Rating the Internet’s most viral treatments for fungal acne.

From anti-dandruff shampoo to sulfur, hypochlorous acid, and more—I tried all the Internet’s most viral treatments for fungal acne, and here’s how they stacked up.

A few years ago, I started noticing these tiny, stubborn bumps popping up around my forehead and chin every time I worked out. They didn’t look like your typical pimples, and they sure as hell didn’t respond to traditional acne treatments. Back then, my skincare routine was also as basic as it gets—cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen—so I didn’t think much of it. But as I got more serious about both fitness and skincare, those annoying little bumps turned into regular visitors. It was beyond frustrating because my skin was glowing in every other way—except for those pesky, uninvited guests. That’s when I stumbled across the term fungal acne (or, Malassezia folliculitis, if you’re more scientifically inclined) and learned that some of my beloved skincare products might actually be making things worse.

Today, I try and stick to a mostly FA-safe routine, but I’m still prone to breakouts if I don’t wash my face as soon as I exercise, or if the weather’s just a little extra toasty. Luckily, the Internet is full of suggestions on how to tackle it, and in the name of research, I’ve tried most of them. Before we do get into the remedies though, I wanted to add a little bit of information on identifying fungal acne. If, like me, you’re cursed with clog-prone skin, you could be suffering from fungal acne, closed comedones, or in some cases, even both. Here’s how to tell the difference.

Fungal Acne vs. Closed Comedones: How to Tell the Difference

One of the trickiest parts of dealing with fungal acne is identifying it correctly. Many people mistake fungal acne for closed comedones, and while they may look similar at first glance, they have different causes and require entirely different treatments. Here's how you can distinguish between the two:

• Triggers:

  • Fungal Acne is caused by an overgrowth of yeast in the hair follicles, and is worsened by humid environments, heavy skincare products, and/or prolonged sweating.

  • Closed Comedones are triggered by excess sebum production, hormonal fluctuations, or using comedogenic products.

• Appearance:

  • Fungal Acne appears as small, uniform-sized bumps, and tend to appear in clusters on oily parts of the body like the the forehead, chin or chest. These bumps are usually very itchy, especially in humid or sweaty conditions.

  • Closed Comedones are also found in areas of the face that are especially oily, like the T-zone, BUT they can vary in size and probably won’t feel itchy.

• Treatments:

  • Fungal Acne doesn’t respond to traditional acne treatments like exfoliating acids. These treatments can even worsen fungal acne by disrupting the skin barrier or over-drying the skin.

  • Closed Comedones often improve with exfoliating acids (salicylic acid, glycolic acid) or retinoids, which help unclog pores and promote skin cell turnover.

Rating All the Fungal Acne Treatments I’ve Tried

If you’ve identified yourself as being a victim of fungal acne, then let’s talk treatments! Of course having an FA-safe routine helps keep fungal acne at bay, but there are a lot of factors that can trigger a breakout, so it’s important to know how to treat it if or when it occurs.

Anti-Fungal Cream (Ketoconazole 2%)

OK, so this might seem obvious, but the absolute bullet proof way to tackle fungal acne is with…*gasp*…an anti-fungal cream. There are plenty of anti-fungals on the market, but in my research, I found “Ketoconazole” to be one of the most popular ones for FA treatments. I was able to get this Nizoral anti-fungal cream online without a prescription, and it cleared my breakouts in a little over a week. Not the most exciting product, but hey, it works! In fact, if your acne doesn’t respond to an anti-fungal, it’s probably not fungal acne.

Rating: 10/10

Sulfur Soaps or Masks

I know the smell of sulfur can be off-putting (no one wants their face to smell like rotten eggs), but trust me when I say, this stuff is the absolute holy grail for anyone suffering from fungal acne, closed comedones, or really, any kind of acne. The De La Cruz Sulfur Mask is an Internet fave, but I also love the Peter Thomas Roth Therapeutic Sulfur Mask which contains Zinc Oxide and Aloe extract, and has a much less funky smell as well. Using a sulfur mask twice a week for just 5-10 minutes has done wonders for my skin.

Rating: 1000/10

Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

When I first heard of using anti-dandruff shampoo to treat acne, I thought it was another toothpaste-on-pimples style home remedy. But no, this is a real thing, anti-dandruff shampoos often contain anti-fungal ingredients like Ketoconazole, Zinc Pythrione or Selenium Sulfide, so using one as a mask or cleanser can work to treat fungal acne. Personally, while I did find this to be a somewhat effective treatment, I also found it too drying to use often on my face. These types of shampoos are loaded with stuff that can be stripping for the face, so for that reason, I can’t rate it any higher than a 7.

Rating: 7/10

Azelaic Acid

Azelaic Acid is becoming a cult favorite for clear skin because of its many benefits against acne and hyperpigmentation. In my research, it was recommended as a treatment for fungal acne because there is some evidence that it can balance yeast growth on the skin and prevent flare-ups. In my experience though, while it’s a great ingredient to include in an FA-safe routine, it doesn’t do much to actually treat an existing breakout.

Rating: 5/10

Hypochlorous Acid

Another product that’s recently gone viral, hypochlorous acid is essentially an anti-microbial that’s often used as a wound spray. In my experience, this works amazingly as a preventative measure (I spray it liberally on my face and body right after I work out, I’ve also seen people spray it on their sheets before they sleep), but again, it didn’t do much for my existing breakouts.

Rating (as prevention): 8/10

Rating (as treatment): 2/10

Raw Honey

I’m not a huge fan of skincare concocted in the kitchen, but not gonna lie, I enjoy an occasional raw honey mask with a pinch of turmeric thrown in for good measure. I definitely feel like it leaves my skin feeling more moisturized and looking more radiant, but as for treating fungal acne, I can’t say I’ve seen a huge difference. This may be one of those things that needs to be done every day, but I just don’t have time for an elaborate 20-30 minute daily mask. So, for that reason, this is pretty low on my list.

Rating: 6/10

Tea Tree Oil

Any discussion of acne is never complete without tea tree oil being mentioned, and to be perfectly honest, I’ve never understood the hype. I’ve tried all kinds of products with tea tree oil—cleansers, moisturizers, the oil in its pure form—and all of them have done nothing but broken me out. I’m sure this works for some people, but for me, I can’t get far enough away from this stuff.

Rating: 0/10

The Skinimalist’s Take: Make Sure It’s Actually Fungal Acne and Stay Consisitent

Fungal acne can be frustrating, especially when conventional acne treatments don’t work. But understanding its unique causes and using targeted anti-fungal treatments can make all the difference. Whether you opt for ketoconazole, sulfur, or zinc pyrithione, the key is consistency and patience.

If you're not sure whether you're dealing with fungal acne or closed comedones, try this experiment:

• Use an anti-fungal product, such as ketoconazole, on the affected area for 1–2 weeks.

• If the bumps improve significantly, they’re likely fungal acne.

• If there’s no change, you may be dealing with closed comedones or another skin condition, such as bacterial acne.

Treating fungal acne with the wrong products, like benzoyl peroxide or rich moisturizers, can exacerbate the condition. On the flip side, treating regular acne or closed comedones with anti-fungal products will likely have little to no effect, prolonging the time it takes to address your skin concerns. If you’re struggling with persistent bumps that won’t budge, it’s worth consulting a dermatologist to confirm the diagnosis and explore prescription options. Remember, treating fungal acne is as much about avoiding triggers as it is about finding the right cure.

About The Skinimalist

Hi, I’m Mal, a 30-something recovering skincare addict, and this is my blog. A space where I attempt to de-influence you from chasing trends and buying more skincare products you may not need.

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