Fungal Acne Guide: Safe Skincare Picks

Let's start with a quick reminder about fungal acne:

Fungal acne is often mistaken for 'normal' acne. The problem: both conditions look similar (red, sometimes itchy blemishes in oilier areas like the forehead). This can be frustrating since many ingredients worsen fungal acne, meaning most acne medications may not work properly.

If fungal acne is one of your skin concerns, you should avoid skincare products containing the following ingredient groups:

• ➭ Fatty acids (C12–C24) and fatty acid esters
• ➭ Vegetable oils, waxes, butters, and lecithin
• ➭ Polysorbates
• ➭ Amino acids (potential triggers)
• ➭ Ceramides and cholesterol (potential triggers)
• ➭ Fermented ingredients

Even the smallest amounts of these ingredients are likely enough to trigger fungal acne. Avoid them or, at the very least, patch test products.

Also remember: once you have had fungal acne, you are more likely to be prone to it in the future 😏.

Our Fungal Acne Ingredient Checker can help you determine if a product is safe for fungal acne (more on this later).

Now, let's talk about safe cleansers, serums, moisturizers, exfoliants, and masks for fungal acne.

Fungal Acne: Safe Cleansers

Cleansers remove dirt, oil, makeup, and sunscreen. Proper cleansing allows other skincare products to penetrate better and helps prevent clogged pores and blemishes.

A gentle but effective method is double cleansing:

• ➭ Start with an oil-based cleanser (removes oil-based impurities)
• ➭ Follow with a water-based cleanser (removes remaining dirt)

Additional tips:

• ➭ Use gentle products (no redness or stinging)
• ➭ Double cleanse only in the evenings (your skin doesn't get extremely dirty overnight)
• ➭ Use water or a water-based cleanser in the morning

Recommended cleansers for fungal acne:

Fungal Acne: Safe Serums

Serums are concentrated treatments designed to target specific skin concerns like pimples, wrinkles, or pigmentation. It's important to know your skin type and concerns to choose the most effective products.

Serums usually contain higher concentrations of active ingredients than cleansers, toners, or moisturizers. That's why they're so important—and why it's often worth investing in a good serum for noticeable improvements.

Recommended serums for fungal acne:

Fungal Acne: Safe Moisturizers

Moisturizers primarily protect and hydrate your skin. Compared to serums, they don't need to be packed with highly concentrated active ingredients—especially if you're already using a potent serum.

There are three main types of moisturizing ingredients:

• ➭ Occlusives: Heavy ingredients that prevent water loss (transepidermal water loss – TEWL). Examples: cocoa butter, shea butter, beeswax.

• ➭ Emollients: Lightweight or heavy; many act as occlusives. Examples: squalane, plant oils, ceramides, cholesterol.

• ➭ Humectants: Lightweight and water-attracting. Examples: hyaluronic acid, urea, AHAs.

The texture of a moisturizer—light or heavy—depends on the combination of these ingredients. For fungal acne, urea is an excellent humectant and skin-identical ingredient to include in your routine.

Recommended moisturizers for fungal acne:

Fungal Acne: Safe Exfoliants and Masks

Exfoliants can dramatically improve skin texture. They're excellent for regular fungal acne treatment and should be used at least once a week. Exfoliants containing salicylic acid (BHA) are both safe and effective.

Masks can also be included in a weekly routine. Look for exfoliating masks or masks containing sulfur, which are safe and effective for fungal acne.

Recommended exfoliants and masks for fungal acne:

A Fungal Acne Checker Helps You Find Safe Products

Manually checking all your products for fungal-acne-triggering ingredients is nearly impossible. That's why we created a tool: Our Fungal Acne Ingredient Checker.

Simply copy and paste your product ingredients, and it will analyze them in seconds. Quick, easy, and a big help for keeping fungal acne at bay 🙂

Now you're ready to fight fungal acne 🎉🎉🎉