Struggling with Butt Acne? Here's How to Address It
In another installment of infinite wisdom brought to us by the folks at Hum Nutrition, they talked to a board-certified dermatologist about how to make sure your butt is ready for "sun's out, buns out" season. But of course, their wisdom can also be helpful for those who want to make sure their peaches are ready for primetime all year long.
Michele Green is a New York City-based cosmetic dermatologist who knows a thing or two about these pesky flare-ups that can sometimes occur on people's asses. According to Dr. Green, acne is generally the result of sebaceous follicles getting clogged with oil, dead skin cells, bacteria, dirt, and debris. "The clogged pore triggers inflammation, which leads to whiteheads, blackheads, pustules, nodules, and cysts," she explains. While this can occur on any body part with sebaceous follicles, there's a high concentration of them on the face, upper arms, back, chest, and — yes — your butt.
But just because you have what looks like breakouts on your ass doesn't mean this is actually acne. "People with breakouts on the buttocks are typically experiencing folliculitis," Dr. Green said. In this case, it is the hair rather than sebaceous follicles that get clogged from sweat and other sources of buildup, leading to inflamed bumps that resemble pimples.
There's also another issue called keratosis pilaris, which is a harmless condition that also causes red bumps on the skin. "Occasionally," she added, "acne-like bumps on the buttocks can result from an allergic reaction on the skin," resulting in contact dermatitis.
Here's a run-down of the causes of actual butt acne:
Folliculitis
Again, a bumpy bum is likely to be attributed to irritated and inflamed hair follicles — that is, folliculitis — rather than true acne.
Dr. Green says that the key causes behind it include:
• Friction from tight clothing, such as leggings
• A sedentary lifestyle
• Hygienic issues, such as not showering after sweating or working out
• Improper hair removal techniques
Hormones
If you're experiencing actual butt acne, it makes sense that hormones — namely androgens — are a key cause triggering flare-ups.
"Fluctuating hormone levels trigger the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum," Dr. Green explains. "The excess oil gets trapped in the pores along with acne-causing bacteria, leading to skin irritation and inflammation characteristic of an acne breakout."
If you already experience hormonal acne on your face in tandem with your menstrual cycle, there's a chance those breakouts can develop on your butt, as well.
Sex hormones aside, cortisol also has the potential to contribute to the development of butt acne. "An increase in cortisol during stressful events causes the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum," says Dr. Green. The result: More buildup and a greater likelihood of breaking out.
Diet
As is the case with facial and body acne, an unhealthy diet (think: Sugary foods and drinks, highly processed foods, and fast food) can trigger or exacerbate butt acne.
Genetics
Unfortunately, some of us are more likely to be acneic on account of our DNA alone. "Genetics play a large role in acne. Some are naturally more prone to acne breakouts than others," Dr. Green shares.
While we can't change our genes, the good news is that we have the power to reduce the severity of breakouts via a mix of hygiene, diet, and lifestyle practices... plus a few key ingredients that are ideal to kick butt acne to the curb.
Here's how to treat it:
Address the Main Causes of Folliculitis
If you're experiencing folliculitis rather than acne, it makes sense to target the key causes of folliculitis and plan your protocol from there. To reduce the chances of trapping buildup on your bottom, Dr. Green advises:
• Wearing loose, breathable clothing to minimize friction
• Prioritizing movement throughout the day, since "sitting for a long time can cause friction and contribute to sweat and bacteria buildup, leading to infected and inflamed hair follicles"
• Washing your bottom in the shower, especially directly after exercising or sweating
• Considering laser hair removal, which she says can help prevent ingrown hairs and folliculitis in the long run
Use the Best Ingredients For Butt Acne
"The right ingredients and products can make a major difference in your quest to get rid of butt acne. Dr. Green recommends using an acne-fighting body wash while showering — namely one that includes benzoyl peroxide (to kill acne-causing bacteria on the skin and within the hair follicles) or salicylic acne (to deep clean pores and reduce flares).
(Note: While physical exfoliators like grainy scrubs and manual devices may yield noticeably softer skin after use, some can be harsh and may even inflame the skin even more. Tolerance and results will vary from one person to the next, but just take care to use a light hand to avoid making your butt acne worse.)
If it's actually KP that you're dealing with, Dr. Green says that salicylic acid can also come in handy. So, too, can AHAs like lactic acid, as well as urea, which she explains can loosen and remove keratin and the buildup of dead skin cells. But that's not all. 'Retinoids are commonly used to treat KP because they promote skin cell turnover and prevent clogged hair follicles,' she adds."