Fungal acne is probably less familiar among young adults. But it can be more irritating than the traditional acne. Here we are trying to break down the best way to beat the skin problem.
Causes of fungal acne
During adulthood, we have to handle different types of breakouts like blackheads, whiteheads, cystic acne, hormonal acne, and many more. All of these are the types of infection. Fungal acne also is a skin infection that forms in the hair follicles. When the yeasts called Malassezia furfur are overgrown it leads to fungal acne on our skin.
The yeast naturally occurs on our skin and can overgrow for many reasons. One of the main reasons is trapped moisture. It can happen when you are in sweaty workout clothes for a long time. Those who are living in warm and humid environments may suffer from this skin issue.
Most of the time fungal acne is mistaken for facial acne. So, if you are unsure consult with your dermatologist. Dermatologist Dr. Haimovic said, “There are no blackheads or deep painful cysts distinguishing fungal acne from classic facial acne, though many find the bumps itchy.”
Treatment of this issue
Fungal acne responds well to antifungal treatments. Many experts recommend ingredients like ketoconazole, econazole nitrate, or clotrimazole to treat this skin problem. Dr. Haimovic said, “Often topical antifungal creams will be effective, however oral antifungals may be required for more persistent [breakouts].” However, fungal acne is easily mistaken for bacterial acne and people apply drugstore cleansers and creams which are not recommended by the experts. As these types of creams are very harsh, they can make your skin infection worse.
How to prevent
You can prevent this skin problem easily. As staying in a sweaty position for a long time is the main reason for this acne, so wearing loose-fitting clothes or changing clothes after a workout will help you to prevent fungal acne. You also need to clean your skin regularly. Dr. Haimovic stated, “Oral antibiotics can also change our skin flora and allow the yeast to grow so avoiding antibiotics when possible is helpful.”