Six things you need to know about bum acne

Yes, butt acne is a very real thing and sadly, not even your butt is spared.

Different from the acne that occurs on your face and other parts of your body, this type of acne is a mild infection when staph bacteria affect the hair follicles resulting in itchy red bumps or pus-filled pimples.

In extreme cases, it can lead to a very painful boil.

Irritation from chronic rubbing which can come from tight outfits or waxing, may also be a cause.

Although they can go away on their own with simple home care, here are some things you need to know about buttne.

i.Blocked pores

If you have acne in other parts of your body chances are, they may creep down to your butt. Once your pores become clogged pimples may occur.

As aforementioned, inflammation of hair follicles called folliculitis may start to appear as shallow little bumps which may become itchy and sore after some time.

If you discover a painful cyst like pimple with pus which may occur when the folliculitis gets out of control and starts to become a deeper infection, you may have carbuncles. If not handled properly it may lead to scarring.

Although experts are still not sure why keratosis pilaris occurs, it may appear along with other skin conditions or genetics. Typically, it is harmless and not painful when the keratin blocks the follicle opening and a bump develops.

ii.Hygiene

No, before you accuse me of implying that you may not be doing enough to clean your butt hear me out. You could be doing the bare minimum to ensure your body is spic and spun but are you doing the right thing?

One of the best ways to prevent bum acne especially if you’re prone to any other type of acne is to shower daily at least twice with an antibacterial soap to get rid of the dirt and bacteria buildup.

iii.Sitting too much

If you consider yourself a couch potato this one will definitely hurt. Friction and irritation will aggravate folliculitis and therefore too much sitting may make things worse.

In situations where you job entails a lot of sitting it is advisable to take breaks and make an effort to stand and walk frequently.

iv.Moisturizer is your friend

For the ten millionth time, moisturizer plays a huge role in skin care. No matter how few times you hit the pool and rarely get to show your bum, it needs some love and care too.

An oil free moisturizer with salicylic or lactic acid will keep your butt moisturized and get rid of dead skin cells. If your body accommodates coconut oil you can go for that as well especially if it is 100% organic.

v.Antibiotics

In severe cases, your doctor may prescribe oral or topical antibiotics if the infection gets worse and your immune system isn’t strong enough to fight it.

Boils on the other hand may have to be drained out to remove the pus. Your doctor will give you the best advice and option moving forward.

vi.Scrubbing is a no-no

No matter how tempting it may be, don’t go in with a scrub or loofah in the hopes of getting rid of those pesky pimples. This will not smoothen your butt but worsen the inflammation and lead to hyperpigmentation and scarring.

If it’s really bothering you, you can soak a wash cloth with warm salt water and compress on the affected area every night until it goes down.