Bumps on buttocks can be painful and make it hard to sit. They can be small or large, itchy or hard spots that don’t itch.
When on the butt crack or between the cheeks, they can easily get infected due to the conditions in this region. In fact, yeast infection pimples can form here because of sweat and heat.
Other causes of butt acne include folliculitis, sweating, tight clothing, friction, sitting too long, herpes and STDs.
The bumps can erupt on buttock cheeks, butt crack or crease and even back of thighs. Here’s how to get rid of pimples on your bum fast. Home remedies can help ease the pain and irritation as they heal.
Meaning?
Is butt acne normal? What does it mean?
It is common to get a pimple or two on the butt area. Tight clothing, dirt from sweating on the area around the buttocks and sometimes friction from exercises such as cycling and sitting can mean getting those small itchy zits on the butt cheeks.
Pictures
What do they look like? Usually, they appear as small raised bumps on the skin.
However, depending on the cause and what they actually are, some pimple heads can appear as zits, boils, whiteheads, acne spots or blackheads.
- In some cases, an infected bumps on your skin will be pus-filled or blood-filled.
- The size can range from large to small bumps.
- When under the skin, they are blind and hurt a lot when you touch or sit.
Here’s a picture or photo to help you identify yours easily.
Causes
What causes pimples on the butt? Why do I get pimples on my buttocks too often? People who are prone to acne may get acne zits on the butt area and inner thighs more easily.
But according to dermatologist Suephy Chen, MD, technically, people do not get acne on the buttocks.
Pimples erupt as a result of plugged pores on the skin. Sweat and excess oil (sebum) trapped under the skin leads to the formation of pimples.
Shaving, waxing, ingrown hair, some STDs and even herpes simplex can cause pimples on the butt, inner thighs and pubic area. All these are discussed below in detail.
1. Folliculitis
Folliculitis is the infection of hair follicles in the skin. It is not a very serious problem, but it results in the formation of small pus-filled pimples or pustules on the skin.
According to MedicineNet, folliculitis disorder may appear as “pinpoint red bumps, each one involving a hair follicle, occasionally with a small dot of pus at the top.”
The inflammation of hair follicles can lead to small red bumps or whiteheads on buttocks, back, face, chest, scalp and legs.
Infections around the hair follicles on the skin are mainly caused by clogged pores and accumulation of sweat. Folliculitis spots on the butt cheeks and around the anal area are often described as shallow little pus-filled pimples on the buttocks or skin.
2. Sweat
Sweating can also cause pimples and acne on buttocks.
According to Dr. Cynthia Bailey, a dermatologist based in Sebastopol, California, “Sweating from a hot and humid climate or from exercising and working your body hard can cause a type of acne called pityrosporum folliculitis.”
- Working out or exercise causes you to sweat.
- Sweat, dirt and grime accumulate on your moist skin after exercise. This irritates the skin and clog pores, leaving you with bum pimples.
This explains why some people will get pimples on the bottom after exercise. The acne breakouts may extend on other areas. You may get pimples on inner thighs from sweating as well.
3. Shaving and waxing
Raised bumps on the butt may also be caused by shaving. Hair removal on the skin can easily cause ingrown hair and razor bumps.
Razor bumps or shave bumps are small raised bumps on the skin that form due to irritation from shaving.
If you shave your buttocks or wax them, you are likely to get razor bumps. These may appear as areas of raised red bumps that later turn into white pimples on the buttocks.
Ingrown hairs can also erupt into pimple-like bumps on the buttocks and pubic area. These are hairs that curl back into the skin instead of growing out.
They cause irritation from within the skin, and can cause small swellings that look like pimples on the skin.
4. STDs, herpes
Are pimples on buttocks a sign of herpes, HIV or other STDs?
According to the American Sexual Health Association, “The “classic” symptoms that most people associate with genital herpes are sores, vesicles, or ulcers.”
These can simply be described as lesions or eruptions on the skin.
Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex 1 or 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) virus. HSV symptoms may resemble white bumps or white pimples on the skin.
The pimples, small boils or blisters on buttocks then crust over and form scabs. It is easy to confuse them with pimple scabs on the butt or genital area.
- The Physicians Research Network notes that itchy red papules may erupt on skin folds in HIV-positive patients. Therefore, some HIV patients may have itchy pimples on the butt crack or crease.
- Swollen folliculitis papules are also stubborn in patients of HIV and AIDs according to the same network.
It is important to note, however, that the presence of pimples on the butt crack or crease does not necessarily indicate that one is suffering from HIV.
Many other STDs such as herpes, gonorrhea and even syphilis can cause itchy pimples on the bum.
5. Large boils on the butt
Carbuncles are also known as boils. They are an infection on the skin characterized by pus-filled lesions.
Boils usually form around a hair follicle. They may appear as red, swollen cysts on your buttocks. Boils commonly affect the inner thighs and buttocks.
- Carbuncles are deep and may require more intensive treatment.
- Tight and non-breathable garments increase your chances of getting boils and large pimples on the buttocks.
- Boils usually grow on buttock cheeks, but can also form on the butt crack or crease.
The skin around and above the deep pus-filled pimple that is a carbuncle gets easily inflamed. Warm compresses can help in healing the boils faster.
6. Diabetes
Diabetics are prone to many skin ailments. These happen as part of the complications of the disease.
Pimples on the bottom, legs, face and inner thighs could be a consequence of diabetes. According to Everyday Health, “If you have diabetes, you’re likely to develop certain skin problems like diabetic rash, sores & blisters.”
- People with diabetes are more prone to bacterial skin infections. Some of the skin symptoms associated with these infections include boils and white fungal rash, bumps on the eyelid, nail infections etc.
- Impetigo is also common in diabetics, and manifests as small fluid-filled or pus filled lumps on the skin. These erupt into weeping lesions and can be very painful on the buttocks.
- A dry skin is also part of the signs of diabetes. It can lead to inflammation, scratching and the formation of red bumps on your buttocks.
Diabetics are highly prone to fungal infections. The fungus is called Candida albicans. Yeast infections on the skin can cause skin infections as we have discussed below. Women may also suffer vaginal yeast infections that can causes an itchy vagina and vulva.
7. Candida (yeast infections)
Red bumps on the buttocks and pubic area may be a result of candida infections. These are common in people with diabetes.
The high blood glucose provides an environment for candida and tinea infections. Some signs of these may include small red pimples on buttocks, pubic area, legs etc.
- Candida overgrowth on the skin can also cause acne.
- Acne on buttocks may be a result of skin irritation, usually in people with jock itch or other types of fungal infections.
8. Sweat after exercise
Does working out and sweating cause pimples? The buttocks (butt crack and buttock cheeks) are prone to sweating, darkness and dampness.
Sweating during and after exercise can cause pimples to form.
- The skin on the buttocks may have a lot of dead cells.
- Sweat and excess oil (sebum) accumulates on the butt skin.
- Plugged pores then easily form acne cysts and pimple zits.
You can prevent butt pimples from sweating by exfoliating the skin around this region. Showering after exercise can also help reduce the occurrence of these post-workout breakouts.
8. Sitting, cycling
Sedentary lifestyles have resulted in sitting too long. This can cause pimples on the buttocks. Biking or cycling too, as well as weight gain are all associated with this symptom.
Too much pressure on the butt cheeks reduces the circulation of air on the skin.
Dirt and clogged pores encourage anaerobic bacteria as well as yeast infections. This is how pressure from sitting and cycling leads to bum pimples.
If sweating is also involved, the skin can get irritated. It will form rashes on the buttock cheeks.
9. White bumps on buttocks from MRSA bacterial infections
Infected pimples normally appear as pus-filled sores and lesions on the buttocks. They appear as white pimples or white bumps on the butt. Clusters of pimples and sores on the buttocks could be a sign of MRSA or bacterial infections.
If you have large pimples that ooze pus and won’t heal fast, see a doctor.
MRSA is a type of staph infection that does not respond to antibiotic treatments. It can eat away the skin and leave you with serious scars and depressions.
10. Hormonal acne
In women, acne on the bum may be caused by hormonal changes in the body. These changes and imbalances often occur after giving birth, during pregnancy and before period.
According to Dr. Bowe on Health.com, “When a woman’s androgen receptors are particularly sensitive, these hormones can trigger excess oil production and cause skin cells to become sticky, leading to clogged pores and breakouts.”
Itchy bumps on buttocks
Itchy spots on your skin usually arise from gluten allergy, creams etc.
Small itchy pimples on the buttocks could be a sign of allergic reactions. Allergies or contact dermatitis can cause a lot of pain and itching and discomfort in the butt area.
- Allergies may be due to irritants such as clothing, reaction to body creams and lotions etc.
- Some foods containing gluten can also cause itching and bumps or rash all over the body.
- It is important to identify the irritant in order to stop, prevent and get rid of the itchy bumps on your buttocks.
Allergies can occur in both adults, toddlers and young babies. It is important to take your child to the pediatrician in case you see symptoms and signs of allergies.
When painful
Painful bumps on buttocks can make sitting a hurtful ordeal. A painful pimple is a sign of inflammation on your skin.
Inflammation is most likely caused by bacterial activity in the pore where the pimple is forming. If you also try to pop the pimple, you may cause inflammation and infection.
As white blood cells fight off the infection, the skin becomes inflamed. It results in painful pimples. You can reduce and relieve the pain with the following tips.
- Apply a cold compress at intervals of 5 minutes to reduce the pain.
- A hot cloth can also get rid of the painful pimples on buttocks by speeding up their ripening.
- Pain killers can also help relieve the pain quickly.
How to get rid of them
Both home remedies and medical treatments can help get rid of bum bumps.
Exfoliation, keeping high hygiene standards, some antibacterial medications and even fungal treatments can help get rid of bumps on your butt. Here’s how to get rid of zits on your buttocks fast.
a) Benzoyl peroxide treatment
When white painful bumps on your butt are caused by an infection or folliculitis, treatments such as benzoyl peroxide are effective.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications that contain benzoyl peroxide as well as antibiotic pills are commonly used to get rid of pimples on buttocks, inner thighs and pubic area. Patients with persistent and resistant folliculitis are given oral pills to get rid of the inflammation around hair follicles.
b) Take a shower after exercise
Taking a shower after a workout session is one of the best ways to get rid of pimples on bum. A good shower will wash away all the sweat and get rid of excess oil, dead skin and dirt that plugs skin pores to cause bum pimples.
- Always use a mild cleanser when showering to avoid irritating your skin. Inflaming your skin can cause further breakouts.
- Avoid scrubbing too much and too hard when showering. Doing so will irritate the skin further and cause more breakouts on buttocks.
Post-workout pimples on the bottom are sometimes associated with a skin fungus. If showering after your routine workout or exercise does not get rid of them, see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. Anti-fungal medications are usually given to combat yeast on the skin and genital area.
c) Use Retin A for razor bumps
Both ingrown hair cysts and razor bumps can be treated using retin A creams. It helps in exfoliating the skin – or removing dead skin cells – making it easy for the bumps to clear. You can also prevent ingrown hairs and razor bumps using the following tips.
- If you are waxing your buttocks, ensure that you shave along the grain or direction of hair growth. This prevents skin irritation and reduces hair from curling and growing back into the skin.
- Avoid shaving too close to the skin on your buttocks and pubic area.
- Wash your skin with warm water and lather it well before shaving to make it easy to remove hair.
d) Antiviral medications for genital herpes sores
Anti-viral medications are used to manage and ease genital bumps from herpes and HIV. These are used mostly when a patient is suffering from a primary HSV attacks. Aciclovir is one of the most commonly prescribed medication for treating genital herpes.
- Aciclovir slows down the multiplication effect of the virus.
- Other medications used to treat genital herpes include famciclovir and valaciclovir.
- If you have sores on buttocks from a herpes infection, apply petroleum jelly such as Vaseline to prevent dry scabs and bleeding.
e) Apply warm compresses
A warm compress is made using warm water. Some pimples can form under the skin on your buttocks. Some of them can be large and painful, such as boils on the buttock cheeks.
Using a warm compress can help relieve the pain and heal the big pimple faster. Here’s how to get rid of bum pimples faster using a warm compress.
- Pour some warm water into a plastic bag.
- Wrap it with a towel.
- Place the warm compress on the pimples on your bum.
- Allow to sit for about 10 minutes.
- If the water becomes cold, replace with warm water and repeat the procedure.
A warm compress will make your boils less inflamed and softer. It improves the circulation of blood around the area that is infected. With continued use, warm compresses bring the boil or whitehead to the surface for easy removal.
f) Exfoliate to stop and remove bum pimples
Exfoliating the skin removes dead skin cells. It will also clear any excess oil and dirt that clogs pores, causing bacterial infections in the pores.
The infections erupt into bumps on buttocks and can be uncomfortable. Here’s how to exfoliate to get rid of pimples on your bum faster.
- Take a long hot shower.
- Soap up a washcloth or a loofah.
- Gently scrub the skin on the buttocks to remove dead skin cells.
- Rinse and repeat twice a week to prevent recurring bum pimples.
You can use a salicylic acid shower gel to aid with the exfoliation. Avoid scrubbing too much. This can irritate the skin and cause a rash on buttocks that can grow into larger pimples.
g) Tea tree oil home remedy for buttock cheek pimples
Tea tree oil is a natural disinfectant and antibacterial. It will help fight the bacterial that cause pimples, blackheads and acne spots on buttocks. Here’s how to use tea tree oil as a natural home remedy for pimples.
- Get essential tea tree oil.
- Using a cotton ball, dab it on the area with pimples and acne.
- Allow it to sit for about 20 minutes.
- Rinse off with warm water.
Do not use tea tree oil if you have a sensitive skin. When used well, tea tree oil can soothe inflamed pimples. Therefore, you can use it if you have painful pimples on your skin.
References
- MedicineNet: Folliculitis Treatment, Causes, and Home Remedies
- Physicians Research Network: Common Cutaneous Complications of HIV Disease
