Malassezia Safe Checker

Fungal Acne
Ingredient Checker

Check if your skincare products contain ingredients that feed Malassezia yeast and trigger fungal acne. Paste an ingredient list or snap a label photo — see which ingredients are fungal acne safe and which to avoid.

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Fungal Acne vs Regular Acne

They look similar but work completely differently. Using the wrong treatment makes it worse.

Fungal Acne

Malassezia yeast

Regular Acne

C. acnes bacteria

Cause

Malassezia yeast overgrowth

Cause

Bacteria clogging pores

Looks like

Small, uniform, itchy bumps

Looks like

Varied size, whiteheads, cysts

Common areas

Forehead, chest, back

Common areas

T-zone, chin, cheeks

Antibiotics

Makes it WORSE

Antibiotics

Can help

Key treatment

Antifungal (ketoconazole)

Key treatment

Benzoyl peroxide, retinoids

Ingredient focus

Avoid C11-C24 fatty acids

Ingredient focus

Avoid comedogenic (0-5 scale)

Ingredients That Feed the Yeast

Malassezia feeds on fatty acids and esters with carbon chains of C11-C24.

Oils

Coconut Oil

C12 Lauric acid

Olive Oil

C18 Oleic acid

Argan Oil

C18 fatty acids

Jojoba Oil

Wax esters C20-22

Fatty Acids

Stearic Acid

C18

Oleic Acid

C18

Lauric Acid

C12

Myristic Acid

C14

Esters & Emulsifiers

Isopropyl Myristate

C14 ester

Polysorbate 60/80

Fatty acid esters

Sorbitan Oleate

C18 ester

Isopropyl Palmitate

C16 ester

Check your product for fungal acne triggers
Malassezia Safe

Fungal Acne Safe Ingredients

Not everything feeds the yeast. These ingredients are generally safe.

Squalane

Non-fatty-acid oil

Mineral Oil

Hydrocarbon-based

MCT Oil (C8/C10)

Short-chain only

Dimethicone

Inert silicone

Niacinamide

Anti-inflammatory

Salicylic Acid

Unclogs pores

Fungal Acne Ingredient Checker FAQ

What is fungal acne?
Fungal acne (pityrosporum folliculitis) is a skin condition caused by an overgrowth of Malassezia yeast in hair follicles. It looks like small, uniform bumps that are often itchy. Unlike bacterial acne, it doesn't respond to antibiotics and requires antifungal treatment.
How do I know if I have fungal acne?
Fungal acne typically appears as small, uniform, itchy bumps — often on the forehead, chest, or back. If your acne doesn't respond to typical acne treatments (benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics), it may be fungal. A dermatologist can confirm with a skin scraping test.
Which ingredients should I avoid for fungal acne?
Avoid most plant oils (Coconut, Olive, Argan), fatty acids with C11-C24 chain lengths (Stearic Acid, Oleic Acid, Lauric Acid), Polysorbates (20, 60, 80), and esters like Isopropyl Myristate. PoreCheck flags all of these automatically.
Why does carbon chain length (C11-C24) matter?
Malassezia yeast uses lipase enzymes to break down fatty acids and esters within the C11-C24 carbon chain range. Shorter chains (C8-C10, like Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride) and longer chains are generally safe because the yeast cannot efficiently metabolize them.
Can I use regular acne treatments for fungal acne?
Most regular acne treatments won't help and some can make it worse. Benzoyl peroxide has limited effect on yeast. Antibiotics can actually worsen fungal acne by reducing competing bacteria. Effective treatments include ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, and selenium sulfide — always consult a dermatologist.

Is your skincare feeding the yeast?

Most skincare products contain ingredients that Malassezia thrives on. Check yours before the next breakout.

Check Ingredients for Fungal Acne