Hiya! I am trying to build an effective routine that doesn't trigger my Malassezia/Pityrosporum condition (known as "fungal acne").
Some fast facts about Malassezia: It is an yeast that is naturally present on the surface of our skin. It visually resembles small "pimples" of around same size which also become itchy. Malassezia feeds upon fatty acids, esters and lipids (basically all that goodness of cocoa and shea butter, rosehip oil etc). Glycerin is another ingredient which seems to make Malassezia thrive. Men are more prone to suffer from it than women.
I checked a Malassezia focused website,
sezia.co and some of their recommended products still contain one or more guilty ingredients for Malassezia overgrowth.
Till now I've tried Nizoral shampoo on my problematic skin areas without much success. I've also used Hibiscrub which contains clorhexidine gluconate. I believe it was a foolish decision and I do not recommend prolonged usage as it kills both good and bad bacteria from your skin. I'm also considering trying squalane oil and MCT oil for moisturizing my skin from now on.
What about you? Do you suffer from Malassezia? What are your go-to products to keep it under control?