Fungal acne, properly called Malassezia folliculitis, is an overgrowth of Malassezia yeast in the hair follicles. It looks like acne but is not true acne — it's small, uniform, itchy bumps, often on the forehead, chest and back.

How do you get rid of fungal acne?

Use an antifungal such as ketoconazole or zinc pyrithione, switch to a Malassezia-safe routine that avoids fatty acids, many esters, polysorbates and ferments, and keep skin dry and clean. See a dermatologist if it persists.

How long does fungal acne take to clear?

With an antifungal wash plus a Malassezia-safe routine, most people see clear improvement in 2–4 weeks. If nothing changes after about 4–6 weeks of consistent treatment, see a dermatologist — oral antifungals may be needed, or it may not be fungal acne at all.

Can fungal acne go away on its own?

Sometimes, if the conditions that caused it change (cooler weather, less sweating, stopping a triggering product). But because the yeast keeps being fed by sweat, occlusion and certain skincare ingredients, it usually persists or comes back until you treat it and remove the triggers.

Is fungal acne contagious?

No. Malassezia yeast lives on virtually everyone's skin. Fungal acne is an overgrowth of your own skin's yeast, not an infection you catch from someone else.

Fungal Acne: What It Is, How to Spot It & How to Get Rid of It

Q: What does fungal acne look like?

Fungal acne appears as clusters of small, same-sized red or skin-coloured bumps, often itchy, usually on the forehead, hairline, chest, shoulders and back. Unlike regular acne it rarely has varied whiteheads and blackheads.

What does fungal acne look like?

Fungal acne shows up as clusters of small, uniform bumps — usually the same size — that are often itchy. Common spots are the forehead and hairline, chest, shoulders and upper back. Unlike regular (bacterial) acne, you won't see a mix of large cysts, varied whiteheads and blackheads; the bumps look repetitive and even.

Fungal acne vs regular acne

Regular acne (acne vulgaris) is driven by clogged pores, oil and C. acnes bacteria, and responds to things like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and retinoids. Fungal acne is driven by Malassezia yeast and responds to antifungals — and, crucially, to removing the ingredients that feed the yeast. Many people fight "acne" for months because they're treating the wrong type. If your bumps are itchy, uniform and not improving on normal acne care, suspect fungal acne.

What causes fungal acne?

The yeast overgrows in warm, humid, sweaty, occluded conditions — and it feeds on fatty acids (roughly C11–C24), many esters, polysorbates, lecithin and fermented ingredients. Heavy oils, butters, and "nourishing" plant-oil products are common culprits, as are some hair products that drip onto the forehead and back. Antibiotics can also tip the balance toward yeast.

Is it fungal acne? A 60-second self-check

The more of these apply, the more likely Malassezia is involved:

The bumps are small and remarkably uniform in size (1–2 mm), not a mix of big and small.
They itch, especially when you sweat or get warm.
They cluster on the forehead/hairline, chest, shoulders or back rather than cheeks and jawline.
They flare after sweating, workouts, hats/helmets or hot, humid weather.
Normal acne treatment (benzoyl peroxide, retinoids) has done nothing after 6+ weeks — or antibiotics made it worse.
A dandruff shampoo used on the area seemed to help.

Ticking most of these? Treat it as fungal acne for a few weeks (below) and run your routine through the fungal-acne safe checker. Ticking only a few? It's probably regular acne — use the comedogenic checker instead.

Common trigger ingredients to check for

Frequent offenders in "gentle" or "nourishing" products include coconut oil, shea butter, lecithin, polysorbate 80, most fatty-acid esters like isopropyl myristate, and fermented ingredients (galactomyces, bifida ferment). Each ingredient page on this site shows a 🍄 Malassezia flag.

How to get rid of fungal acne

Use an antifungal. Over-the-counter options include ketoconazole 2% (e.g. Nizoral) or zinc pyrithione washes, used as a short mask on affected areas a few times a week.
Switch to a Malassezia-safe routine. Remove products that feed the yeast. Run each product through our fungal-acne safe checker and keep only the ones with no triggers.
Reduce the environment it loves. Shower soon after sweating, change pillowcases and towels often, and avoid heavy occlusive layers in hot weather.
Be patient and consistent. It often takes a few weeks. If it doesn't clear, a dermatologist can prescribe oral antifungals.

What to expect, week by week

Week 1–2: itch usually settles first once triggers are removed and the antifungal wash is in use. Week 2–4: bumps flatten and stop appearing in new clusters. Week 4–6: skin texture largely normalises; keep the safe routine going, because it returns quickly if you reintroduce a trigger. No change by week 6 → see a dermatologist (prescription oral antifungals, or a re-diagnosis).

Fungal-acne-safe ingredients

Generally safe choices include squalane, mineral oil, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, BHA (salicylic acid) and most silicones. Browse the full ingredient database — each ingredient page now tells you whether it's a Malassezia trigger.

References

Rubenstein RM, Malerich SA. Malassezia (Pityrosporum) folliculitis. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(3):37–41. PubMed
American Academy of Dermatology. Acne resource center. aad.org

By Mitchell Zandwijken · Last updated September 2026.

Fungal acne: what it is and how to get rid of it