Welcome to Klog Chat, a series where we ask you to tell us how you do skin care and beauty. Today we’re wondering: Have you ever used a beauty product in an unconventional way? And did it work? Tell us all about it in the comments section!
Hi Klog readers, it’s Sarah here. I have to say, I’ve been pretty lucky when it comes to dealing with acne. I don’t break out a lot, and when I do (usually around that time of the month), a simple pimple patch (like the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch) or a single sulfur spot treatment is all it takes to clear up the blemish.
Earlier this month, however, I found myself battling a constellation of bright red zits that appeared on my chest, shoulders and back after a scorching hot beach day.
I spent the following week treating the area with my usual solutions, but the stubborn pimples remained, as glaring as ever. I should have booked an appointment with my dermatologist right then and there. Instead, I went down a rabbit hole on Reddit and diagnosed the issue as fungal acne aka Pityrosporum Folliculitis.
Fungal acne, I learned, is not like traditional acne because it’s caused by fungus not bacteria, explaining why my go-to methods weren’t working. It can flare up due to heavy sweating, which was definitely happening on that fateful beach day. The bumps often appear in clusters, often won’t come to a head and can be itchy.
According to Redditors, there are all types of solutions and one of them is to spot treat with Head & Shoulders shampoo. Intrigued, I ran directly to the drugstore and slathered my skin with the stuff as soon as I got home.
Apparently the active ingredient in the dandruff shampoo is zinc pyrithione, an antifungal ingredient, which is why it’s used as a fungal acne treatment. The jury’s still out on whether or not I actually have fungal acne, but what I do know for sure is that using Head & Shoulders is working for me. After just a few days, my body acne is significantly less conspicuous. I finally feel confident wearing bathing suits and shoulder-bearing outfits again, which is great because New York City is steamy right now.
I like to dab a small amount of the formula on each of my problem spots, wait a few minutes and then rinse off in the shower. The formula is drying and could be potentially irritating to some, so don’t be hasty like me – talk to your dermatologist before trying the method, especially if you’re experiencing fungal acne on your face.
This entire ordeal has put me in an experimental mood, so I would love to know what alternative uses you’ve discovered for other beauty products.