How To Get Rid of Butt Acne According to Dermotologists

Experts break down why it happens and how to get rid of it ASAP, Keeping your backside sweat free and dry can help prevent acne on your butt.

How to Get Rid of Butt Acne, According to Dermatologists. While acne literally anywhere on the body can be annoying, at least if it’s happening on your derriere, not many people are going to see it — well, most of the time. Now that it’s almost swimsuit season, finding ways on how to get rid of butt acne may be on your mind.

The key to banishing breakouts for good is knowing what causes butt acne and stocking your shower with products guaranteed to get rid of it as well as prevent it from coming back. To find products that actually work, we asked dermatologists for their personal recs. Keep reading to see the ones they swear by.

What is Butt Acne?

Butt Acne
Staying dryer back there will help prevent butt acne. Now you know.

TBH, there’s nothing special about butt acne. What causes butt acne is the same as what causes acne anywhere else. “Acne, whether on the face or the body, occurs when pores are clogged by sebum, dead skin cells, and dirt,” says Dr. Melanie Palm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon at Art of Skin MD.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina, MD, a dermatologist and adjunct assistant professor of dermatology at Emory University, explains that all acne is caused by an overproduction of sebum (a fancy word for oil) and blockage of the pilosebaceous, which is a hair follicle unit. “We have these hair oil units in most places on our bodies, including our buttock skin,” Dr. Mina says.

Maybe you’re wondering how exactly the pores on your butt are getting clogged. After all, it’s not like they’re exposed to as much as your face is. Dr. Palm says that one way this can happen is by hanging out in your sweaty workout clothes after sports practice or the gym. “Wearing tight-fitting clothes or undergarments made of synthetic fibers can also make someone more prone to breakouts in the butt area,” she adds.

What SwampButt Underwear Says About This.  How to Get Rid of Butt Acne, According to Dermatologists.

Keeping your backside dry and sweat free can help prevent acne in that area, which is sometimes referred to as “butt acne” but is often actually folliculitis. The main cause of acne is clogged pores from a build-up of dead skin cells and oil. However, folliculitis—though it looks like acne—is usually the result of irritation, infection or both in the hair follicles.

Sweat and moisture can exacerbate both conditions by creating an environment where bacteria can thrive, leading to infection and inflammation. Here are some tips to help prevent breakouts on your backside:

  1. Shower after sweating: If you’ve been exercising or sweating, shower as soon as possible to remove sweat and bacteria that could clog pores.

  2. Use a gentle cleanser: Clean the area with a gentle, non-comedogenic cleanser that won’t irritate your skin.

  3. Wear breathable clothing: Choose loose-fitting, breathable fabrics, especially for undergarments and workout clothes, to reduce moisture build-up.

  4. Exfoliate gently: Exfoliating can help remove dead skin cells that can clog pores, but do it gently to avoid irritation.

  5. Avoid irritating products: Steer clear of lotions and cleansers with heavy fragrances or harsh chemicals that can irritate the skin.

  6. Change out of wet clothes: Sitting in wet clothes, like swimsuits or sweaty workout gear, creates a breeding ground for bacteria.

If you have persistent acne or folliculitis that doesn’t improve with these measures, it may be a good idea to consult with a dermatologist who can recommend appropriate treatment.

The best products to treat butt acne:

All your butt acne questions, answered: