Fungal Acne vs Closed Comedones: Differences

Truth be told, nothing can ruin a perfect photogenic moment like an acne breakout. And for you to fight, arrest and stop the progression of acne, then understanding the differences between different variants and types of acne is extremely necessary. That's the reason knowing the difference between fungal acne vs closed comedones paired with the correct measures to take can really go a long way in banishing pimples and getting a fair complexion. So, what's the distinction between closed comedones vs fungal acne? Let's do a deep dive and take a closer look.

The Difference Between Fungal Acne and Closed Comedones

For you to tell the distinction between comedonal acne vs fungal acne, it is imperative for you to be in a position to tell the difference between fungal acne and closed comedones. You see, fungal acne is mainly the aftermath of yeast overgrowth. In other words, fungal acne is not exactly acne since the latter is primarily caused by p.acnes bacteria. This will, of course, get clearer at some point in this excerpt.

What Is Fungal Acne?

Unlike regular acne which is chiefly caused by an overgrowth of bacteria, fungal acne is triggered by the proliferation of fungus as the name suggests. The fungus, in most cases, is usually yeast which is actually one of your skin's natural components. In short, fungal acne forehead comes about in the event when a misbalance in your skin's ecosystem allows a yeast overgrowth that is then characterized by small red bumps on your temples and between the eyebrows.

What Does Fungal Acne Look Like?

There's no denying that fungal acne on cheeks may easily look like any other normal pimple, especially to the untrained eye. So, one may wonder, what does fungal acne look like? Well, for starters, external fungal acne can easily be mistaken for comedonal pimples. Both appear like small red bumps on the forehead, cheeks, or upper back. However, this does not in any way imply that they are the same. The pimples of fungal acne cheeks are caused by a totally different pathogen vis-a-vis comedonal acne.

Deciphering the Symptoms of Fungal Acne

Now that you are aware that having fungal acne cheeks is not the same as dealing with regular acne, one may wonder what this type of pimple looks like. First, there is a reason this type of acne is known as pityrosporum folliculitis - it can appear as pimples and is easily confused with normal everyday acne. Some of the characteristic symptoms that are easily associated with it include;

• Clusters of red and small bumps
• Extremely itchy skin
• Spots on the back, neck, chest, and arms
• Spots on the chin, forehead, and the sides of one's face
• Irritated and inflamed hair follicles
• Extremely aggressive acne that does not respond to conventional treatment

How Do I Get Rid of Fungal Acne?

Truth be told, fungal acne chin can be a hard nut to crack, especially without the proper skincare regimen paired with the right acne-bursting products. Now, since fungal acne on cheeks is essentially caused by a yeast infection, the best place to start is getting a course of antifungal cream or pills rather than the antibiotics that are used for comedonal acne. Pair this with the following set of hygiene and self-care practices (including but not limited to) if you want to get ahead of the problem before it persists further.

• Get into the habit of showering immediately after working out
• Wear loose but comfortable clothing instead of extremely tight garments
• Discard sweaty clothes right after stepping out of the gym
• Apply the anti-fungal cream in the same direction as your hair grows

How Do I Prevent Fungal Acne?

Just like the treatment of fungal acne, preventing fungal forehead acne is not as straightforward as you may be tempted to assume. However, knowing how fungal acne comes about could be a good place to start. You see, one of the chief causes of this particular type of acne stems from irritation or damage to one's hair follicles, which usually results in inflammation. And if it happens frequently enough, it can result in skin breakage that then allows in germs which later go on to trigger an infection. In other words, for you to reduce your chances of developing fungal acne, you may want to stay away from;

• Tight clothing especially when exercising
• Wearing very tight gear or equipment
• Situations where your skin rubs on your skin or other people's skin

Can you Pop Fungal Acne?

Given that this type of acne is often characterized by extremely itchy red bumps, one cannot help but wonder, "Can you pop fungal acne?" However, the truth of the matter is that you should not pick or scratch infected areas of your skin not unless you relish spreading the rash further and potentially worsening it or making it extremely difficult to treat.

Closed Comedones: What Does This Mean and What's the Difference In Comparison to Fungal Acne?

Closed comedones typically look like small bumps scattered across your forehead, cheeks, or chin. Nevertheless, unlike fungal acne on cheeks, closed comedones are rarely inflamed or extremely reddened. Which, of course, can be explained by the fact that closed comedones typically develop when a plug of oil and skin cells becomes trapped within your hair follicles. The action of bacteria on this trapped mass of debris is what caused the familiar swelling or bump that is dermatologically referred to as a closed comedone.
That said, while this type of acne can occur virtually anywhere, closed comedones forehead is usually the most common considering that this is typically the oiliest part of your face with millions of active sebaceous glands. Other places that severe closed comedones will routinely pop up include the cheeks, upper back, neck, and chest.

Comedonal Acne Symptoms: How to Recognize a Breakout

Just like fungal acne, comedonal acne barely looks like regular pimples. You see, since closed comedones are not inflamed or red like typical inflammatory pustules, they rarely swell or get pus-filled. The symptoms, therefore, tend to range between moderate to mild in most people which include;

• Fleshy-colored pimples that mostly show up on the chin, cheeks, and forehead
• A scatter or flesh-toned to creamy while pimples that resemble a trapped oil plug just beneath the surface of the skin
• Whiteheads

Now, unlike cystic acne, the whitehead that characteristic comedonal acne is not in any way painful nor can they be popped as they don't contain an underlying infection or pus.

Closed Comedones Treatment

There's no refuting that closed comedones can be incredibly stubborn and annoying. Nonetheless, with a little patience and the right set of products, you can get rid of minor breakouts and mild bumpiness. Here are some of the options readily available.

• Over the counter creams and ointments: Go for OTC treatments that employ glycolic acid or salicylic acid in their formulation. The salicylic acid in AENO's Natural Face Cream for Acne, for instance, can speed up the shedding of dead skin which then aids in keeping your skin pores clear and unclogged.
• Extractions: Compared to OTC treatments, blemish extractions can be a little expensive but worth it if done the right way. It is where an esthetician or dermatologist uses a special sterile tool to extract the plug that is responsible for the closed comedonal blemish. Nonetheless, you have to bear in mind that extraction won't keep new closed comedones from forming. You will still need a comprehensive acne-treatment regimen to clear them out completely although it is not a bad way of jumpstarting your future acne-prevention strategy as you wait for OTC creams or pills to work.
• Skin supplements: Your skin, being the largest organ in your body, requires the same level of care and nutrition that you usually accord the rest of your vital body parts. This includes nourishing it with a collection of essential nutrients and vitamins that make it less likely for closed comedones to show up in the first place. Taking AENO's Perfect Skin Pills for Severe Acne, for example, is a good way to infuse ingredients such as vitamin B5, vitamin B3, and zinc into your complexion which really improves your odds of getting and keeping blemishless skin throughout the year.

Closed Comedones vs Fungal Acne Conclusion

While treatment of either fungal acne or closed acne can alleviate the blemishes for a moment, prevention is usually better than cure. You can reduce your risk and chances of dealing with a long and drawn-out pimple-eradicating regimen by simply cleansing your skin regularly and using the right moisturizer suited for your complexion. What's more, don't forget to hydrate regularly and consistently as well as have a balanced and healthy diet that is void of high-glycemic or dairy goods. Finally, avoid inadvertently clogging up your skin pores by only using non-comedonal makeup, sunscreen, or body lotions.