The Best Fungal Acne Products

Wondering what the best fungal acne products are? And how to treat fungal acne?

Keep reading because you’ve come to the right place.

As you may already know, everyone’s experience with a product can be different because we all have unique skincare needs. This is especially true if you have hypersensitive skin.

However, the fungal acne treatments mentioned on this page can assist greatly in creating a successful skin care regimen that will help you move from struggling with fungal acne breakouts to achieving clear skin.

This updated list of treatment and skin care product options for effectively dealing with Malassezia folliculitis includes the best oil cleansers, face washes, cleansers, micellar waters, toners, oil free moisturizers, creams, and sunscreens.

These fungal acne safe products can save you time, money, and frustration because they will undoubtedly aid in reducing and eliminating fungal infections that can cause pimples on your cheeks, forehead, upper back, upper arms, chest, and shoulders.

Jump to the recommended fungal acne safe products sections

And for those dealing with persistent “regular acne” (acne vulgaris) that won’t seem to go away. We’re here to tell you that the problem you’re having might not even be acne at all, even though you may be experiencing acne-like breakouts.

You may visit this page on fungal acne for more information about why this could be happening.

Info:
Before starting a new skincare routine, it is always a good idea to get your fungal acne diagnosed by a board-certified dermatologist. A dermatologist can accurately determine whether the skin condition is indeed fungal acne or if it could be another type of fungal infection that requires different treatment.

Additionally, they can provide expert guidance on the most effective skincare products and routines, including topical antifungal medications and prescription oral medication to address fungal acne and prevent further breakouts.

 

What causes fungal acne?

Pityrosporum folliculitis, commonly referred to as fungal acne, is a type of yeast infection that occurs when there is an excess of yeast on the skin, particularly within the hair follicles.

This can happen if there is an imbalance in the levels of bacteria and fungi on the skin, whereas acne vulgaris is mainly caused by oily skin, dead skin cells, and bacteria.

Symptoms of fungal acne

Typically, fungal acne appears as small, itchy pimples that are uniform in size and often have a flesh-colored or reddish appearance.

It can be easily mistaken for regular acne, but treating pityrosporum folliculitis with traditional acne treatments may not be effective.

How to treat fungal acne

To effectively treat and eliminate fungal acne symptoms, it is important to use antifungal products that focus on the overgrowth of yeast on the skin.

These medications are specifically formulated to penetrate deeply into the hair follicles, effectively targeting the root cause of the fungal infection.

Additionally, maintaining good hygiene practices, such as regularly washing your face and avoiding heavy makeup, sunscreens, and moisturizers, can also help prevent the recurrence of fungal acne.

Dietary considerations that can help treat fungal acne

It is important to maintain a balanced and healthy diet to keep your skin healthy and prevent fungal acne breakouts. To avoid feeding yeast on the skin, it’s best to avoid sugary and processed foods.

Consuming probiotics and antioxidant-rich foods can also help boost your immune system, which is crucial for fighting off fungal infections.

Remember, your dietary choices can significantly affect the overall health of your skin.

What are the common triggers for fungal acne?

These include excessive sweating, wearing tight clothing, and using occlusive skincare products.

Excessive sweating can create a warm and moist environment, which is ideal for the growth of yeast on the skin.

Wearing tight clothing can also trap sweat and bacteria against the skin, further exacerbating the condition.

Additionally, occlusive skincare products, such as facial oils or a heavy non-oil-free moisturizer, can create a barrier on the skin that traps moisture and promotes fungal overgrowth.

By being mindful of these common triggers and making necessary adjustments to your routine, you can effectively manage and prevent fungal acne outbreaks.

Maintaining a regular skin care regimen that includes gentle cleansing, toning, moisturizing, exfoliating, and sun protection is crucial to managing and preventing fungal acne.

Additionally, steering clear of pore-clogging ingredients is key to ensuring clear and healthy skin.

The concept here is to adopt a simple routine when dealing with fungal acne.

This involves cutting out any unnecessary products and focusing solely on the essential ones needed to effectively combat yeast growth instead of trying to address all of your skin concerns at once.

To maintain the integrity of the entire routine, it’s crucial to avoid using medicated cleansers, exfoliants, and peels and limit or avoid other acne products. This is super important!

Outlined below is an anti fungal acne routine for achieving clearer skin in 30 days.

These measures are designed to prevent us from making fungal acne worse and really put the brakes on any active or developing fungal acne lesions that have not yet come to the surface of the skin.

If you’re struggling with Malassezia folliculitis, this routine can assist you in restoring the health of your skin and attaining a clearer, fungal acne-free complexion.

NB:
In addition to pityrosporum folliculitis, this routine is also applicable for individuals with seborrheic dermatitis and other fungal infections of the skin.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a tiny affiliate commission.

Week 1 – Morning Routine:

AM – Step 1:

Rinse thoroughly using only deionized water.

The idea behind this is that while we sleep, our skin isn’t exposed to the same level of environmental pollutants found in the outdoors.

As a result, there are fewer dirt particles for cleansers to remove. Therefore, simply washing with deionized water alone is sufficient.

To ensure a fair evaluation of the skin’s reaction, we will be using only deionized water instead of tap water, which can sometimes be harsh. It’s a step that is often overlooked, but it can bring about significant benefits.

(Jump to our recommended deionized water)

Important note
If you plan to wear makeup or have applied a thick moisturizer or facial oils before bed, it might be necessary to use a gentle cleanser to prepare your skin for a fresh makeup application in the morning.

(Jump to our recommended gentle face washes)

Also, be sure to check out the article on Fungal Acne-Safe Makeup Products that can help you Achieve Smoother Skin.

AM – Step 2:

Once the skin is completely dry from the last step, apply a toner or serum, which is optional but highly recommended.

This is especially helpful for those with dry skin, a dull complexion, or dehydrated skin, particularly those with very dry skin. Some toners can also act as effective topical treatments for irritated skin or acne scars.

(Jump to the recommended fungal acne safe toners or serums and essences)

AM – Step 3:

After completing the previous step, apply moisturizer to your partially damp skin. Gently pat your skin until the moisturizer is fully absorbed, avoiding rubbing or tugging at your skin. Remember to be gentle for the best results.

(Jump to the recommended fungal acne safe moisturizers)

AM – Step 4:

Once your moisturizer has fully absorbed, you can proceed to apply your daily sunscreen. It is important to choose a sunscreen that is safe for fungal acne and caters to your specific skin tone and type.

For instance, a primer-based sunscreen can provide basic makeup coverage, while a mattifying sunscreen can be effective in managing oily skin.

An antioxidant-rich sunscreen not only protects against the sun but also has anti-aging properties.

(Jump to the recommended fungal acne safe Sunscreens)

If you are struggling with bacterial acne, consider applying a low concentration of micronized benzoyl peroxide treatment (BPO), like Malezia’s 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide Gel, to your unwashed face in the evening.

Allow the treatment to sit on your skin for at least 20 minutes, as this is the minimum time needed for benzoyl peroxide to eliminate acne-causing bacteria effectively.

ProTip:
To avoid any irritation or dryness that may result from using benzoyl peroxide, we apply the BPO gel directly to our unwashed faces.

This approach helps to further reduce the likelihood of typical benzoyl peroxide side effects, such as peeling or dryness, that may occur during treatment.

PM – Step 1:

Apply and gently massage 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of Pure C8 MCT Oil onto the skin for up to 5 minutes. We do this to further combat dryness and remove sunscreen residue for the day.

The addition of MCT oil can significantly reduce dryness often caused by acne treatments. This effective method quickly softens and removes morning sunscreen, allowing for easy removal without the need for harsh scrubbing or a washcloth.

As a result, any discomfort is minimized, providing a more comfortable experience.

MCT oil, particularly the C8 type, can also help eliminate Malassezia yeasts due to its anti-fungal nature, which has been demonstrated to directly inhibit the growth of Malassezia folliculitis. ^[1]

PM – Step 2:

To treat fungal acne, apply an ample amount (about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon) of Nizoral anti-fungal face wash to your skin and leave it on for 5-10 minutes. Afterward, rinse your skin gently but thoroughly to remove all the oil or any buildup from the product added earlier.

Nizoral is an antifungal agent that kills the yeast responsible for fungal acne and other Malassezia-related skin conditions. Finally, dry your skin with a fresh face or hand towel.

PM – Step 3:

Apply two layers of your evening toner, serum, or essence and wait for it to dry.

(Jump to the fungal acne safe toners, serums, and essence)

PM – Step 4:

Apply your evening moisturizer

(Jump to the recommended fungal acne safe moisturizers)

Routines Notes:
Do this AM and PM routine on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Our off-treatment days will be Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.

On these days, we will swap step 2 of the PM routine with a gentle yet effective and fungal acne safe (non-antifungal) cleanser, such as the face and body wash by Almond Clear, as over-treating can lead to irritation.

NB:
It is crucial that all products used in this routine are safe for fungal acne. We cannot emphasize this enough, which is why we have provided our recommendations below.

Except

We’ll replace step 2 with our own DIY anti-fungal mask.

To ensure the effectiveness of our DIY anti-fungal acne mask, we start by thoroughly cleansing our face.

Then, we combine one to two drops of tea tree oil and 12 drops of MCT oil with one teaspoon of organic turmeric powder and sulfur until it becomes a paste.

We then apply this solution to the affected areas and leave it on for 10 minutes. Afterward, we wash our face again using a mild cleanser, being careful to do so thoroughly but gently. Simple, but quite effective.

Another potent version of this mask involves using raw manuka honey combined with turmeric powder (pure curcumin), green tea extract (cosmeceutical grade), and sulfur. Leave it on for 10 minutes.

It’s important to use manuka honey specifically, as it has the highest anti-fungal properties needed to combat fungal acne. Regular honey won’t be as effective. ^{[2 , 3 ]}

The combination of green tea extract and pure manuka honey possesses antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that are effective in soothing irritated skin and preventing yeast growth. ^{[4 , 5]}

Curcumin, in its pure form, is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent that can soothe irritated and inflamed skin. Additionally, sulfur acts as a gentle exfoliator and has antifungal properties. ^{[6 , 7 , 8]}

Sulfur can also boost the effectiveness of other antifungal agents, thus making it a crucial ingredient in both versions of our antifungal masks. ^{[9 , 10]}

Afterward, proceed with the remaining steps of the routine. These would be steps three and four, in that order.

If you’re experiencing regular acne pimples, you can start applying BPO gel over your moisturizer at night to help tackle them.

Routines Notes:
It is important to avoid getting the DIY mask or any of the listed products into your eyes.

Except

We swap step 2 out for our DIY antifungal mask on our off-treatment days and back to Nizoral for the on-treatment days)

If you are indeed experiencing fungal acne, you should begin to notice visible improvements in the appearance of your breakouts at this stage.

Anti-Fungal Agents: The active ingredients that effectively treat fungal acne

The best over-the-counter treatments for fungal acne are typically anti-fungal shampoos that are also used to treat dandruff. Additionally, antifungal creams or ointments may be effective options.

When these medications are applied to the skin, they are absorbed into the hair follicles and block the growth of fungi that cause acne. These anti fungal products feature key ingredients such as ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, and zinc pyrithione.

These topical treatments inhibit the development of acne-causing fungi by penetrating the skin and entering the hair follicles. Key chemicals like ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, and zinc pyrithione can be found in these anti-fungal medications.

For more systemic cases, it is best to set an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist or general practitioner to discuss treatment options.

Dr. Eddie’s Medicated Shampoo & Body Wash antifungal shampoo is known for being the most gentle on the skin.

If you have very sensitive skin or prefer a more natural antifungal approach, you can try this Dual-Action Clay Mask & Cleanser, which contains manuka honey and tea tree oil. Or this face and body wash by Almond Clear.

Harsh cleansers can irritate and dry out sensitive skin, causing it to become more prone to acne.

These micellar waters are highly effective in removing makeup, dirt, and impurities from your skin. Unlike some other cleansers, they don’t strip your skin of its natural oils or disrupt its delicate balance.

Although the oil cleansing method can benefit the skin, it’s typically not widely embraced by the fungal acne community. This is because most oils can exacerbate fungal acne.

We get that, so we’ve hand-selected these safe oils, which can be an excellent first step if you double cleanse, plus they won’t’ aggravate fungal acne.

If you’re dealing with either fungal acne or regular acne (acne vulgaris), you’ll definitely want to include one or two of these cleansers in your daily routine. They are gentle but effective at cleansing your skin.

Toners are used after cleansing to freshen and balance the skin; they can also assist in the elimination of any residue left behind by your cleanser.

While some may consider toners to be the least important step in their skincare ritual, they are not. Some toners can also provide a significant amount of hydration to the skin. This is especially important for oily, dry, or dehydrated skin types.

There is even a popular approach to help us achieve deep skin hydration and mega moisture called the seven-skin method. This involves applying seven layers of product for intensely hydrated skin.

Toners also help in the preparation of the skin so that the active ingredients in your other products may be absorbed more effectively.

Designed to address particular conditions, including aging and discoloration, serums function at the deeper levels of the skin to help revitalize and maintain it.

Conversely, essences are often used to hydrate, protect, and strengthen the skin, thanks to the high levels of active ingredients they contain.

The serums and essences listed below are safe to use and won’t cause or flare fungal acne.

Once these products have been applied and fully absorbed, use a superior oil free moisturizer to lock them in.

A good fungal acne moisturizer can make a huge difference in your skin’s appearance and health.

These fungal acne safe products are the glue that holds together any good skincare routine.

Lack of or inadequate moisturization can cause dryness and dehydration in the skin, which can lead to wrinkles and fine lines.

These moisturizers will keep your skin nourished and hydrated all day long without triggering fungal acne.

ProTip:
If you’re struggling to find a reliable moisturizer that’s suitable for your daily fungal acne routine, you can confidently opt for the Malezia moisturizer with 5% Urea. It’s a highly recommended choice.

In today’s world, UV protection is essential.

Because the sun can cause premature aging and cancer, we must use sunscreen to protect our acne and fungal acne-prone skin from these harmful effects.

These sunscreens are free of ingredients that promote fungal acne while still providing excellent sun protection.

More Articles

In addition, check out our ultimate treatment guide for fungal acne.

This page will be updated as new or better products are discovered, so be sure to check back often.