Pimples on the butt are as common as those that form on your face. They can occur at any age, and several reasons are responsible for their formation. Many people experience big red bumps on certain areas of their butt, while some experience roughness across the entirety of their bum. Acne on the butt can get itchy, rough, and hurt at times. Besides, these pimples also make your skin super dry, dark and dull.
What causes pimples on the butt?
Breakout on the butt could be the result of several skin conditions. Let us look at some of the common causes of pimples on the butt.
Folliculitis
Folliculitis is caused by staph bacteria, which infects the hair follicle and results in acne on the butt. In this skin condition, people experience red bumps with pus on their skin caused when staph bacteria enter through a break in the skin.
Furthermore, sweating and chafing from your underwear can worsen this infection. Folliculitis can also result from shaving.
Boils and carbuncles
A boil is a pus-filled infection formed in your hair follicle. This infection gets deep into the layers of your skin, which makes the infected area swollen and tender. Boils commonly occur around your groin, waist, buttocks and under your arms.
On the other hand, carbuncles are clusters of boils that reflect a more severe infection. This skin condition may also cause fever with chills.
Keratosis pilaris
Keratosis pilaris is also known as “chicken skin”, which causes rough bumps on the skin. These pimples are formed when dead cells clog the hair follicles and infect the skin.
Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is the skin condition where the skin gets irritated by using substances like lotions, soaps, detergents, or certain fabrics. This infection causes itchiness, redness or blisters on the skin.
How to treat butt pimples?
It could take longer than normal to treat butt pimples, provided you know the right treatment to combat this skin condition. Follow the steps mentioned below to clear butt acne.
Benzoyl Peroxide
You can treat butt pimples with over-the-counter treatment products. For effective results, you can use benzoyl peroxide bar soap or body wash, which would deliver noticeable results quickly. This skincare ingredient works best for inflamed bumps filled with pus.
Exfoliating creams
The most common and effective way to treat acne is exfoliation. Regular exfoliation prevents the blockage of hair follicles, which restricts the formation of acne. For proper exfoliation, you should use skincare products that can speed up the cell turnover rate and keep your skin moisturized at the same time.
Exfoliating ingredients like glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, etc., can be used to get rid of the dead skills from the body. So, buy creams or body lotions that contain exfoliating agents, as this would keep your skin refreshed and healthy.
Use zinc creams
According to a few studies, people who experience acne have lower zinc levels in their blood. Researchers found that using a cream with zinc showed improvement in inflammatory acne. Experts believe oral zinc, like niacinamide, helps in treating acne effectively.
Topical or oral antibiotics
Your dermatologist may prescribe oral or topical antibiotics for severe conditions. So, if you think other measures are not helping and you need expert help, consider consulting a skin specialist.
Besides cosmetic and medical treatments, there are a few habits that you should incorporate into your daily routine. These changes in your routine would help you attain a clearer skin free from acne.
Wash regularly
Ensure washing your butt regularly using a good quality antibacterial soap. Washing your butt twice a day would help clean the bacteria and dirt accumulated by sweat.
Avoid tight clothes
Generally, bacteria sits on our skin, and there is no way we can avoid it while we are moving outdoors and sweating. However, wearing tight clothes pushed these bacteria deep into our pores, causing breakouts.
Therefore, experts suggest that you should avoid wearing tight clothes.
Use warm washcloth
Use a warm washcloth and dap it on your skin to smoothen it and open the skin’s pores. This will help draw out accumulated bacteria, dust, and dead cells that cause acne and pus. In this context, use this warm washcloth and gently place it over the affected area on your butt. This will help ease inflamed acne.
Use tea tree oil
Tea tree oil has been used to treat skin infections and wounds since time immemorial. This skincare ingredient is known for its antibacterial properties, and hence, experts advise using it to treat acne.
According to research, applying tea tree oil for 12 weeks has helped improve mild to moderate acne.
References:
aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/keratosis-pilaris-self-care
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32860489/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27000386/
Worret W-I, Fluhr JW. Acne therapy with topical benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics and azelaic acid. JDDG. 2006;4(4):293-300. doi:10.1111/j.1610-0387.2006.05931.x
Arif T. Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive review. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:455-61. doi:10.2147/CCID.S84765