Acne and folliculitis both cause red bumps on the skin that can look alike, but acne comes from clogged pores with oil, dead skin, and bacteria, while folliculitis is inflammation or infection of hair follicles often from bacteria, fungi, or irritation.[4] Acne usually shows up as whiteheads, blackheads, pus-filled pimples, or deep cysts on the face and jawline.[1][4] These spots form when pores get blocked, leading to swelling and pain, but they rarely itch and do not cluster tightly.[1][3] Folliculitis creates small red bumps around hair follicles, with redness, irritation, and itching, and it can appear anywhere hair grows, like the face, arms, upper back, or legs.[4] Unlike acne, folliculitis bumps center on hairs and feel like they surround tiny follicles, without blackheads or whiteheads.[4] People often mix up the two because both involve inflammation from microbes in pores or follicles, but acne ties to hormones, diet, and oil buildup, while folliculitis links to friction, tight clothes, shaving, or yeast overgrowth.[1][4] For example, a type of folliculitis called fungal acne, or Malassezia folliculitis, looks like uniform, itchy, red or skin-colored bumps in clusters on the chest, back, shoulders, or arms.[1][2][3] These differ from regular bacterial acne because they itch a lot, stay small and even-sized, and worsen in heat or sweat, without deep cysts.[1][2][3] Regular acne spreads more on the face, hurts more than itches, and has varied lesion types like papules or nodules.[1][4] If bumps itch intensely, cluster uniformly, or resist typical acne creams, it might be folliculitis instead.[1][3][4] Both need different treatments: acne responds to benzoyl peroxide or retinoids for bacteria and clogs, while folliculitis may require antifungals, antibiotics, or simply better hygiene to clear follicle infections.[1][4]
Sources
https://www.hollypeytonsmith.com/blog/bacterial-vs-fungal-acne-how-to-spot-the-difference
https://syraaesthetics.com/blog/fungal-acne-treatment/
https://worldofasaya.com/blogs/acne/complete-guide-treating-fungal-acne-step-by-step
https://galtdermatology.com/folliculitis-treatments-in-fort-lauderdale/
https://www.vinmec.com/eng/blog/differentiate-common-pimples-and-skin-cancer-en
https://skinsciencehub.com/fungal-acne-vs-regular-acne/
