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What Is Fungal Acne? Causes, Treatment and Tea Tree Oil

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Photo by Shixart1985, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Acne or skin diseases can be caused by bacteria, fungus as well as other certain viruses. Fungal acne is not true acne. It is an infection of the hair follicles by Malassezia yeast, which lives on almost everyone's skin.

Doctors call it Malassezia folliculitis (older name: pityrosporum folliculitis). It is usually not serious, but it can keep coming back. It often gets mistaken for regular acne, so see a dermatologist if itchy bumps don't clear up.

How Fungal Acne Are Caused? What Is The Mechanism?

Normally, the bacteria and yeast on your skin keep each other in balance. When that balance shifts, Malassezia can overgrow and get into damaged or blocked hair follicles, causing itchy, inflamed bumps.

Antibiotics are a common trigger because they reduce the skin's normal bacteria. Heavy sweating, tight or non-breathable clothing, hot and humid weather, hot tubs and heavy oil-based skin products can also set it off.

Your personal hygiene matters a lot in case of your skin issues. A weakened immune system, from conditions such as HIV or from immune-suppressing medicines, also raises the risk.

Fungal Acne vs Bacterial Acne

Fungal acne is usually itchy, while regular acne usually is not. Fungal acne bumps tend to look alike in size and shape and show up in clusters on the chest, upper back, shoulders, upper arms, neck, chin or forehead.

Regular acne bumps vary in size and often come with blackheads and whiteheads. Fungal acne does not cause blackheads.

How Fungal Acne Should Be Treated?

Treatment depends on how severe it is. Regular acne products don't work on it, because it is caused by yeast. Doctors usually start with topical antifungals, such as ketoconazole cream or selenium sulfide shampoo used as a body wash. For stubborn or severe cases, they may prescribe oral antifungal pills.

These habits help prevent flare-ups:

  • Wear loose clothes
  • Take shower right after your workout
  • Change your sweaty clothes after a workout
  • Wear your gears after washing
  • Wash gently once or twice a day; scrubbing more often can irritate the skin.
  • Wear sunscreen daily, choosing a light, oil-free formula.
  • Do not pick or squeeze the bumps.
  • Cut back on heavy, oil-based moisturizers and makeup while it heals.
  • Be careful when shaving, plucking or waxing.

If these changes don't help within a couple of weeks, see a dermatologist. They can confirm the diagnosis with a simple skin scraping and prescribe the right antifungal.

Can Tea Tree Oil Be Used to Treat Fungal Acne?

Possibly, but it is not a proven treatment. Tea tree oil has antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties in lab studies, and it may ease inflammation and redness. Clinical studies on fungal acne itself are lacking, and the evidence-based treatments are medicated antifungals.

If you try it, always dilute it, since undiluted tea tree oil can irritate the skin. Malassezia feeds on fats, so avoid mixing it into oils such as argan or almond oil; aloe vera gel or water is a better base. Skip apple cider vinegar, which can burn the skin.

Test it on a small patch of skin first. Stop if you notice burning, redness or a rash, and see a dermatologist. For more on regular acne marks, see how to Rid of your acne scars.

HP Thoughts: Do you know what baby acne is? Read on: Baby Acne.

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