We all deal with acne sometimes, but the cause is different for each acne type. Fungal acne and closed comedones are two common types of acne. You might have questions about their cause and treatment. This article explains everything about fungal acne vs. closed comedones.
What Is Comedonal Acne?
Comedones, also known as comedonal acne, are small bumps commonly appearing on the chin and forehead. Comedones have different types:
- Whiteheads are white bumps that are closed off, and you can hardly get rid of them.
- Blackheads are similar to whiteheads but are open on their surface.
- Solar comedones are caused by excessive sun damage.
- Giant comedones look like large blackheads; your dermatologist can remove them.
What Are Closed Comedones?
Closed comedones or whiteheads are small bumps on the skin that are not inflamed. They occur when factors such as hormonal change, genetics, and skin products cause sebum overproduction. They can appear on your forehead, chin, chest, upper back, and nose.
How to Get Rid of Closed Comedones?
Before anything, you should avoid any skincare routine or product that you suspect could cause sebum overproduction to prevent further formation of closed comedones. Then, you can benefit from topical treatments containing salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or retinoids to exfoliate your skin and remove dead skin cells.
What Is Fungal Acne?
Fungal acne is more of a hair follicle inflammation than actual acne. When a hair follicle gets inflamed due to a fungal infection, it appears in the form of an itchy white bump on your skin. You might think it is a whitehead or a closed comedo, but it has a different cause and thus a different treatment.
How to Treat Fungal Acne?
We have news for you if you are considering treating fungal acne at home. It cannot be treated with antibiotics; in fact, it might even get worse. To treat fungal acne, you should get a diagnosis and a prescription from your dermatologist for antifungal treatment.
Fungal Acne vs. Closed Comedones; Can You Tell the Difference Now?
Generally, fungal acne and comedones are different in three criteria:
The Cause
The first difference between fungal acne vs. closed comedones is their root cause. If you have clogged pores with oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells on your skin, there is a high chance of developing closed comedones, whereas fungal acne is caused by an overgrowth of yeast.
The Symptoms
Closed comedones vary in size. They do not itch and spread out with a red or flesh color. On the other hand, fungal acne is uniform in size, appears in clusters, and is pus-filled.
Treatment Approaches
As mentioned, comedonal acne can be treated by topical retinoids and drying agents such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide. For fungal acne, you need antifungal medication.
Everything All in One Look
This table summarizes everything discussed above:
|
|
Closed Comedones | Fungal Acne |
|
Cause |
Sebum Overproduction |
Overgrowth Of Yeast Within Hair Follicles |
|
Look |
Small, Red, or Flesh-Colored Bumps |
Small Bumps That Look Like a Whitehead Acne |
|
Feel |
No Pain, No Inflammation |
Itchy, Burning Sensation |
| Treatment | Salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, retinoids |
Antifungal medication |
Do You Need Help with Your Skin?
In this article, we explained everything about fungal acne vs. closed comedones. Now, you know the cause, the look, the feel, and the treatment for each one of them. However, if you need a trusted dermatologist, let us introduce Beverly Willshire Aesthetics.
Dr. Zarrini and his team of specialists at BWA are well-known for their non-invasive skin treatments. We can guide you through every procedure to get what you want.
