Today, I’m finally sharing my acne journey, which has been a long and challenging road. If you’re dealing with acne, I hope my experiences might help. By the way, if you’re new here, I’m Farah! Most people know me from my posts about natural hair and skincare.
I’ve struggled with acne since I was in elementary school. I clearly remember my first breakout in the fifth grade when a boy pointed out something on my face. That moment marked the beginning of my insecurities about my skin, as breaking out at such a young age affected how I viewed my body.
By the end of middle school, my acne was at its worst. Not only did I have the typical pimples, but I also experienced painful, under-the-skin bumps. My skin issues continued into my university years, with breakouts covering my face. For years, I thought I had cystic acne, but later discovered it was actually fungal acne. Learning this was both creepy and relieving because I finally knew how to treat it.
Over the years, I’ve realized that when skin imperfections are so visible, we tend to overly criticize our appearance, assuming that’s all others notice. Looking back, I was too hard on myself rather than embracing who I was.
Fast-forward to today, a year after dealing with fungal acne, I’ve learned to pay more attention to my overall well-being, rather than just focusing on my skin. Fungal acne is more common than you might think, and because my skin is brown, the oiliness and breakouts were even more noticeable, especially on my forehead.
Fungal acne is caused by Malassezia, a type of yeast that can live on the skin, feeding on ingredients in certain makeup, soaps, and skincare products, which can lead to bumps or acne-like pustules.
I’ve tried nearly every treatment available, but nothing worked until a few months ago when I connected with Mariama on Reddit. She introduced me to more information about fungal acne and shared her skincare routine, which worked wonders for me. The key advice she gave me was to stop using so many products. Before following her routine, I used a mix of expensive skincare items that only aggravated my skin and clogged my pores, encouraging Malassezia to overgrow.
At first, I was skeptical because I had learned that using more products was better, but it turned out to be the opposite. My skin was inflamed, red, and constantly getting worse. Benzoyl peroxide helped but was too drying and, in the end, harmful. So, I stopped using everything, including benzoyl peroxide, which led to a bad initial purge, but my skin cleared up within two weeks and has stayed clear for three months!
The best way to manage fungal acne is to simplify your skincare routine. Focus on two main steps: cleansing and protecting. Although it was hard to let go of my beloved products, my skin now looks better than ever! Here’s how I got rid of my fungal acne and found products worth investing in.
Start by removing makeup and dirt with mild micellar water, such as Bioderma Sensibio or Sébium Foaming Gel. It gently cleanses your skin. After cleansing, while your skin is still damp, apply a few drops of The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5. This helps lock in moisture for better healing.
Finally, seal in the moisture with a fungal-safe moisturizer like CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, FAB Coconut Water, or Bioderma Hydrabo Gel Creme.
Even if you don’t have fungal acne, I’d recommend this routine for everyone. However, this is just my opinion, and I encourage you to do your own research and make informed decisions about your skincare.
