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Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

If your skin isn’t responding to acne remedies, you might have fungal acne

Fungal acne so closely resembles ordinary acne that many people endure prolonged frustration with the wrong treatments.

One of the most common concerns I’ve seen in twenty years of practice is stubborn breakouts that refuse to clear despite trying every anti-acne product on the market—salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, facials, and even courses of oral antibiotics. What my patients often don’t realise is that their acne may not be “acne” at all. In a significant number of such cases, the real culprit is Malassezia folliculitis, commonly known as fungal acne. This common yet frequently misdiagnosed condition is caused by an overgrowth of Malassezia yeast, a fungus that naturally resides on our skin.

Recognising fungal acne early can save time, money, and emotional distress, leading to clearer skin much faster.

Last summer, I treated Arjun Kapoor, a 27-year-old fitness trainer and gym owner in Delhi. He came to me after battling what he thought was severe acne for over a year. Despite multiple consultations and prescriptions—including strong oral antibiotics—the small, uniform bumps on his forehead, upper back, and shoulders kept worsening. The itching was particularly intense after workouts and in Delhi’s humid weather.

“I feel embarrassed removing my shirt at the gym,” he confided. On examination, the lesions were classic Malassezia folliculitis: Monomorphic (uniform-sized) itchy papules without the blackheads or deep cysts typical of regular acne. We immediately stopped the unnecessary antibiotics, which were likely fuelling the........

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