How I triggered my fungal acne without knowing it

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 Fungal Acne Series | Post 1


I had an idea of what fungal acne was, and yet, I was doing everything to feed it.

It started with tiny bumps on my forehead that wouldn't go away. They were tiny, uniformly shaped and sized, itchy, rough, and deeply frustrating. They wouldn't pop like pimples and did not respond to my acne treatments. In fact, the more products I used, like niacinamide, salicylic acid, moisturizers, or even retinoids, the worse things got. The breakouts spread across my cheeks and forehead in a way that felt uncontrollable. 

Like most people, I thought I was just dealing with regular acne, but this wasn't that. This was fungal acne, also known as Malassezia folliculitis, a skin condition caused by an overgrowth of yeast on the skin. And without knowing it, I was making it worse. 


What I was doing wrong (And you might be too)

Let me walk you through the mistake I made that triggered (and worsened) my fungal acne:

1. Using too many rich moisturizers: Most of my products were filled with fatty acids, esters, and oils that feed the yeast. What I thought was "hydrating" was actually fueling the overgrowth.

2. Layering active ingredients: In my attempt to "fix" the breakouts, I layered actives like salicylic acid, niacinamide, and retinol every day. While these work for regular acne, they don't treat fungal acne, and irritation only weakened my skin barrier even more.

3. Not treating the fungal cause: I did not know that I needed antifungal treatment, so while I was applying everything except what I needed, the yeast was thriving.

4. Ignoring my scalp and hairline: Fungal acne often starts around the hairline and forehead. I was using heavy products and not washing my scalp as regularly as I had to, which made things worse without me realizing.

5. Allowing sweat on my skin for long: After gymming, I would stay back at the gym for some time, just chatting with friends before leaving. This allowed the sweat to feed and promote fungal growth even more. 


What fungal acne actually looks like

It's not always easy to tell at first, but here's what made me suspect mine was fungal:

  • Tiny, uniform bumps that appeared in clusters.
  • Mostly on my forehead, cheeks, and jawline.
  • Itchiness and a "prickly" feel under the skin.
  • Breakouts didn't respond to usual acne treatments.
  • My skin felt inflamed and greasy even after washing.


If you relate, you are not alone

I spent weeks confused, layering product after product and wondering why nothing was working. It wasn't until I researched Malassezia and began antifungal treatment that things finally began to change. And now, I'm on a mission to share what I have learnt so you don't have to go through the same trial-and-error journey I did. 

What comes next:
In the next post, I will share how using the wrong active ingredients made my fungal acne even worse, and what I wish I had known earlier. 
Your skin deserves clarity, not confusion. Stick around, we're just getting started.




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