Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Trigger Checker
Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids of carbon-chain length C11 to C24 and their esters. Paste your product's ingredients or upload its label and we'll flag every fatty acid, ester, polysorbate, and yeast-fermented extract that's on the standard Folliculitis-Scout fungal-acne trigger list.
What's flagged as a fungal-acne trigger
Free fatty acids C11–C24
Lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic acid
Common esters
Isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, ethylhexyl palmitate, decyl oleate, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate
Problematic plant oils
Coconut, olive, shea butter, argan, marula, avocado
Polysorbates
Polysorbate 20, 40, 60, 80
Fermented extracts
Galactomyces, saccharomyces ferment filtrate
What's safe
Mineral oil, petrolatum, squalane, MCT oil, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, allantoin, panthenol, urea, sulfur-based antifungals, and most silicones (dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane) are generally Malassezia-safe and won't be flagged.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have fungal acne?
Fungal acne (technically Malassezia folliculitis) presents as small, uniform, itchy bumps usually on the chest, shoulders, and forehead — and it doesn't respond to traditional acne treatments. A dermatologist can confirm with a skin scrape.
Why are coconut oil and olive oil flagged?
They're rich in lauric, myristic, oleic, and linoleic acid — all in the C11–C24 range that Malassezia metabolises.
Is squalane the same as squalene?
No. Squalane (saturated, stable, fungal-acne safe) is the hydrogenated form of squalene (unsaturated, can oxidise). Make sure your label says "squalane" with an A.