, if you are confused as to what you have then please visit your doctor as he will be able to guide you better. We hope that the information above is going to help everyone who is dealing with fungal acne.