Chelsea :
Looking at your routine, I don’t think it’s necessarily one product causing the bumps, it could actually be the combination of products. You’re using benzoyl peroxide, tretinoin, salicylic acid (BHA), and azelaic acid, which are all great acne treatments individually, but together they can sometimes overwhelm your skin barrier. When that happens, your skin can become irritated and develop tiny bumps that look like acne but don’t seem to go away.
I also wouldn’t assume it’s fungal acne just based on the appearance. True fungal folliculitis is usually very itchy, the bumps are all about the same size, and it often doesn’t respond to traditional acne treatments.
If it were me, I’d simplify the routine for a few weeks, gentle cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, and tretinoin every other night, and pause the BHA while using the benzoyl peroxide wash only a few times a week. Sometimes less is actually more when your skin is irritated.
2026-07-17 16:25:21