6 Ways to Get Rid of Butt Acne Fast
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 salicylic acid washes and astringents can help clear up butt pimples.
Wearing loose-fitting clothing and avoiding irritating skin products can also help you avoid 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. Here are six treatments that can help you get rid of butt acne fast.
Why do people get butt acne?
The term “butt acne” is misleading. Acne is a skin condition caused by a combination of things like genetics, hormones, and exposures. While you can develop acne anywhere on your skin, it’s not common to develop it on your butt.
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If you’re prone to pimples on your bottom, more likely causes include:
Inflammation: Folliculitis is a skin condition that develops when your hair follicles (or pores) get inflamed. You have pores all over your body, including the skin on your buttocks. Friction from tight clothing, ingrown hairs, and sweat can trigger folliculitis. It can look like red, raised bumps.
Infection: Bacterial and yeast infections can also trigger folliculitis. When bacterial infections go deeper into your skin, they can also cause boils. Boils are raised, red bumps that are sometimes warm and tender to touch. You may notice discharge from boils.
Keratin build up: Keratin is a protein that helps keep hair and skin strong. But it can also build up inside hair follicles, causing a raised, bumpy, red rash. This condition is called keratosis pilaris.
Now that you know what’s causing your pimples, here are six treatment options that can offer relief.
1. Gentle cleansers
It’s important to cleanse your skin daily if you’re prone to butt pimples, especially after exercising or sweating. But you want to make sure you use products that won’t further irritate your skin.
When bathing, try warm water instead of hot. Hot water can dry out and irritate your skin even more. Avoid exfoliating products and scrubbing your skin, as this can lead to more inflammation.
Instead, try a gentle cleanser that’s free from dyes and fragrances. Non-comedogenic cleansers won’t clog pores, and they often contain ceramides that can nourish and hydrate your skin.
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2. Acne washes
Acne washes that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid can help with butt folliculitis. While these products are often marketed as face washes, it’s OK to use them on your buttocks. But they may dry out your skin. So, it’s helpful to use 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 contain 4% chlorhexidine gluconate, which kills many types of bacteria and fungi, including yeast. These cleansers can be very helpful if you’re prone to boils or carbuncles on your buttocks. These products are available over the counter, either as generics or under brand names like Hibiclens and Chlorhexidine.
But it may be helpful to work with your healthcare team if you’re planning to use these products, especially for the first time. They may recommend performing skin cultures to see if an infection is causing your pimples and whether these cleansers can help fight off that infection. Your care team may also recommend additional treatment options.
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4. 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. It can also be combined with other treatment options.
5. Warm compress
If you only have one butt pimple, a warm compress may provide relief. Warmth can help open your pores. And if your pimples are related to ingrown hairs, warmth can also encourage an ingrown hair to move toward the skin’s surface.
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 Burrow’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.
6. Cotton underwear
Synthetic materials can irritate your skin. Some synthetic materials aren’t breathable and can trap sweat against your skin. 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.
When should you seek care for butt acne?
It’s a good idea to seek medical care for butt pimples if:
You have a history of severe acne or other chronic skin conditions like eczema or hidradenitis suppurativa. You may need prescription treatments to clear up your butt acne.
You have a history of abscesses or other skin infections. Your butt acne may actually be a chronic skin infection. Prescription treatments can help clear up the infection so boils don’t keep coming back.
You have fever, swelling, or pain. These are signs of a skin infection that may need to be treated with oral antibiotics.
Your skin isn’t clearing up with home remedies. Seek care if you’ve tried these six home remedies and aren’t seeing improvement within 2-3 weeks. Seek care sooner if your symptoms are getting worse even with home remedies.
The bottom line
Butt pimples are usually a sign of inflammation or infection, and not true acne. Home remedies that can help ease butt acne include salicylic acid washes, antiseptic washes, 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 chronic skin conditions or skin infections. 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.
Nowicka, D., et al. (2019). Staphylococcus aureus and host immunity in recurrent furunculosis. Dermatology.
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.
Sun, K., et al. (2018). Special types of folliculitis which should be differentiated from acne. Dermato-endocrinology.
Towersey, L., et al. (2023). Assessment of the benefit of a deep cleansing gel containing salicylic acid 2%, zinc gluconate 0.2% and lipohydroxy acids 0.05% in patients with mild to moderate truncal acne: Results from an exploratory study. Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology.
Woo, Y. R., et al. (2022). Truncal acne: An overview. Journal of Clinical Medicine.
