How to Differentiate Between Whiteheads, Milia, and Fungal Acne

Where to Find the Differences Between Whiteheads, Fungal Acne, and Milia

One of the most commonly asked questions is: how can you tell the difference between whiteheads, fungal acne, and milia?

Unfortunately, all three of these skin conditions look very similar, which is where the confusion arises. They all present with white bumpiness and can cause some textural issues on the skin due to their raised appearance, making it very hard to treat any of them with confidence.

Today, we will go through each skin condition, discussing the causes, how to identify them, how to self-diagnose, and how to treat them. However, please know that the most accurate way to get a diagnosis is to have it examined under a microscope so that the physician or dermatologist can determine what the substance actually is.

Whiteheads

Whiteheads are essentially closed comedones, which form when pores become clogged beneath a thin layer of skin. The pore remains closed and is not exposed to air. This often occurs in individuals who experience frequent breakouts or have highly active sebum production. Excess sebum mixes with dead skin cells, and when this mixture remains trapped without being expelled, a whitehead develops. Whiteheads are typically less painful, or even painless, compared to other types of acne. They are considered a form of non-inflammatory acne, meaning that white blood cells are not actively attacking acne-causing bacteria.

Causes of Whiteheads

These are clogged pores basically and it's fairly easy to treat.The causes of whiteheads can definitely be more diverse than you might think but obviously the most common answer or the common causes are:

• Your excess sebum production meeting the dead skin cells built up on top of the pores so it really does block the sebum from flowing and really excreting and getting out of the pore tunnel so the dead skin cells are interfering the pathway of the sebum excretion.
• The second reason might be your skin being really dehydrated and that is  experience of many people.
• Last but not least, whiteheads can definitely occur when you are using a product that is a little bit greasy or that is a little bit heavier.

Treatment

They are mainly very palpable, which means they are extractable, and oftentimes the whiteheads can be significantly improved by incorporating a chemical exfoliant such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid, and BHA like salicylic acid.

If your whiteheads are caused by dehydration it means that you really need to deeply hydrate and nourish the skin,if you're still afraid of deeply hydrating your skin sometimes using an aloe mask all over the skin can help calm down your skin and also really deeply hydrate your skin.

Milia

Milia are pretty much known as the skin protein getting trapped under your skin so this is not sebum or this is not your pore issue is actually a keratin overgrowth issue, it happens a lot among newborn babies,it happens a lot particularly on the most delicate area on your skin like your eye area and this is probably the easiest to diagnose because it has a pretty obvious pearly white look, this is not an inflamed condition and it doesn't associate with pain or it's not actually harmful to your skin at all. 

Causes of Milia 

The causes of Milia are pretty interesting and easy to understand.

• It happens when your skin turnover slows down a lot or you are using a lot of heavy product around the eyes and the keratin keeps building up or keeps growing without your skin really turning over it. 
• It can be often associated with your genetics or is Sun induced damage as well.

Treatment

It often clears up by itself, so you can definitely see and let your skin heal or let your skin turnover by its own or you can encourage the skin cellular turnover rate by using glycolic acid or retinol product and you can simply dump a cotton swab into the potion or the product and then simply dab it, press it around the eye area.Don't try to extract this by yourself because it'll be almost impossible.

An aesthetician or dermatologist can help you to get this manually extracted, however a lot of dermatologists prefer to do a laser treatment on this and you don't often need to go back because one laser treatment can be enough.

Fungal Acne

 

Also known as Pityrosporum Folliculitis or Malassezia folliculitis. It's basically yeast overgrowth or yeast infection. Malassezia folliculitis occurs within the hair follicles due to the overgrowth of yeast. Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands within your skin,when these sebaceous glands produce more oil,it triggers  the yeast and bacteria that naturally exists within your skin and that results in clogged pores.Bacteria can tend to produce common acne but yeast can lead inflammation in the hair follicles that results in fungal acne.It's not your skin keratin being built up.It's basically your yeast being grown.

This yeast is something  every human being or majority of the human on this planet do have.But it is the matter of how you actually manage it and what kind of food sources it gets fed.This yeast significantly grow in a very warm humid hot climate and also it does like a very occlusive environment which means that it can be exacerbated by your sweat and sebum,if you constantly over moisturize your skin sometimes that yeast can over grow.

Fungal acne can be a cluster of bumps,they can be very uniform in size.Malassezia folliculitis do not respond well to antibiotics it can only grow them stronger,so if you got prescribed by your dermatologist and you're applying antibiotics topically and it's worsening the problem, it might be fungal acne.

Causes of Fungal Acne

• Yeast exists naturally in our skin and it starts to grow in the moist and warm environment. This type of acne burst out when levels of heat, humidity and perspiration increases during the summer.
• They can also be formed after treatment with antibiotics and steroids, prednisone, in combination with other systematic diseases like diabetes.

Treatment

To treat fungal acne, you must eliminate all problematic ingredients from your skincare routine. Many common skincare products contain ingredients that can trigger yeast overgrowth, leading to fungal acne flare-ups.

Treatment often involves using ketoconazole, an active ingredient found in many anti-dandruff shampoos. Products containing oleic acid or sulfur can also be effective in managing the condition.

The skin is prone to various types of conditions, each requiring different treatments. While some skin issues may appear similar, they have different underlying causes. Identifying your specific concern and treating it with the correct medication is essential, as it helps you know exactly what to avoid and what to use for effective treatment.

Conclusion:

Understanding the differences between whiteheads, milia, and fungal acne is essential for proper treatment and prevention. While these skin concerns may appear similar, their causes, treatments, and preventive measures vary significantly. By recognizing their unique characteristics, you can choose the right skincare products, adopt effective habits, and avoid unnecessary irritation or worsening of symptoms. When in doubt, consulting a dermatologist ensures accurate diagnosis and a tailored plan for healthy, clear skin