Acne

Fungal Acne: What It Is, What Causes It, and How to Treat It

April 15
Mixi Skincare

What Is Fungal Acne?

Fungal acne may look like regular acne, but it’s actually a different skin problem with a different cause. Its real name is Malassezia folliculitis, and it happens when a type of yeast (a fungus) grows too much inside your hair follicles.

Unlike normal acne, which is caused by bacteria and clogged pores, fungal acne comes from too much yeast on the skin. That’s why regular acne treatments often don’t work, and can even make it worse.

How to Tell If It's Fungal Acne

Here are a few ways to recognize fungal acne:

Itchy, uniform bumps (often all the same size)
Usually appears on the forehead, chest, back, and shoulders
Tends to flare up in hot, humid environments or after sweating
Doesn’t respond well to benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid

May worsen with oily skincare products or heavy creams

The key sign? If you’ve tried every acne treatment and nothing works, especially if the bumps are itchy and pop up in clusters, it might be fungal.

What Causes Fungal Acne?

Fungal acne is often caused by an imbalance between yeast and bacteria on the skin. Some common triggers include:

Hot, humid climates
Excess sweating, especially if sweat isn’t washed off quickly
Wearing tight or non-breathable clothing
Overuse of antibiotics, which can disrupt the natural skin flora
Heavy, oily skincare products that feed yeast
Compromised immune systems or high stress levels, which may affect the skin’s ability to regulate itself

The yeast naturally lives on the skin, but when conditions favor it, it multiplies and inflames the hair follicles, causing those familiar bumps.