Milia, Whiteheads & Fungal Acne

It's difficult to pinpoint precisely what's wrong with your skin. Could those little raised pimples be whiteheads or fungal acne? What exactly is it, and how does it differ?

Let's see if we can assist you in resolving this. If you're not sure how to tell the difference between whiteheads, milia, and fungal acne, keep reading to learn how to self-diagnose and correctly treat your skin.

Whiteheads are deeper in the skin than blackheads and are more often referred to as congested skin. They appear as little pimples under the epidermis that aren't inflamed or red. Sometimes the small white head is visible, and sometimes it isn't. The majority of individuals acquire them on their chins, hairlines, cheekbones, and sides of the mouth. Milia are little white pimples that appear on the face, commonly around the eyes, nose, and cheeks. While they might arise on their own at times, they can also happen as a result of skin injury. The use of heavy and thick face creams is a typical cause of blocked pores and milia. Milia on the face may be caused by a variety of factors. Whiteheads are pores that are closed on the outside but hold excess oil and dead skin cells under the surface. Comedones, or non-inflammatory acne, are what they're called. Milia, on the other hand, is produced by keratin accumulation under the skin's surface. These cysts show little white pimples on the nose and other parts of the body.

Whiteheads

Whiteheads are a kind of closed comedones, or pores, in which sebum is trapped behind a thin layer of skin. When oil combines with dead skin and the pore is blocked, a little white lump (aka those annoying whiteheads!) appears on the skin. Whiteheads may be identified because they are 'poppable,' which implies they can be extracted (wow!).

Excessive sebum production is the most prevalent explanation for whiteheads. Whiteheads on the face, and whiteheads on the chin form when dead skin cells stack up on the surface of the pores, preventing the oil from being discharged. Another reason for whiteheads might be that your skin is too dry or that you're using a product that's too heavy or greasy for your skin.

Chemical exfoliators such as AHAs (glycolic acid, lactic acid, and mandelic acid) and BHAs may help with whiteheads and improve skin texture (salicylic acid). If dryness is the source of the whiteheads, moisturise the skin thoroughly with something light like an aloe mask!

Milia

Milia is a condition in which skin protein becomes trapped under the surface of the skin. It's not a problem with your pores or sebum, but rather with keratin overgrowth! This disease may seem frightening, yet it is not hazardous to your skin. It often occurs in the most sensitive areas of your skin, such as the eye region. It has a pearly, white spherical look that makes it rather simple to recognise.

When your skin turnover slows down, you get milia! It's caused by using heavy, oily products, such as an eye cream that's too thick for you, which permits the keratin to keep developing and show as white humps if skin turnover isn't high enough. Milia might also be linked to your genetics or sun-damaged skin.

Milia treatment - Milia may clear up on its own over time, so you might let your skin age naturally. However, you may always assist your skin by utilising glycolic acid or retinol products to increase the pace of turnover! Apply the product with a cotton swab to the affected region. If you want to get rid of your milia, we suggest seeing an esthetician or dermatologist, as they may be able to remove it using a laser. Do not attempt to pop these guys yourself!

Fungal acne and fungal acne treatment

Fungal acne, also known as Malassezia folliculitis and Pityrosporum folliculitis, is a yeast infection or overgrowth. Imagine your yeast turning into Super Mario after eating the mushroom.' This mushroom is a source of food for your yeast to develop and flourish. Self-diagnosing fungus acne might be difficult, but it is generally accompanied by itching! These bumps are usually seen in groups and are of uniform size.

Small red pimples like fungus appear in rows on the forehead and cheeks, or, less often, on the upper back and chest.

Fungal acne on the face is characterised by little red bumps, unlike comedonal acne, which generates blackheads and whiteheads, and inflammatory acne, which creates acne cysts and nodules.

In a warm, humid atmosphere, the yeast that causes fungal acne thrives. Sweat and sebum may aggravate fungal acne since this yeast thrives in an occlusive environment. Over-moisturizing combined with a humid temperature might result in a warm and welcoming environment for the yeast, allowing it to flourish and develop even more! Some skin care products and oils, such as avocado and olive oil, might exacerbate symptoms. The anti-acne gel can help in treating these forms of acne.

Antibiotics do not work well for fungus acne, therefore you should eliminate any harmful elements from your skincare products to treat it adequately. In the clinical sense, fungal acne isn't acne at all, as we've previously discussed.

Comedonal acne is caused by a mix of oil, blocked pores, and bacteria, and is caused by Malassezia, or pityrosporum folliculitis, a fungal infection of the hair follicles. As a result, the therapies for these two skin disorders are quite different.

Take Away

It might be tough to figure out which illness you have, but speaking with a healthcare expert or dermatological practitioner can help you get the right diagnosis and treatment. Although many of these skin problems seem to be the same at first sight, we hope that this guide will assist you in determining what you're dealing with and how to treat it.