Booty Bumps: How to Get Rid of Embarrassing Butt Acne

As most of us know, but seldom talk about: Breakouts don't only happen on the face. They can happen in many different parts of the body: the back, chest, upper arms, neck, shoulders and what we came here to talk about today: the butt. 

Embarrassing butt acne isn't only uncomfortable, it often impacts our daily lives. I am going to give you 4 ways to combat butt acne that you can begin immediately to clear up your derriere, no butts about it. 

Butt Acne Causes

Like facial acne, butt acne is caused by blocked pores. Your pores become clogged, which causes your skin to become irritated. When the bacteria comes into the picture, it's probably not long before a painful pimple, or many, appear. 

Common Causes of Blocked Pores: 

• Excess Oil 
• Dead Skin Cells

Many things can cue the surplus production of oil and trap dead skin cells. The most common causes are: 

• Using Pore-Clogging Body Products 
• Stress and Hormonal Fluctuations
• Friction from Tight Clothing 
• Not Washing Immediately After Exercising
• Fragranced Laundry Detergent and Fabric Softener

Is It Actually Butt Acne?

Though it's totally possible to get acne on your booty, what you are experiencing may be something else, like boils, Keratosis Pilaris, and Folliculitis. These conditions resemble acne, but are actually something else. 

Boils

Boils are technically skin abscesses. Don't let that scare you; they are typically harmless. Boils are not uncommon and usually develop when a hair follicle gets clogged and sequentially infected with bacteria. It is highly unlikely that boils are what you are dealing this - but it is worth mentioning. Boils are tender to the touch.

Keratosis Pilaris

Very common and also harmless, Keratosis Pilaris usually looks like small, rough bumps all over your butt, similar to the look of goosebumps. These aren't unique to the booty though - they are also often found on the upper arms and thighs. Keratosis Pilaris is caused by a build-up of the natural Keratin that we have in our skin. Although the cause of why some people produce excess Keratin isn't well known, is often genetic. Keratosis Pilaris does not feel tender when touched.

Folliculitis

Folliculitis is likely the culprit of your butt "acne" (providing it's not actually acne). Extremely common, Folliculitis happens when a hair follicle gets irritated, and then inflamed. Folliculitis can have pus, like a pimple. Anything that irritates hair follicles can cause this nasty annoyance. For example, tight, unbreathable materials may cause your follicles to become bothered. Folliculitis feels tender. 

How to Get Rid of Butt Acne

No matter what you're experiencing from the list above, the following steps will help you get back on the road to clear, bootylicious skin! 

1. Cleanse The Affected Area

You'll need to start with an acne-safe body wash, like Sensitive Body Wash. If your butt acne is severe, you may want to consider using something a little more aggressive like our Clear Body Scrub. Listen closely though: Clear Body Scrub is highly effective, but also will irritate more sensitive (and private) areas of the body. This is a body wash that is ONLY to be used on the area that is affected by acne.

Use one of these washes while in the shower. If you have washed and conditioned your hair beforehand, make sure you've rinsed all of the conditioner off of your skin before cleansing. 

2. Apply an Acne Fighting Serum

In the morning, after showering and cleansing your booty, apply Clarifying Serum to the affected area(s) on your butt. Do this at the end of your shower, as you will want to follow up with an acne-safe body lotion. Clarifying Serum needs to be kept away from the inner thighs, private areas, and other sensitive areas of the lower body. Be very careful with this and apply at your own risk!

3. Use Benzoyl Peroxide

In the evening, before bed, you will need to cleanse again. After cleaning in the shower, apply Acne Eraser to the affected area(s). Use this as a spot treatment nightly but keep in mind that Acne Eraser will bleach your fabrics, so wear white pj's after treating. Buy yourself a pair of cute white pajamas so you don't accidentally get bleached spots on your bedding. Like Clear Body Scrub and Clarifying Serum, Acne Eraser also cannot be used on sensitive skin and sensitive areas. Avoid your inner thighs and privates! If your skin becomes dry and irritated (which it might), take a break for a few days before applying Acne Eraser again. 

4. Act Preventatively 

Many haircare products contain pore-clogging ingredients. Consider switching to acne-safe hair care products to prevent future body breakouts, not only on your booty, but everywhere!  

Make sure that you are using acne-safe laundry detergent. This means: fragrance and dye-free. Some of my favorites are Dropps Sensitive Skin and Tide Free and Gentle.

To prevent body acne, you should also be avoiding fabric softeners (even unscented ones). Why? Fabric Softeners work by leaving a waxy residue on your clothing, keeping it soft. However, that waxy residue irritates the skin and clogs your pores, leading to body acne. Wool balls may seem like a safe substitute, but they contain lanolin. Lanolin is a natural wax found created by animals that bear wool, but it has the same effect on your skin that fabric softeners do, so it's best avoided. Instead, try an anti-static and anti-wrinkle dryer ball, like this one. 

A very important preventative measure that you should be taking is about your exercise routine. When we sweat, we create the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. After working out, make sure you are cleansing your skin as soon as possible. Shower and put on clean, dry clothes. If you're not able to shower right away, fragrance-free baby wipes is your next-best bet. My favorites are Kirkland Fragrance Free Baby Wipes and Water Wipes. Even after using Wipes, be sure to put on clean, dry clothes. Don't put your sweaty clothes back on after wiping down. Also, remember to shower when you can to make sure all of that bacteria-loving sweat is gone. 

Have any questions about body acne, booty or otherwise? Let me know. I'd be happy to help. 

xoxo, Emme