Fungal or yeast infection on forehead??

[Laquila]

Has anyone had this? I’ve had teeny tiny bumps and red spots (which are taking unusually long to heal) on my forehead for about two to three weeks now and it’s driving me INSANE. I’ve googled extensively and the closest I can find to it is a photo of woman with a similar-looking bit worse case than mine, which is labelled as a yeast infection. I’ll try and make a docs’ appt in the morning but in the meantime, has anyone had this and successfully treated it?!

A fungal/yeast infection is the same. If you have any clotrimazole 1% or daktarin you could try a bit of that tonight. I’d imagine the dr will prescribe a combination anti fungal/steroid though, which should provide instant relief from itch.

Are you using a Liz Earle cleanser? I had small white bumps when I used that. Could have been an unusual reaction to something in it, as I know others on MN highly rate Liz Earle.
List your cleansers/moisturisers and someone knowledgeable might spot something.

Yes fungal acne is another term? I know people who have had it

That actual name is malassezia folliculitis

Thanks all. Interestingly I have used Liz Earle cleanser fairly recently Diana - it’s not my usual but maybe I’ll stay away from that from now on!

I can’t get a docs appt with my GP til 22 March but did speak to the pharmacist this morning who said it might be viral. My son’s been diagnosed with scarlet fever today though so I’m wondering whether it could be a strep rash caused by that?

Can you share a photo? I'd try treat at home with an anti fungal if it doesn't match up to photos of strep rash

Could be seborrheic dermatitis in which case hydrocortisone + canesten cream has worked really well for me....

I saw the advanced nurse practitioner yesterday and she thinks it’s bacterial rather than fungal - she gave me fusidin cream to try. I’m not very hopeful though!

If you can afford a bottle of Nizoral shampoo,it’s cracking for stuff like this. I use it for sebbhoric dermatitis, but my eldest has had it prescribed for a ringworm on the scalp too. It seems to be magic shampoo.

Thanks Incy - daft question but how would that work for my forehead? Do you think that the run-off alone (from using the product on my scalp) would help clear up the rash on my face?

Just give your forehead a scrub while you wash your hair, or just use on the affected patch. It’s worth a chat with the pharmacist though, if the prescribed stuff doesn’t work.

Skin is so tricky to treat sometimes.

I am so bloody miserable with this!! It’s hard to tell whether Nizoral has helped, Incy - it doesn’t seem to have made things any worse though!

I’m currently using it as a face wash along with the fusidin cream and occasional Azelaic Acid from The Ordinary.

I don’t think it’s getting any worse in terms of severity, but it doesn’t seem to be getting any better and seems to be spreading towards other parts of my face, notably my hairline.

Wasn't there a problem with Liz Earle products that were contaminated with bacteria? Might be worth looking into?

@Laquila Here is an article about the Liz Earle products. Bit of a worry.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/liz-earle-cleanse-polish-hot-cloth-cleanser-recalled-dangerous-bacteria-boots-a7401126.html

The recall was 2.5years ago ( the article is from Nov16). So that is unlikely to be the problem.
Did the nurse take a swab for culture ( both bacterial and fungal) ?

@Lonecatwithkitten

I know it's an old article, don't know about anyone else, but I have old products that don't get used as soon as I get them, so it could be a possibility.

Good idea to get a swab to see what it is, especially as it seems to be spreading.

Tiny little bumps and redness?

Take a look at rosacea.

Dr. Google has an unhappy habit of showing worst case scenarios.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/rosacea/

Thanks lurker - interesting reading! Mine was actually a gift and I don’t know whether it came direct from Liz Earle or not but I’ve used it quite a lot before without it causing any problems so unlikely to be that. Thank you though!

I went back to the nurse on Friday and she gave me Clarithromycin 500mg, so I’m trying that. I THINK it’s getting a bit better, so I’m leaning towards it being bacterial now rather than fungal.

WTF im pretty certain it isn’t rosacea - it’s less red and sort of....lumpy-er, I guess?!

Thank all for your thoughts - I really appreciate it!