Butt acne: why acne occurs on the buttocks and how to deal with them

Acne can appear not only on the face, but also on the body. And if we generally know how to care for problematic facial skin, then what to do with acne on the back, chest and buttocks is not entirely clear. Let’s figure out why butt acne occurs and what can be done about it.

Acne on the pope is not always acne

Pimples on the buttocks are not uncommon. But they have a different origin than acne on the face or back. So, when they talk about “inflammation”, they often mean acne, which can appear in areas with the largest number of sebaceous glands — the T-zone of the face, chest, back, shoulders. There are fewer sebaceous glands on the buttocks, but there are sweat glands and hair follicles (vellus hairs grow from some of the follicles, in others the hairs are in their infancy and do not reach the surface of the skin). Inflammation on the buttocks is the inflammation of the hair follicles, that is, folliculitis.

Reasons for the appearance

Inflammation on the buttocks often appears due to wearing tight synthetic clothing, and this is not only underwear, but also leggings and jeans. Such clothes create a greenhouse effect, due to which the upper layer of the skin softens and the risk of microtrauma increases — these are all conditions for inflammation of the hair follicles and the appearance of red bumps on the skin.

For the same reason, acne on the body often appears in those who play sports: tight synthetic clothes for training, increased sweating — all this contributes to the appearance of acne. If you don’t wash your clothes after every workout, the risk is even higher. The same goes for underwear.

Thus, the better the skin on the buttocks “breathes”, the less likely it is to get acne. Of course, it is necessary to remember the basic rules of personal hygiene.

How to deal with acne

If you’re into fitness, don’t skimp on high-quality sportswear made from materials that are breathable. Do not wear too tight sportswear, as rubbing against the skin will provoke acne.

If possible, choose gentle powders for washing clothes, for example, marked “for sensitive skin”, laundry detergents for children’s clothes, eco-powders. It is better not to use additional products (rinses, conditioners) so as not to irritate the skin. If you use such products, then carefully rinse the clothes that come into contact with the buttocks. The same applies to bed linen: wash it as often as possible, but with gentle powders.

As for care, the skin on the buttocks also needs to be cleaned of excess sebum, just like the face. Ordinary bath soap or shower gel is not suitable because they do not contain anti-inflammatory ingredients. Pick up products with acids, when cleansing the skin of the buttocks, do a light massage (but do not rub the skin with hard washcloths!) To mechanically exfoliate the horny cells.

What cosmetics can be used? You can use any means for the face. These can be cleansing acid gels for oily and problematic skin, for example, with citric, salicylic, lactic, glycolic acid, as well as micro-exfoliating gels. Effective and anti-inflammatory gels for face and body with benzoyl peroxide — an active ingredient for problem skin, as well as products with plant extracts (oak bark, sage, calendula, celandine), with essential oils (tea tree, mint, eucalyptus).

In addition, for the care of the skin of the buttocks, you can pick up a bar of soap with acids. For example, these can be products with AHA, BHA and PHA acids, benzoyl peroxide, tea tree essential oil. This soap gently exfoliates the skin, while it does not even need to be rubbed, it has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect.

As an additional care for the skin of the buttocks, you can use homemade masks, for example, with cosmetic clay and essential oils. Clay with oils cleanses well, dries the skin, has an anti-inflammatory effect. The mask is made elementary simply: clay is diluted with water, 10-15 drops of tea tree essential oil are added. A thick slurry is applied to the buttocks under a film for 15-20 minutes.

In the summer, on the beach, be sure to protect the skin of the buttocks from the sun. It may seem that the sun, on the contrary, will dry the skin and thereby cleanse it, but this is an imaginary improvement. The fact is that UV rays increase hyperkeratosis, which disrupts the process of exfoliation of the stratum corneum, which leads to clogging of the hair follicles.

As for moisturizing (and even the skin of the buttocks needs it), then choose light moisturizing products with a minimum content of oils, balms and milk for sensitive and atopic skin (they are easily absorbed and will not provoke inflammation).

Finally, inflammation can be dried in the same way as rashes on the face. To do this, you can choose products with salicylic acid: emulsions, lotions, cream-gels. While there is acne on the skin of the buttocks, give up active sports, hard washcloths, body scrubs, and bike rides.

Angela Palmer, A dermatologist and acne specialist says that to get rid of acne on the buttocks, first of all, it is necessary to abandon tight-fitting clothes and underwear. Among the most effective active ingredients Dr. Palmer names salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, which can be found in gels and bar soaps for the face and body. She also recommends picking up an acid gel (with lactic, salicylic, glycolic acid) for daily cleansing of the skin of the buttocks. But even if after such care after 10-12 weeks the situation has not improved, acne remains inflamed, painful, does not decrease in size, you should consult a dermatologist, as this may indicate infection of the hair follicles, which requires treatment.