How to Get Rid of Fungal Acne Fast
This is not a post I ever wanted to write, but here we are.
About a month ago I was hit with a severe sore throat. So bad that it hurt to drink water, swallow and talk. I had never had strep throat before, but based on the symptoms I concluded it had to be strep and rushed over to urgent care. They prescribed antibiotics (Amoxicillin to be exact) and sent me on my way.
I haven’t taken antibiotics in 10+ years so I was rusty on my knowledge of them, but I know they annihilate ALL bacteria, good and bad. So I stopped taking my probiotics for a few days and started on the 7 day dose, without much thought. Honestly, I was desperate for relief from the pain and just wanted to feel even a little bit better. Lo and behold, not 30 hours later my throat pain had subsided and I was feeling (almost) brand new. However, the doctor said to keep taking the antibiotics for the full 7 days because there’s a risk of your body developing antibiotic resistant bacteria if you stop too early. So I went back to work and without thinking I had a kombucha with my lunch on day two, assuming it would help keep my gut healthy until I could get back to my probiotics. Let me tell you that was the WRONG move.
I was testing a foundation this day, so I didn’t notice until I washed my face that night that a rash had started developing along my chin. It was like nothing I had ever seen or experienced, but I had an inkling I was looking at fungal acne due to the yeast in the kombucha. Fungal acne by definition is “is a yeast overgrowth in hair follicles, appearing as itchy, uniform, small red or pus-filled bumps. Mine happened to mostly be pus-filled bumps/whiteheads and for lack of a better word were completely disgusting. I was so frustrated that I just started to feel better and now I had to deal with a skin issue- on my face no less.
So like anyone in panic mode I took to reddit. I started to research how to get rid of the acne, and heal my gut so it wouldn’t come back. Below are the steps I took that helped me get rid of this breakout in only three days:
- I’m not giving medical advice, but I stopped taking the antibiotics immediately, after three days. I had never actually had a positive strep test, so to me it didn’t make sense to keep taking them when they were causing other problems, and I did not have confirmation that I actually had bacteria I needed to get rid of. However, please listen to your doctor on this and keep taking them if they advise you to do so.
- However, the next time I need antibiotics I will be taking these Florastor Probiotics in tandem. They contain probiotic strains that stand up against antibiotics and protect the gut from getting completely wrecked.
- Reddit also recommended the Garden Of Life Women’s Daily Probiotic since they have two strains that specifically protect against excess yeast buildup, which can lead to things like fungal acne or a yeast infection.
- The thing that made the most difference for me was Miconazole Nitrate 2% Antifungal Cream. Reddit recommended this $5 tube from Amazon and it is actual magic. You apply it twice a day, to clean dry skin, and after just two days I saw major improvement. By day three my acne was almost completely gone and I was able to cover it with makeup.
- Speaking of makeup, I tried to avoid it completely but if I had to wear it I checked my products on this website for ingredients that would make my flare worse. Thankfully my Neutrogena Hydro Boost Skin Tint was fungal acne safe! I also pared down my skincare routine and just used Vanicream Gentle Cleanser with INNBEAUTY Recharge Gel Cream– both of which also passed the “check.”
- The only other product I used to help treat the fungal acne is the Vanicream Z Bar. Redditors recommended this as a face wash for sensitive skin folks, instead of the dandruff shampoo Nizoral that many people on the internet recommend. Nizoral isn’t meant for the face and can cause skin barrier issues, unlike the Z Bar which is really gentle. Most people that struggle with fungal acne use it daily during a flare, and then once a week to maintain clear skin. I lathered and let it sit for 30-60 seconds before rinsing. I got mine in Amazon so by the time it came my skin was looking pretty good, but I do think this helped get it into clear territory, fast.
- Lastly, I didn’t end up using it, but some people found that using a sulfur mask helped clear up their fungal acne. I wanted to include this tip in case you’ve tried everything else to no avail. I personally like this product to treat breakouts in general, so it can be nice to have on hand.
Net net, you should be able to get rid of your antibiotic- induced fungal acne quickly, with the help of an anti-fungal cream and powerful probiotics- so DO NOT worry! I know it can feel like the end of the world when skin issues arise but I promise you there is clear skin on the other side of this. I hope this post was helpful! If you have any other tips for us, comment below.
xx, Britta