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?

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. This is why so many derms recommend wearing cotton undies.

The best products to treat butt acne:

All your butt acne questions, answered: