advice: butt pimples may benefit from a little sun
ten minutes in the sun may get rid of butt acne.
jun 18 2020
3 minute read
butt acne can benefit from some time in the sun. stock/getty
dear asking for a friend,
i have a skin question. i have always had sensitive skin — i have bit of eczema during the winter on my elbows, for example, and i break out easily whenever i use a scented product. but i have never had skin irritations on my behind. since i have been home isolating, i have been getting butt pimples – they are smallish, and red, sometimes they have pus inside (i know, sorry, tmi). anyway, they are very unattractive. i am wondering what i can do to get rid of them.
signed, ugly behind
dear ugly behind,
body breakouts and pesky flare-ups can sometimes be hard to treat, but acne-like bumps on your booty are actually pretty common and fairly easy to get rid of.
before we get into treatment and prevention, let’s discuss the culprits. anything that causes excess moisture and friction can lead to pimples on your derriere. that means, tight-fitting clothes like skinny jeans or sweaty yoga pants made of synthetic material can hold moisture, lead to irritation and trigger a breakout.
“for people who sit a lot, like truck drivers, or those in wheelchairs with mobility issues, or now with covid all that netflix watching, we see occlusion of the pores, and bacteria starts to overgrow resulting in pimples and pustules,” says dr. benjamin barankin, toronto dermatologist and medical director of the toronto dermatology centre . “other than wearing breathable fabrics, and ensuring you’re not over sweating (keeping the room cool), make sure to get up and walk around regularly. also, 10 minutes a day of sun for a few days to the affected area can be quite helpful if you have a private backyard or a balcony, to avoid getting arrested.”
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unlike facial acne, bumps on your backside aren’t as stubborn. these pimples are actually folliculitis — a mild infection of the hair follicle that manifests into bumps, and they’re easier to treat. a few simple changes to your routine can help keep your tush clean, dry and blemish-free. shower after a workout, switch to cotton underwear, wear loose-fitting, breathable clothing, and stay away from using a loofah to avoid exposure to a buildup of nasty bacteria . if you continue to experience bumps on your derriere, an over-the counter acne gel can help.
“a very effective treatment is to use an acne gel containing benzoyl peroxide,” advises barankin. “you can apply a thin layer of the gel on the affected areas, let it sit for 30 to 60 minutes, put on white underwear if need be while waiting, then wash it off in the shower or with a sponge. sulfur and salicylic acid topically are also useful ingredients in some otc acne products.”
breakouts on your derriere don’t feel very sexy, but they’re quite common in the summer. if at-home solutions aren’t enough to put your pus pimples behind you, a dermatologist can recommend options.
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“another option is prescription gels from your dermatologist which may be easier to use and in some cases more effective,” says barankin. “if topical therapies aren’t enough, we sometimes prescribe pills such as antibiotics or isotretinoin.”
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