Why isn’t my acne improving? Could I have fungal acne?
Ever struggle with what looks like facial acne that just doesn’t seem to respond to your typical acne treatments? You may have a condition called pityrosporum folliculitis, known commonly as fungal acne. This condition is routinely mistaken for acne but is actually related to a yeast called Malessezia furfur that’s found naturally on the skin. Fungal acne can occur simultaneously with acne, can be mistaken for acne or can flare as a result of acne treatment. Because it’s related to a yeast overgrowth in the hair follicles, it won’t respond to normal acne treatment and requires a different treatment approach.
What is fungal acne?
Fungal acne is an overgrowth of yeast within the hair follicles. Sebaceous glands within your skin produce an oil called “sebum.” These glands can overproduce oil, and your pores and hair follicles can become clogged with oil as well as bacteria and yeast that are naturally found on your skin. Bacteria can lead to the traditional acne blemishes, but the yeast can cause an inflammation of the hair follicles, or “folliculitis.” It’s not contagious, infectious or an indicator of poor skin hygiene.
What causes fungal acne?
Yeast grow in warm, moist environments. Fungal acne tends to flare in the summer months with heat, humidity and perspiration. It can also arise after treatment with medications such as antibiotics and steroids/prednisone, and in conjunction with other systemic diseases like diabetes. Many acne treatments are antibacterial, thus eliminating the normal skin bacteria and creating a perfect environment for yeast to proliferate and fungal acne to flare.
