Sitting, spanking, sweating, violently squeezing into too-tight spandex Lululemons - your butt goes through a lot, and that's even if your skin isn't prone to breakouts. If you have body acne (or have at any point 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.
Because there are sebaceous glands all over your body, including your behind, bum breakouts are not entirely uncommon. 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. Instead of allowing you to frantically Google "butt acne treatments," however, we decided to bring the query to the professionals. Here's what to know about butt acne (including how to kick its ass for good).
Experts Featured in This Article
Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.
Sandra Lee, MD, FAAD, FAACS, is a board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon, and star of the TLC TV series Dr. Pimple Popper.
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, tells PS. "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.
Butt Acne Treatment
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 butt acne treatments and tips - because don't you wanna coddle the one body part that's always 100 percent behind you?