Not every skin breakout is actually acne. A lot of people spend weeks or even months treating what they think is acne only to find out that their bumps are caused by something entirely. One skin condition that is often confused with acne is acne.
Fungal acne and regular acne can look pretty similar at first. They are different and need to be treated differently. If you understand what makes them different you can choose the skincare routine and avoid making the condition worse.
Lets take a look at how fungal acne is different from regular acne and how to recognize the signs of each.
What Is Regular Acne?
Regular acne happens when hair follicles get clogged with oil, dead skin cells, bacteria and other debris. This blockage causes inflammation, which leads to types of acne lesions. You can get whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts. Regular acne can show up on your face, chest, shoulders and back.
What Is Fungal Acne?
Fungal acne is not actually acne. It is a condition called Malassezia folliculitis. It happens when a type of yeast that lives on your skin grows much and inflames the hair follicles. This causes bumps that can look like acne breakouts. Because fungal acne affects hair follicles it can look similar to acne but it behaves differently.
What Causes Acne?
There are things that can cause regular acne. These include oil production, clogged pores, hormonal changes, bacteria, inflammation and genetics. Usually it is a mixture of these factors that causes breakouts.
What Causes Fungal Acne?
Fungal acne happens when yeast grows much in hair follicles. Things that can encourage this overgrowth include sweating, hot and humid weather, tight clothing, oily skin and certain medications. Fungal acne is not caused by pores like regular acne is.
How Fungal Acne Looks
Fungal acne has a specific appearance. You might see uniform bumps, clusters of tiny pimples, red or skin-colored bumps and itchy breakouts. One thing that stands out is that the bumps tend to look very similar to each other.
How Acne Looks
Regular acne can look different. You might see whiteheads, blackheads inflamed pimples, deep cysts and lesions of sizes. Unlike acne regular acne usually does not look uniform.
Does Fungal Acne Itch?
One big clue is itching. Fungal acne often causes itching, mild irritation and discomfort especially when you sweat. Regular acne usually causes tenderness, pain and inflammation and itching is not as common.
Where Does Fungal Acne Usually Appear?
Fungal acne often shows up in areas where sweat and heat build up like your forehead, hairline, chest, upper back and shoulders. It can become more noticeable during humid weather.
Where Does Regular Acne Usually Appear?
Regular acne can show up anywhere there are oil glands. Common places include your face, chin, jawline, nose, forehead, chest and back. Hormonal acne often affects the face and jawline.
Why Some Acne Treatments Don’t Work
A lot of people think every breakout is acne. So they use products for acne without seeing any improvement. Sometimes products for acne do not work for fungal acne because the underlying cause is different. This is why it is important to get a diagnosis.
Can You Have Both Conditions at the Time?
Yes you can have both acne and regular acne at the same time. This can make it hard to diagnose yourself because the symptoms can overlap. A dermatologist can help figure out which condition you have and whether multiple factors are playing a role in your breakouts.
How to Support Healthy Skin
No matter what is causing your skin issues taking care of your skin can help. This includes cleansing showering after you sweat wearing breathable clothing avoiding picking at your skin keeping your skincare routine consistent and using products that are right for your skin type. Good skincare habits can help reduce irritation and make your skin more comfortable.
When Should You See a Dermatologist?
You should see a dermatologist if your breakouts are not going away if acne treatments are not working, if your bumps are very itchy if your breakouts are getting worse or if you are not sure what is causing your skin issues. A dermatologist can diagnose the problem. Recommend the right treatment.
Common Myths About Fungal Acne
Myth: Fungal Acne Is Caused by Poor Hygiene
Fungal acne is not caused by being dirty. It is related to yeast overgrowing in hair follicles.
Myth: All Tiny Bumps Are Fungal Acne
There are skin conditions that can cause small bumps. You need to get a diagnosis to know what is going on.
Myth: Fungal Acne and Regular Acne Are the Same
Although they might look similar fungal acne and regular acne are conditions with different causes and treatments.
Final Thoughts
Fungal acne and regular acne might look similar. They are different skin conditions with different causes. Regular acne happens when pores get clogged with oil, dead skin cells and bacteria while fungal acne is caused by yeast overgrowing in hair follicles. There are clues that can help you tell them apart. Fungal acne often appears as clusters of uniform, itchy bumps especially on your forehead, chest, shoulders and upper back. Regular acne usually presents with a combination of blackheads, whiteheads inflamed pimples and deeper cysts. If your breakouts are not going away or not responding to your skincare routine you should see a dermatologist to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
Disclaimer
This article is for purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Skin conditions can look similar. Need to be evaluated by a expert for a proper diagnosis. You should consult a dermatologist or qualified medical expert for advice and treatment recommendations.
Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is fungal acne actually acne?
No fungal acne is not actually acne. It is a condition called Malassezia folliculitis, which is caused by yeast overgrowing, in hair follicles.
2. How can I tell if I have acne?
Fungal acne often appears as uniform, itchy bumps that commonly affect your forehead, chest, shoulders and upper back.
3. Does fungal acne cause blackheads?
Blackheads are commonly associated with regular acne, not fungal acne.
4. Can fungal acne and regular acne occur together?
Yes some people can have both conditions at the time.
5. When should I see a dermatologist?
You should see a dermatologist if your breakouts are persistent, worsening, itchy or not responding to your skincare routine.
