A Dermatologist's Guide to Beating Butt Acne For Good
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Sitting, spanking, sweating, violently squeezing into too-tight spandex Lululemons — your butt goes through a lot, even if your skin isn't prone to breakouts. If acne is a concern for you (or even if it's not but you've somehow made contact with the subway seat while wearing a dress on a sticky summer day), you might have experienced the mysterious citadel of delight that is butt acne.
If you want to treat your badonkadonk before slipping into a bikini — which, hey, is a lot less restrictive than yoga pants — you have options. Here's what to know about butt acne (including how to kick its ass for good).
What Causes Butt Acne?
Butt-ne is not uncommon, and it has a wide range of potential causes. "Generally speaking, acne on the buttocks may be caused by other bacteria either in addition to, or in place of, p. acnes, as well as a type of yeast, or even a small mite in the skin," dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD, says. "Increased butt-ne in summer can be a result of excessive sweating and friction in the area. When the bumps are caused by something other than p. acnes, the condition is called folliculitis, or an inflammation of the hair follicle."
In case you were wondering, this is in addition to the regular culprits of acne, such as hormones, oil production, and dead skin cells caught in the pores. "Compressive undergarments, lack of showering, and other poor hygiene habits could also be the cause," she says.
How to Treat Butt Acne
For a fast-acting approach to beating butt acne, Dr. Nazarian recommends a "combination approach, using products that exfoliate and others that help kill the bacteria." Not sure where to start? Keep scrolling to check out the best treatments and tips — because don't you wanna coddle the one body part that's always 100 percent behind you?
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How to Get Rid of Butt Acne: Try Exfoliating Pads
The best way to exfoliate in the summer is by perching your butt in the sand at the beach. The second best is a little more methodical: acne pads. Dr. Nazarian suggests looking for options with both alpha hydroxy acids for superficial exfoliation and beta hydroxy acids for deeper exfoliation.
A tried-and-true favorite? The Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx Acne Eliminating Pads ($42), which have a host of acne-fighting ingredients such as azelaic and malic acids, plus willow bark. To help prevent buildup of bacteria, you can also consider "using antibacterial wipes like Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Refreshingly Clean Towelettes ($6)," Dr. Nazarian says.
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How to Get Rid of Butt Acne: Switch Up Your Body Wash
After a particularly scorching summer day, it's best to rinse off all that sweat and grime. We swear by the Murad Acne Body Wash ($46), which is formulated with exfoliating glycolic and salicylic acids to keep bumps at bay.
For a more affordable option, try the CeraVe SA Body Wash ($13), which dermatologist Sandra Lee, MD, (also known as Dr. Pimple Popper) swears by. "A lot of people break out on their back or their tush, so you want to use something [with salyclic acid] in the shower to clear everything up," she says. "It really helps clean out the debris and gunk from inside our pores."
Prefer to go the natural route? The Mario Badescu AHA Botanical Body Soap ($8) houses papaya, grapefruit, and ginseng extracts to slough away dead skin cells.
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How to Get Rid of Butt Acne: Wear Breathable Pants
As sweet as your ass looks in those Lululemon pants, you'll want to take them off after a workout to avoid bacteria buildup — especially if you tend to sweat. "Wearing loose-fit clothing in the summer instead can help prevent butt acne," Dr. Nazarian says. We find the Zella Live-In Pocket Joggers ($45-$65, originally $65) just as comfy as our tighter picks.
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How to Get Rid of Butt Acne: Spray Hard-to-Reach Areas
Don't have time to shower after a pool or sweat sesh? Mist your backside with the salicylic-acid-spiked AcneFree Body Clearing Acne Treatment Spray ($11), a dermatologist-recommended option.
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How to Get Rid of Butt Acne: Spot Treat
If you get a few spots here and there, it's worth bringing out tried-and-true ingredients. "A retinoid like adapalene in the Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Prescription Strength Retinoid Acne Treatment ($14) can help treat and prevent future acne, and help with inflammation," Dr. Nazarian says.
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