Fungal Acne
Ingredient Checker

Check if an ingredient list contains fungal acne (malassezia) triggers 🍄

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Our Methodology

We're dedicated to creating the most comprehensive and up-to-date fungal acne checker.

Our checker is designed to help you detect fungal acne triggers in any cosmetic product.

Fungal acne, clinically known as Malassezia folliculitis (MF), is a follicular yeast infection caused by overgrowth of Malassezia species (Rhimi et al., 2020; Gaitanis et al., 2012). It's often mistaken for bacterial acne but doesn't respond to antibiotics or benzoyl peroxide. This is why identifying the right triggers matters so much.

What it detects

There are a ton of ingredients that can potentially trigger fungal acne. To be completely honest, it's hard to say exactly which ingredients will affect your skin.

This is because your skin chemistry, routine, and lifestyle all play a role in malassezia folliculitis. We did our best to catch any potential triggers based on existing research and ingredient origins.

For example, you will see all fatty acid derived ingredients marked as not fungal acne safe. Despite a lack of research on every single ingredient, we flag this because Malassezia feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between approximately C11 and C24 (Wilde & Stewart, 1968; as summarized in Gaitanis et al., 2012).

The reason fatty acids are so central to how Malassezia behaves comes down to genetics: Malassezia species lack the cytosolic fatty acid synthase (FAS) gene. This means they cannot make their own fatty acids and have to pull them from their environment (Xu et al., 2007; Triana et al., 2017). To do this, they secrete lipases, phospholipases, and esterases that break down triglycerides, esters, and phospholipids in sebum/skincare into free fatty acids they can absorb (Juntachai et al., 2009; Park et al., 2021).

This is why we flag not just free fatty acids, but also:

  • Esters
  • Polysorbates
  • Plant oils rich in C12–C24 fatty acids
  • Fermented ingredients where residual metabolites may provide additional nutrients

It's worth noting that species-specific preferences exist; recent research shows M. furfur and M. pachydermatis grow most efficiently on Palmitic Acid (C16:0) and Oleic Acid (C18:1). Growth on shorter chains like Myristic Acid (C14:0) depends heavily on how the fatty acid is delivered (Liebregts et al., 2025). In other words, formulation context matters, which brings us to our limitations.

Limitations

As transparency is important to us, we want to note the limitations of our fungal acne ingredient checker.

It's impossible to build a 100% accurate checker, as there's currently insufficient research surrounding many ingredients. Cosmetic products contain complicated ingredient combinations and formulations and it's not possible to detect with certainty which ones malassezia will thrive on.

Most of what we know about which fatty acids feed Malassezia comes from in vitro studies, or yeast grown in petri dishes with isolated fatty acids. Real skin is a living ecosystem with its own microbiome, immune defenses, barrier function, and a fatty acid bound up in a complex emulsion doesn't behave the same as a free fatty acid in a lab dish (Triana et al., 2017). Some lipids in the "unsafe" C12-C24 range (like certain ceramides and cholesterol esters) aren't easily metabolized by Malassezia because of how they're structured. Our checker errs on the side of caution and flags anything that could plausibly break down into a usable fatty acid, which means some flagged ingredients may not actually cause problems in your specific formulation or for your specific skin.

As we mentioned before, our fungal acne checker is designed to catch all potential triggers. This does not mean all of these ingredients will cause/feed your malassezia, as everyone's skin and routine has unique chemistry.

We are always working to improve the accuracy of our checker and the research that backs it. However, we always recommend doing further research about a product and its ingredients. If you're actively dealing with fungal acne, we also recommend consulting a dermatologist. The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) published a 2023 position statement outlining current best practices for diagnosing and treating MF, which typically includes topical or oral antifungals like ketoconazole or itraconazole (Henning et al., 2023).

If you notice something that needs updating, please let us know by sending [email protected] an email.

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What is fungal acne?

Fungal Acne (Malassezia Folliculitis) is different from hormonal or common acne because it's caused by a yeast that infects your skin follicles. Specifically, it's caused by an overgrowth of Malassezia species (M. globosa, M. restricta, and M. furfur) (Rhimi et al., 2020). This yeast may already be living on your skin and only becomes a problem when it gets out of control.

Malassezia is already part of the normal skin microbiome and is found on 90-100% of healthy adult skin. It only starts to cause breakouts when conditions shift in its favor (Gaitanis et al., 2012).

A fungal acne breakout looks like small, uniform, itchy papules and pustules (usually 1–3mm, all roughly the same size). You won't see a mix of blackheads, whiteheads, and cysts with fungal acne. It tends to be more common on parts of the body with lots of sebaceous glands (Martínez-Ortega et al., 2024).

What are fungal acne triggers?

Our ingredient checker has been designed to detect fungal acne triggers. These are ingredients that are more likely to promote the growth of malassezia folliculitis.

Common examples of fungal acne triggers are esters, squalene, plant oils, fatty acids, and some types of ferments. It's best to avoid these ingredients if you're experiencing fungal acne, and our analyzer will help you do so.

How do I tell fungal acne apart from regular acne?

Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) and regular acne (acne vulgaris) can look similar, but a few things set them apart:

  • Appearance: Fungal acne bumps are usually small, uniform, and all the same size. Regular acne tends to be more varied: you usually get a mix of blackheads, whiteheads, papules, and sometimes deep cysts.
  • Itch: Fungal acne is often itchy while regular acne usually isn't (Martínez-Ortega et al., 2024).
  • Treatment response: Fungal acne doesn't respond to typical acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide or antibiotics. Your acne might be fungal if it isn't budging with standard treatments (Henning et al., 2023).

If you're not sure, a dermatologist can confirm with a simple skin scraping under a microscope.

What lifestyle factors can trigger fungal acne?

Besides skincare ingredients, a few things can tip the balance in Malassezia's favor:

  • Heat and humidity: Warm, damp environments let the yeast multiply faster (Gaitanis et al., 2012).
  • Sweating and tight clothing: Especially leaving sweaty workout gear on after exercise (Martínez-Ortega et al., 2024).
  • Long courses of antibiotics: These can disrupt the bacterial flora that normally keeps yeast in check.
  • Oral or topical steroids: These suppress the immune response that keeps Malassezia under control.
  • Genetics: Sebum production, immune response to Malassezia (via receptors like Dectin-1 and TLR2), and skin barrier genes like FLG are all partly hereditary and influence how easily the yeast triggers a flare (Sparber & LeibundGut-Landmann, 2017; Glatz et al., 2015; Saunte et al., 2020).
  • Family history of dandruff: A family history of dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, or eczema (all Malassezia-linked conditions) suggests a more reactive skin type (Sanders et al., 2018).

How is fungal acne treated?

The most effective treatments for fungal acne are topical or oral antifungals. According to the 2023 EADV position statement, first-line options include topical azoles like ketoconazole, often as a shampoo used as a short-contact body wash. For more persistent cases, oral itraconazole or fluconazole may be prescribed (Henning et al., 2023). A dermatologist can help figure out which approach makes sense for your situation.

In the meantime, a few things can help keep flare-ups from getting worse: cut trigger ingredients from your routine (that's where our checker comes in), get out of sweaty clothes as soon as you can, and keep affected areas clean and dry.

Why don't my regular acne products work on fungal acne?

Because you're dealing with a yeast and not bacteria. Products like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and topical antibiotics are designed to target Cutibacterium acnes (the bacteria behind regular acne). They don't do much against Malassezia. In some cases, antibiotics can actually make fungal acne worse by wiping out the bacteria that normally keep yeast populations balanced.

Wrap up

We hope that our fungal acne checker helps you eliminate triggers from your routine! Get in touch if you have any feedback regarding it.

Our site relies on word of mouth to grow. If you find it useful, we really appreciate it if you share it with your friends!

Bibliography

  1. Triana, S., de Cock, H., Ohm, R. A., Danies, G., Wösten, H. A. B., Restrepo, S., González Barrios, A. F., & Celis, A. (2017). Lipid metabolic versatility in Malassezia spp. yeasts studied through metabolic modeling. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8, 1772. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01772
  2. Gaitanis, G., Magiatis, P., Hantschke, M., Bassukas, I. D., & Velegraki, A. (2012). The Malassezia genus in skin and systemic diseases. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 25(1), 106–141. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.00021-11
  3. Glatz, M., Bosshard, P. P., Hoetzenecker, W., & Schmid-Grendelmeier, P. (2015). The role of Malassezia spp. in atopic dermatitis. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 4(6), 1217–1228. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm4061217
  4. Liebregts, J., van der Velden, L., Fonseca-Fernández, A. L., Celis Ramírez, A. M., & de Cock, H. (2025). Lipid-dependent growth of Malassezia spp. in defined medium with single fatty acids. FEMS Yeast Research, foaf043. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsyr/foaf043
  5. Juntachai, W., Oura, T., Murayama, S. Y., & Kajiwara, S. (2009). The lipolytic enzymes activities of Malassezia species. Medical Mycology, 47(5), 477–484. https://doi.org/10.1080/13693780802314825
  6. Martínez-Ortega, J., Mut Quej, J. E., & Franco González, S. (2024). Malassezia folliculitis: Pathogenesis and diagnostic challenges. Cureus, 16(11), e73429. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.73429
  7. Park, M., Park, S., & Jung, W. H. (2021). Skin commensal fungus Malassezia and its lipases. Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 31(5), 637–644. https://doi.org/10.4014/jmb.2012.12048
  8. Rhimi, W., Theelen, B., Boekhout, T., Otranto, D., & Cafarchia, C. (2020). Malassezia spp. yeasts of emerging concern in fungemia. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 10, 370. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2020.00370
  9. Henning, M. A. S., Hay, R., Rodriguez-Cerdeira, C., Szepietowski, J. C., Piraccini, B. M., Ferreirós, M. P., et al. (2023). Position statement: Recommendations on the diagnosis and treatment of Malassezia folliculitis. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 37(7), 1268–1275. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.18982
  10. Sanders, M. G. H., Pardo, L. M., Franco, O. H., Ginger, R. S., & Nijsten, T. (2018). Prevalence and determinants of seborrhoeic dermatitis in a middle-aged and elderly population: The Rotterdam Study. British Journal of Dermatology, 178(1), 148–153. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.15908
  11. Saunte, D. M. L., Gaitanis, G., & Hay, R. J. (2020). Malassezia-associated skin diseases, the use of diagnostics and treatment. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 10, 112. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2020.00112
  12. Sparber, F., & LeibundGut-Landmann, S. (2017). Host responses to Malassezia spp. in the mammalian skin. Frontiers in Immunology, 8, 1614. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2017.01614
  13. Wilde, P. F., & Stewart, P. S. (1968). A study of the fatty acid metabolism of the yeast Pityrosporum ovale. Biochemical Journal, 108(2), 225–231. https://doi.org/10.1042/bj1080225
  14. Xu, J., Saunders, C. W., Hu, P., Grant, R. A., Boekhout, T., Kuramae, E. E., Kronstad, J. W., DeAngelis, Y. M., Reeder, N. L., Johnstone, K. R., Leland, M., Fieno, A. M., Begley, W. M., Sun, Y., Lacey, M. P., Chaudhary, T., Keough, T., Chu, L., Sears, R., Yuan, B., & Dawson, T. L. (2007). Dandruff-associated Malassezia genomes reveal convergent and divergent virulence traits shared with plant and human fungal pathogens. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 104(47), 18730–18735. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0706756104