How I saved my skin from fungal acne 🤢

For majority of 2023, my skin was pretty much clear until I changed up and used a LRP cleanser 😮‍💨 It got worse when I thought it was just purging from a retinol, and kept using the retinol.

How did I find out it was Fungal Acne & not closed comedomes❓

- I used to have it when I was younger

- They were mostly under the skin & itchy

- It couldn't be popped

- It started disappearing once I used anti-dandruff shampoo (closed comedomes won't clear up from anti-dandruff shampoo)

How did I clear it 🤔

- After cleansing, wash my face with Pristine Ketoconozale Shampoo & leave it on for at least 1min, every 2 days. I was recommended this shampoo by National Skin Centre for my back acne YEARS AGO and it has worked wonders.

- Switch to fungal-acne safe skincare through research on SkinSort.

I started using the shampoo in January '24. Within a month or two, my fungal acne has mostly cleared up. BUT DON'T STOP ✋🏻 Instead of washing with the shampoo 3 times a week, I did it once a week as a preventive measure until I was sure it is gone for good.

Note‼️ Apart from fungal acne, I also dealt with hormonal acne & post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (see mar'24) which was targeted after I cleared up the fungal acne through other skincare products.

2025/10/5 Edited to

Fungal acne can be stubborn, especially if confused with other types of acne like closed comedones. From my experience, consistency is key. After I identified fungal acne, integrating ketoconazole shampoo into my routine was a game changer—it not only helped reduce the itchy spots but also prevented recurrence when used weekly as maintenance. Besides treatment, choosing fungal-acne safe skincare products matters greatly. I used resources like SkinSort to ensure products were free from ingredients that could feed the yeast causing fungal acne, such as certain oils, fatty acids, and esters. This approach helped calm redness and prevent new outbreaks. My experience with fungal acne also taught me patience. While the ketoconazole shampoo worked wonders within a couple of months, I continued using it less frequently as prevention, which is important to avoid flare-ups. Moreover, I targeted hormonal acne and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation separately after clearing the fungal acne to restore my skin’s even tone. If you’re dealing with fungal acne, consider consulting a dermatologist to get recommended treatments like ketoconazole shampoo and start researching skincare ingredients carefully. Staying informed and persistent really helped me regain clear and calm skin.