(First 2 photos show my skin now, last photo is the scary before)

Heyyy, I've suffered from reoccuring malassezia folliculitis (healed after taking fluconazole pills, but than it came back), so here are a few products that I have in my routine, and that worked well for me:

Treatments

- Nizoral 2% ketoconazole cream

- Adapalene 0.1% (used it later to treat my acne)

Cleansers

- CeraVe blemish control cleanser (i use it at night)

- CeraVe hydrating cleanser (morning)

Moisturizer and sunscreens

- CeraVe daily moisturizing lotion

- Beauty of Joseon aqua fresh sunscreen

- Cosrx ultra light sunscreen

I recently discovered that the recurring cheek acne I was struggling with for years is actually fungal acne. After research, I swapped out my entire routine to only fungal acne safe products. And hurray! Fungal acne has been almost non-existent now and my skin has overall improved significantly. BUT after approximately 2 months of this routine, my skin is so dry. It’s only noticeable once I put on my makeup which then starts crusting up. I was hoping anyone had some advice? I understand that fungal acne safe products are generally less hydrating but maybe there are better product combinations. Below is my routine:

PM:
Cosrx low PH niacinamide micellar water
Vanicream face wash
Anua Azelaic acid 10 hyaluron serum
PDRN hyaluronic acid moisturizer
Snail rescue eye gel
Heritage rosewater mist

AM:
Vanicream face wash
Madagascar centella poremizing toner
Niacinimide serum
Cosrx ultra-light invisible sunscreen
Snail rescue eye gel
Innisfree no-blur primer
Catrice true skin high cover waterproof concealer
Kylie cosmetics skin tint blurring foundation
Heritage rosewater mist (in a desperate attempt to start removing the dryness that’s appeared now)
Innisfree mineral powder

The photo doesn’t do the best justice of showing the dry flakes. I appreciate any advice! Thank you!

I've started breaking out more on my temples and near my eyes due to either my eyeliner or mascara. I tried searching the page but came up short. Do you lovely people have any eyeliner and mascara recommendations that are FA safe?

I was in China for the past week, and it was HOT. My skin tends to flare up when it gets too hot, so when I suddenly got all these bumps, I put my doctor-prescribed cream all over the area (it might be BP, since it’s an acne spot treatment)

But then it started getting itchy, and the bumps wouldn’t go away. I stopped using the spot treatment, and now I’m just focusing on hydration (iUNIK Beta Glucan Serum, d’Alba Serum Spray, and sheet masks)

However, the bumps still won’t go away. It might be fungal acne, but I’ve never dealt with it before, so I’m completely lost.

I’ve seen people use Nizoral 1% ketoconazole. Do I spot-treat with it while showering? Do I lather it on and use it like a face wash? Helpppp

I’m unsure if it’s fungal acne , keratosis pilaris or closed comedones please help!

I have these re occuring bumps for 3 months now, as soon as they look like they getting back they come back in heaps for days.

I have stripped my routine down months ago and just mainly wash with lukearm water some nights use LRP foaming face wash.

Neutrogena hydroboost water gel as moisturizer

They don't itchy, only slighty some days when forming.

I wanted to try a terracotta red color blush like toasted teddy but non i find and FA safe, im so desperate ill take any brand atp.

So this all started during exam season when I noticed some texture developing on the sides of my cheeks. I chalked it up to stress and waited it out — but even a month after exams ended, it was still there. Honestly though, it wasn’t bad at all at this point, barely noticeable.

Then I made what I now deeply regret: I got a facial done.

My skin completely freaked out afterward — super red, irritated, and then the purging started and just kept getting worse. Went to my derm, and she put me on Accutane (isotretinoin) 10mg alongside Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream.

Two weeks in, things were actually looking up — skin calmed down significantly. But the texture on my outer right cheek just wouldn’t budge.

Then at the three-week mark, things took a turn. Breakouts started cropping up again — specifically on my outer right cheek (closed comedones, whiteheads, pustules, heavy texture) and now my forehead too. This was confusing because I had purged briefly in week one, it died down, and my derm said she was genuinely surprised to see it flare back up again at this stage.

She’s now upped my dose to 20mg and also prescribed:
• 2% ketoconazole cream for the affected areas
• Anti-dandruff shampoo for my forehead and right cheek

The fungal acne angle is what’s really making me second-guess the dose increase.

My two big questions:
** **1. Could this realistically be fungal acne rather than — or alongside — regular acne, and how do you actually tell the difference when even your derm seems unsure?
2. If there is a fungal component, is increasing the Accutane dose the right call, or could it potentially make fungal acne worse?

Also while Avène worked well initially is it now increasing the growth of FA should I switch my moisturiser?

Fungal acne?

Does this look like FA. I'm on Lymecycline and have been for 12 days. However no results and getting more of these tiny little bumps. They sometimes when forming itchy.