Fungal acne may sound a little ick-inducing at first, but it’s much more common than you might think. Formally known as pityrosporum or malassezia folliculitis, it’s caused by a yeast that inflames the hair follicles on your skin and causes pimple-like bumps, says Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. Although this type of yeast normally lives on the skin, when it isn’t controlled, it can lead to fungal acne outbreaks. This typically occurs due to environmental factors or medications like antibiotics that may deplete the bacteria that keeps the yeast in check. Luckily, it’s usually treatable with over-the-counter products and a few lifestyle changes. Keep reading for more info about fungal acne and how to fight it.How Do I Know if My Acne Is Fungal?According to Dr. King, regular acne (think traditional whiteheads and blackheads) tends to vary in size and shape. It typically occurs on the face and isn’t particularly itchy. Fungal acne, however, is uniform in size and commonly appears as red bumps and small pustules on the chest, upper arms and back. In fact, it rarely involves the face. It also doesn’t produce a head and is often itchy.
