Fungal Acne…. never heard of it? Well that’s because it’s a made up term (or a ‘common’ name) for a fungal skin condition known as pityrosporum folliculitis, or Malassezia Folliculitis (MF). Why am I bringing it to your attention? Because most Doctors misdiagnose Fungal Acne for normal acne and prescribe antibiotics, which unfortunately won’t work.
So what exactly IS Malassezia Folliculitis (MF) and what causes it? Well in simple terms it is a type of yeast which actually lives on everybody’s skin and is not an acne at all. It is an infection of the hair follicle; other differences between this and regular acne includes intense itching and placement.
Inflammatory (normal) acne tends to affect the face and is usually either due to increased sebum production, follicular plugging, excess bacterial growth of propionibacterium acnes, or hormonal changes. MF, however, appears as uniformed papules and because they love oil, they’ll most often congregate in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin), but also cause breakouts elsewhere on the face and on the chest, back, and shoulders. They also grow exceptionally well in warm, humid conditions, making it much more common in summertime and in hot, sticky climates (it also thrives if you sweat a lot.)
To treat MF, the first thing we do is recommend an antifungal treatment, and as strange as it sounds, an anti-dandruff shampoo is perfect for this! Then we recommended a simple skin care routine which is incredibly important when suffering a flare up!
Plus, there are a few notable ingredients that should be avoided; Oils, fatty acids and Fermented ingredients in particular!
Once the correct care and education starts, it doesn’t take long to clear up this pesky condition!
*Our extra tips include – Do not over-moisturise your face especially during hot and humid weather, Keep as cool as possible, Change out of sweaty clothes and wipe off excess sweat.
