Have you happened to see constant breakouts on your face, arms, back or on other parts of your body and wonder what it is? Well, fear not, there is a possibility that you have got fungal acne.
Well, here’s something you need to know when we say you’ve got “fungal acne” and that is the fact that fungal acne is not really acne nor is it caused by fungus! so now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get into the details.
What is fungal acne?
Fungal acne is a type of infection in the skin’s hair follicles and it is also known as ‘Pityrosporum folliculitis’ or ‘fungal folliculitis and is often confused with regular acne, because fungal acne causes the hair follicle to become inflamed and get infected and makes it look like small pimples, bumps or pustules on the skin and can be often confused with whiteheads. This is because of the excess yeast known as Malassezia (which is already present in certain amounts in the skin), which can multiply during hotter and humid climates or when the body is sweaty.
What is the difference between fungal acne and bacterial acne?
- Fungal acne is caused by trapped yeast cells in the hair follicle, while bacterial acne is caused by oil and dirt trapped in the pores.
- Fungal acne can occur on the face, back, neck, shoulders, arms etc. Bacterial acne is usually seen only on the face.
- Fungal acne cannot be treated with anti-acne medications and treatments, unlike bacterial acne which can be treated.
- Fungal acne can cause itching, unlike bacterial acne which rarely causes itching.
Causes of fungal acne:
1. When there is moisture or humid conditions:
Regularly wearing tight clothes, doesn’t give a chance for the skin to breathe and this can encourage excess sweat and moisture in the skin, which makes it an environment that can foster the breeding of the yeast, which is otherwise balanced by our own bodies.
2. Food habits and diet:
The higher the intake of carbohydrates and sugar, the easier it is for the yeast to thrive. This could lead to an increased level of yeast in your skin, in turn causing fungal acne. READ MORE – SUPERFOOD MATCHA POWDER to clear acne from within
3. Those on antibiotics:
Antibiotics are medicines that help the body fight bacterial infections, by killing the bacteria and making it harder for it to grow and multiply. Antibiotics can reduce the bacteria in the body and can thereby lead to an overgrowth of the yeast. Higher the levels of yeast in the skin, the more prone the body becomes to developing fungal infection.
4. Climate:
The hotter or more humid the climate, the more people sweat. Also, people who are into sport and exercise or people who sweat unusually, are more prone to developing fungal acne.
How can you treat fungal acne?
For those who are into regular workouts or sweat more than usual, it is important to shower more often to maintain personal and bodily hygiene and most importantly avoid wearing the same unwashed clothes. It is also advisable to wear looser and more breathable clothes, especially for people who live in hotter and more humid climatic conditions.
You can also use antifungal treatments or medications and use an appropriate body wash while showering. This being said, you can also use an anti-dandruff shampoo around twice a week over the affected areas and wash off after a few minutes. This could also help treat fungal acne. If you have severe fungal acne, then you can consult your doctor and take oral antifungal pills.
Also, make sure your scalp is healthy, if your scalp has dandruff or any fungal infections then make sure you first treat your scalp as the infections on the scalp can also have an adverse affect on your skin.
Home remedies –
Use fresh aloe vera gel from the plant, cut a slice from the plant and remove the gel, apply this gel all over your face and leave it on overnight. Mix 1/4 cup fresh aloe vera gel from the plant with 1/2 cup rose water and mist this throughout the day. READ MORE – Overnight face mask to clear fungal acne: smooth small bumps and rough skin
Caution:
- Fungal acne unlike regular acne can be contagious because yeast is involved and can therefore, spread. This spread can only occur in close encounters and not otherwise.
- Fungal acne and bacterial acne can be often confused and thereby, there are chances that people may use anti-acne medications or treatments to cure the acne. While these medications can help reduce or treat bacterial acne, it may worsen the fungal acne. Therefore, it is important that you medicate right.