Best Butt Acne Treatments
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 year-round, even if your skin isn't prone to breakouts. If it is (or even if it's not, but you've somehow made contact with the subway seat when wearing a dress on a sticky Summer day) it's likely you've experienced the mysterious citadel of delight that is butt acne.
This is not uncommon. "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," said dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD. "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 all in addition to the regular culprits of acne, like hormones, oil production, and dead skin cells getting caught in the pores. "Compressive undergarments, lack of showering, and other poor hygiene habits could also be the cause," she said.
If you want to treat your badonkadonk before slipping into a bikini — which, hey, is a lot less restrictive than yoga pants (score) — Dr. Nazarian recommended a "combination approach, using products that exfoliate and others that help kill the bacteria." Check out the best acne treatments to try ahead — because don't you wanna coddle the one body part that's always 100 percent behind you?
Best Acne Pads to Prevent Butt Acne
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: "The Proactiv Clear Zone Body Pads ($30) are a great choice, since they have both alpha hydroxy acids for superficial exfoliation and beta hydroxy acids for deeper exfoliation," said Dr. Nazarian.
Best Acne Pads to Prevent Butt Acne
Another tried-and-true favourite? The Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare One-Step Acne-Eliminating Pads ($42), which have a host of acne-fighting ingredients like azelaic and malic acids, plus willow bark.
Best Acne Pads to Prevent Butt Acne
There's a reason the Stridex Daily Care Acne Pads Maximum Strength ($18) have been the unsung hero of medicine cabinets for decades: they work.
Clothing That Prevents Butt Acne
As sweet as your ass looks in those Lululemon pants, you'll want to take them off after a workout to avoid the build-up of bacteria — especially if you tend to sweat. "Wearing loose-fit clothing in the Summer instead can help prevent butt acne," said Dr. Nazarian. We find the Zella Urban Cargo Jogger Pants ($75) just as comfy as our our tighter picks.
Best Body Wash to Prevent Butt Acne
After a particularly scorching Summer day, sometimes the best mode of action is rinsing off all that sweat and grime. We swear by the Murad Acne Body Wash ($43), which is formulated with exfoliating glycolic and salicylic acids to keep bumps at bay.
Best Body Wash to Prevent Butt Acne
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.
Best Butt Acne Spot Treatments
"A retinoid like adapalene in the Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Prescription Strength Retinoid Acne Treatment ($26 for two) can help treat and prevent future acne, and help with inflammation," said Dr. Nazarian.
Best Sprays to Prevent Butt Acne
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).
Best Treatment Wipes For Butt Acne
To help prevent the buildup of bacteria, "using antibacterial wipes like Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Refreshingly Clean Towelettes ($8) can help," said Dr. Nazarian.
