Key takeaways:
People can get pimples on their butt, but acne isn’t often to blame. Other conditions like folliculitis and infections tend to cause butt pimples.
Home remedies like benzoyl peroxide washes and astringents can help clear up butt pimples. However, some pimples need to be treated with topical antibiotics.
Wearing loose-fitting clothing and not using irritating skin products can help you avoid future pimples.
If you’ve been struggling with pimples on your butt, you’re not alone. A lot of people develop red bumps on their bottom, which can be painful and warm to the touch. While these bumps may look and act like pimples, they’re not usually caused by acne.
For most people, other conditions are the root cause of butt pimples. And luckily, these causes can be treated. Let’s take a look at treatments that can help you get rid of butt acne fast.
Why do people get butt acne?
“Butt acne” isn’t usually true acne. While acne can develop anywhere, it’s less common on the buttocks. Most bumps in this area are caused by irritation or inflammation of hair follicles, rather than clogged pores from oil and hormones.
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Several different skin conditions can lead to bumps or pimples in the butt area.
Infections
Skin infections are the most common causes of butt acne. Hair follicles on the buttocks can get infected with bacteria or yeast. This causes a condition called folliculitis. Bugs that cause folliculitis include:
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus): S. aureus is a bacteria that’s responsible for most causes of butt folliculitis. Folliculitis caused by S. aureus appears as red, tender bumps or pus-filled pimples.
Malassezia: Malassezia is a fungus that can live on the skin. It’s best known for its role in dandruff, but it can cause folliculitis too. Malassezia folliculitis causes itchy, uniform bumps that don’t get better with typical acne or antibiotic treatments.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa): P. aeruginosa is another bacteria that can cause butt folliculitis. People often develop this type of folliculitis after exposure to contaminated water from hot tubs, pools, and whirlpools. It usually shows up as a sudden rash of red bumps within a few days of being in water.
Irritation and friction
Pressure, heat, and friction can also lead to folliculitis. These factors irritate the skin around hair follicles and cause inflammation, which can show up as raised, tender bumps. This type of folliculitis is often called occlusive folliculitis or acne mechanica.
Common triggers include:
Tight or synthetic underwear
Form-fitting clothing, like yoga pants or athletic wear
Prolonged sitting
Exercise and sweating
These factors often occur together, which can trap sweat and increase friction, making inflammation more likely.
Skin conditions
Butt pimples can also be a sign of another skin condition. Some common skin conditions that can cause butt pimples include:
Keratosis pilaris: In keratosis pilaris, keratin, a protein that protects the skin, builds up and blocks hair follicles. This leads to small, rough bumps that can look like acne. It often appears on the buttocks and thigh.
Hidradenitis suppurativa: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic skin condition that causes painful lumps and abscesses on the skin. It tends to affect areas where skin rubs together, including the buttocks. It can be mistaken for repeated boils or infectious folliculitis, especially early on.
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How do you treat butt acne?
There are many things you can do to relieve painful bumps and keep butt acne from coming back. The right approach depends on what’s causing your butt acne. But there are several over-the-counter (OTC) and home remedies that can help relieve symptoms, no matter what’s causing your bumps. Let’s take a look at seven treatments that can help.
1. Gentle cleansers
It’s important to cleanse your skin daily if you’re prone to butt pimples, especially after exercising or sweating. This can lower the chances of new pimples in the future, especially if you’re prone to occlusive folliculitis.
But you want to make sure you use products that won’t further irritate your skin. Choose gentle cleansers that are fragrance free and non-comedogenic, which won’t clog pores. Some of these also contain ceramides that can nourish and hydrate your skin.
Avoid exfoliating products and very hot water, since both can irritate your skin.
2. Acne washes
Acne washes that contain 5% or 10% benzoyl peroxide can treat mild butt folliculitis that’s caused by infections and keep it from coming back.
These products are often marketed as face washes, but it’s OK to use them on your buttocks. They may dry out your skin, so try using them every other day at first. You can use a non-comedogenic, dye- and fragrance-free moisturizer after washing to help avoid dryness.
3. Antiseptic skin cleansers
Antiseptic skin cleansers can help with butt acne caused by infections too. Look for cleansers that contain 4% chlorhexidine gluconate, which kills many types of bacteria and Malassezia. These cleansers can be very helpful if you’re prone to larger, painful pimples on your buttocks. These products are available OTC, either as generics like chlorhexidine or under brand names like Hibiclens.
Talk with your healthcare team if you’re planning to use these products, especially for the first time. They may recommend performing skin cultures to make sure an infection is causing your pimples and that these cleansers can help.
4. Warm compress
A warm compress can provide soothing pain relief from butt pimples. They can also be used in combination with other options to treat butt pimples.
You can buy a reusable warm compress or make one by soaking a clean cloth in warm water. If you have ingrown hairs, you can add Burow’s solution packets to the warm water too. Apply the warm compress to your butt pimple 3 times a day for 10 minutes at a time.
5. Cotton underwear
Synthetic materials can irritate your skin and trap sweat. Both of these things can worsen folliculitis and make your butt acne worse. Opt for cotton underwear instead. Cotton is naturally breathable and less likely to cause skin irritation and inflammation.
It’s also a good idea to choose loose-fitting clothing when dealing with butt acne. Tight clothes can put pressure on your skin and increase irritation — even if you’re wearing cotton underwear.
6. Ketoconazole shampoo
Ketoconazole shampoo is a medicated shampoo that’s available OTC in 1% concentration. It’s also available in higher concentrations (2%) by prescription.
It can help treat skin infections caused by Malassezia. You can try the prescription 2% ketoconazole shampoo as a body wash to help with butt acne that’s caused by Malassezia. Experts recommend leaving it on for about 5 minutes before rinsing it off. Your healthcare team may recommend using ketoconazole as a body wash a few times a week after your butt acne goes away. Using ketoconazole regularly may keep butt acne from coming back.
7. Antimicrobials
Antibiotic and antifungal medications can treat butt acne caused by infections. Sometimes, antibiotic creams and ointments are enough to treat butt acne caused by bacteria. Common topical antibiotics that can treat butt acne include mupirocin 2% ointment and clindamycin 2% gel. These topical antibiotics are often combined with medicated cleansers to help treat folliculitis.
People with many pimples or very large pimples may need to take antibiotics or antifungals by mouth to treat their butt acne. Antibiotic and antifungal medications to treat butt acne are only available by prescription. Your healthcare team can help you decide if they’re the right treatment option for your butt acne.
8. Witch hazel
Witch hazel is a mild astringent made from the witch hazel plant. There’s some evidence that witch hazel has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. You can use witch hazel wipes over your buttocks after bathing. You can also apply witch hazel solution to butt pimples with a cotton ball. This may help ease inflammation and stop future breakouts.
When should you seek care for butt acne?
Many cases of butt acne can be treated at home with OTC products and simple skin care changes. But sometimes the bumps don’t improve, or they may be caused by something more serious. In these situations, it’s important to seek medical care.
It’s a good idea to contact your healthcare team in these cases:
You have a history of severe acne or chronic skin condition. Conditions like hidradenitis suppurativa may require prescription treatment.
You’ve had boils, abscesses, or other skin infections. What looks like butt acne may actually be a recurring infection that needs antibiotic treatment.
You have fever, large or painful pimples, or pimples that drain pus. These can be signs of a skin infection that needs treatment with oral antibiotics.
Your symptoms aren’t improving. Seek care if your pimples don’t get better within 2 weeks or if they get worse at any time.
Frequently asked questions
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) don’t cause pimples or acne. Some can cause bumps, blisters, or other skin changes in the genital area, including around the anus. STIs that can cause skin changes include:
Genital warts, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV)
You shouldn’t pop butt acne. Popping pimples can lead to skin damage, scarring, and infection. Seek care if you have large or painful pimples or if your pimples drain pus or other fluid. You may need treatment with antibiotics.
A boil is a painful, pus-filled infection that can form around a hair follicle. The medical term for a boil is a furuncle. Furuncles often need treatment, like antibiotics or drainage. You shouldn’t try to pop one at home. This can lead to worsening infection, skin damage, and scarring.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) don’t cause pimples or acne. Some can cause bumps, blisters, or other skin changes in the genital area, including around the anus. STIs that can cause skin changes include:
Genital warts, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV)
You shouldn’t pop butt acne. Popping pimples can lead to skin damage, scarring, and infection. Seek care if you have large or painful pimples or if your pimples drain pus or other fluid. You may need treatment with antibiotics.
A boil is a painful, pus-filled infection that can form around a hair follicle. The medical term for a boil is a furuncle. Furuncles often need treatment, like antibiotics or drainage. You shouldn’t try to pop one at home. This can lead to worsening infection, skin damage, and scarring.
The bottom line
Butt pimples are usually a sign of inflammation or infection — not true acne. Home remedies that can help ease butt acne include benzoyl peroxide washes, ketoconazole shampoo, and warm compresses. It’s also a good idea to use a gentle cleanser and moisturizer until your skin heals. Seek medical care if you have a history of skin conditions, skin infections, or painful pimples. You may need prescription treatments to help get rid of your butt acne.
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References
Bikowski, J. (2010). A review of the safety and efficacy of benzoyl peroxide (5.3%) emollient foam in the management of truncal acne vulgaris. The Journal of Clinical Aesthetic Dermatology.
Cheesman, M. J., et al. (2021). An assessment of the growth inhibition profiles of Hamamelis virginiana L. extracts against Streptococcus and Staphylococcus spp. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine.
Henning, M. A. S., et al. (2023). Position statement: Recommendations on the diagnosis and treatment of Malassezia folliculitis. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.
Lin, H-S., et al. (2021). Interventions for bacterial folliculitis and boils (furuncles and carbuncles). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Numan, H., et al. (2022). Pseudofolliculitis barbae. DermNet.
Piazza, S., et al. (2022). Anti-Inflammatory and anti-acne effects of Hamamelis virginiana bark in human keratinocytes. Antioxidants.
Woo, Y. R., et al. (2022). Truncal acne: An overview. Journal of Clinical Medicine.
