Routine / Fungal Acne / Hyperpigmentation

First, I would suggest having a minimal skincare routine. I think you should try skin cycling. Skin cycling consists of 3 phases, 1. exfoliating night - this means you should use a ( cleanser, exfoliating product containing {AHA/BHA/PHA, or mandelic acid}, hydrating/calming serum that contains a form of cica or centella, and a moisturizer) 2. Retinol night - Do the same steps as above, but instead substitute the exfoliant with a retinol product. Try to chose a gentle form of retinol to not have irritation. I want to tell you ahead before that retinol takes about 3-6 months to show any result. 3. Recovery night (2 days) - during these nights, would not use any active ingredients and just use hydrating ingredients. I suggest using ampoule or a skin barrier cream/serum that contains ceramides. once you are done with the recovery night you would continue this cycle! let me know if you need any product recommendations. please tell me what is your skin type? ( oily, dry, combo, sensitive)??

Oof. It's hard because it does look like you have fungal acne, but you probably also have regular hormonal acne. First of all if you can I would go to a dermatologist to establish if it is indeed fungal acne and if some of it is actually normal hormonal acne. If you do have fungal acne, unfortunately, it's really hard to hear but the first step is that you will have to switch to completely fungal acne safe products :/ If you don't do that it will never get better. It's hard bc you can only use a very limited amount of things and you have to check every time, but if you don't do that if won't get better. I have fungal acne in the form of the classic small bumps on my forehead, esp in between my eyebrows. I also have seborrheic dermatis on that part of my face. Things that have helped me have been: switching to a completely fungal acne safe routine and make-up products, doing a mask with Head & Shoulders daily on it, urea, particularly the Hada Labo gel, and salicylic acid. The other thing you could use that I know of is a sulphur paste or sulphur soap, but I haven't tried that so can't comment on it. One thing that really helps with the small fungal acne bumps on forehead is aloe gel, I don't know why but I am not the only one who has had a positive experience with it. I think fungal acne becomes much worse if you have a compromised skin barrier or your skin is dehydrated, so that might be why the aloe gel which is hydrating and anti-fungal at the same time works. As for 'normal' hormonal acne (which I have on the rest of my face from my cheekbones down), the only thing that truly works in the long term are strong retinoids, ie adapalene or tretinoin. Tbh they work on fungal acne too, not bc they are anti-fungal but bc they just estirpate anything and everything from your face lol However in the short term that I used retinoids, I noticed that while my regular acne went away immediately, the fungal acne on my forehead kept reproducing sort of faster that my skin was reproducing with the adapalene lol But it would have probably have gone away had I stuck to it. Atm I'm not on retinoids and what is working on my regular acne is benzoyl peroxide. It doesn't work as well as adapalene but it works enough. Salicylic acid also obvs works on regular acne too and in fact in generally on anything oily skin related, it's just good practice to exfoliate with it often. So to recap: adepalene or tretinoin would probs be the fastest and easiest solution and probs work on everything. Alternatively you can use the other things I suggested for both fungal and hormonal acne. However, fungal acne doesn't really go away with treatments I find (whereas benzoyl peroxide on its own, for ex, already makes regular acne go away). I have just ordered some oral probiotics with anti-fungal herbs added to it (they are actually for Candida in theory) bc I read on Reddit that's the only thing that 'cured' some people of their fungal acne. I'll also get adapalene from my doctor again soon. I'll keep you posted.

i agree with minbunskin. introducing an exfoliating toner and a light retniol would help. I would start off with using an exfoliating toner and retnol 1 or 2 nights a week (on separate nights). It is important to wear sunscreen on a daily basis as these types of products make your skin sensitive to the sun.

You can check out this discussing - I hope it helps. https://www.gopicky.com/discussion/79297/skincare-routine-for-acne-prone-skin-

i feel like you should definitely try some hydrocolloid patches they are great for multiple acne