How to Treat Tiny Bumps on Forehead

I think my skin looks pretty good, it's clear, no acne, however I have these tiny bumps on my forehead. They are so small that I don't really see them in natural light, I only see them once I put makeup on and then I see my skin has texture. They're not whiteheads so you can't pop them, thus they are not pimples. I went to the dermatologist last year and she gave me a prescription for Tretinoin which is used to treat acne, sun-damaged skin and wrinkles. It's a popular prescription for people over 30 who want to reduce the appearance of fine lines. It's a retinoid which is derived from vitamin A and tretinoin is more powerful than any retinol you can buy from Sephora. Tretinoin works by increasing the production and shedding of skin cells aka cell turnover. It's not tolerated well by sensitive skin and for many people it causes irritation and dry skin. I've been using prescription Differin since I was a teenager, which now you can buy over the counter, and I think because of that I have no side affects from Tretinoin and don't have to use a moisturizer with it and can use it every night which is not the norm for most people.

After using it for 6 months I can confirm that the fine lines on my forehead are gone! But I still have tiny bumps on my forehead, that again are hard to see and only bothersome under makeup. I would get facials just for the extractions, but they would come right back. My esthetician thought I had either comedones or milia so for the last year I've used all the treatment products for that with no results. It was frustrating because I was doing everything right, yet no matter what I did, those tiny little bumps wouldn't go away. I finally determined that what I have is fungal acne. And fungal acne is not acne, thus acne treatment products won't get rid of it so you want to go in with the right solutions. It's a type of yeast in the skin and when there's too much oil and moisture on your skin, the yeast will grow into bumps. The reason I struggle with that is because I exercise 6 days a week so I'm sweating on my face. Here is what I used that worked to finally get rid of it.

What ingredients to look for and the best products to get it

Glycolic Cleanser This has a strong herbal smell and stings if you get it in your eyes which is near impossible to avoid in the shower. lol This product is great in helping to retexturize your skin. I used this to cleanse my face in the shower immediately following my workouts. This was the first product I tried where I saw a reduction in my fungal acne (which my regular cleanser couldn't do). This is also good to use on your back acne.

Chlorophyll I put it in a glass of water everyday and the taste is neutral to me. This cleared my forehead after drinking it for one week! Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in plants and has purifying qualities that aid in the detoxification of the body. It is said to aid in increasing oxygen and healthy flow of blood in our bodies which encourages the removal of harmful impurities and toxins, strengthening our immune system while alkalizing the body and balancing our pH levels. Thus, chlorophyll may enhance our energy levels. It is also used for altitude sickness since it since it helps to capture the oxygen in your lungs. Your skin will definitely be more clear and glowing!

Honey

Honey has been used in ancient Egyptian medicine and has stayed perfectly preserved in tombs. Because honey doesn't spoil so you can eat 2000 year old honey! Honey is antifungal, anti-inflammatory and fights against the yeast on your skin. Thus it's wonderful for acne as its environment makes it hard for acne to grow.

This mask is made in Korea and explains their origin story on the box. The mask has 38.7% honey and has extra beneficial ingredients that will moisturize your skin. Raw honey is antibacterial so it's cleaning your skin from bacteria which is perfect for acne. It's a natural humectant which means it draws and attracts moisture and retains it on your skin.

The other ingredients in this mask are macadamia seed oil, sunflower seed oil, shea butter, beeswax, argan oil, hazel seed oil, jojoba seed oil, snail secretion filtrate, aloe leaf water, propolis extract, bee venom, and eucalyptus leaf extract. Here's a video that explains how snail secretion is extracted from snails. Bee venom makes your skin react like you've been stung which means it increases blood flow to your skin and helps it to produce collagen and elastin.

It comes in a glass jar with a spoon. It has a earthy honey scent but also maybe smells like toffee. The mask has a thick texture but is not sticky. On your face is never becomes dry or stiff so you can watch your favorite netflix show while you wear it. It spreads evenly and glides across your face. You can use it a few times a week for 10 min-1 hour. It does not sting or irritate my skin. I've had this mask in heavy rotation in my routine as masks always feel like a spa day.

Here are a couple other more expensive honey masks: Farmacy, Origins, May Lindstrom. I used to use the Farmacy one (which has a nice warming affect) but saw in the ingredient list that it was just honey extract as the 6th ingredient.

Niacinamide

This ingredient has been a game changer for me and was the missing piece in my routine! Niacinamide controls sebum production in the skin so the yeast can't continue to grow and thus rids of the root problem. This will be your number one serum for fungal acne, better than any acne drying product. I use Dr. Dennis Gross, but other options include The INKEY List, The Ordinary and Paula's Choice.

Niacinamide is such a great ingredient with so many benefits and can be layered with retinol or Vitamin C. It can be used on delicate skin such as around the eyes and neck. The other benefits include: anti-inflammatory, treats hyperpigmentation like melasma, anti-aging, anti-acne, decreases oil production (great for oily skin), boosts ceramide production which is your skin's barrier protection, reduces redness in skin, calms down sensitive skin, and acts as a moisturizer. I can't imagine not having this in my routine!

Sulfur

Sulfur softens the top layer of the skin and is an antifungal agent and anti-bacterial. I use this Sulfur mask 3x a week after working out. Other option is this mask and you only need to use it in

the T zone of your face. This mask is a life saver but it does smell and the smell lingers after you wash it off.

Other options

I know this is a holy grail product for a lot of people but I used the Paula's Choice BHA Liquid Exfoliant religiously on my forehead with no change. Also Tea Tree oil did not work for me.

The next three options I haven't tried, but I have seen people say it works for them.

They use a dandruff shampoo on their face to clear away the excess oil and dirt.

The Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Glycolic Essence gets high marks for removing texture on skin. I plan to pick it up at the next Sephora sale.

The Tower SOS spray went viral on tiktok so I purchase a cheaper dupe and have just started using it. It's made with hypochlorous acid. I spray this on after a sweaty workout after I've washed my face. GAMECHANGER!!!!