Ah, butt acne: a beauty challenge only the bravest of us are willing to tackle.
Most of these shame-inducing bumps are formed by dead skin cells and bacteria in the hair follicles, causing ingrown hairs and clogged-up pores to show up on your backside.
And while pesky lil' butt pimples are a persistent and obnoxious challenge to our dermatological health, they can be easily avoided.
Asking questions about ass-ne may not feel like a noble effort, but it absolutely is.
Reaching out to a doctor or even a trusted friend about pimples on your butt really puts the ASS in embarrassment.
Most women (and men) aren't willing to go beyond googling the subject in the privacy of their own homes to ask a doctor.
But in many cases, a brief foray into the internet isn't enough to find out the cause of the problem, let alone to solve it.
So, to save all of you the horrific fate of lying ass-up on the doctor's table, we talked to dermatologist Dr. Marina Peredo about some of the everyday mistakes we make that could lead to a butt breakout and how to eliminate them:
1. Tight clothing
According to Dr. Peredo, one major culprit of folliculitis (the inflammation of the hair follicles that cause acne-like bumps to appear) is tight clothes, which traps sweat and bacteria in the skin by preventing it from getting any breathing room.
If you're a tight pants addict, one way to help alleviate these symptoms is to get those pants off as soon as you get home at the end of the day.
Or, you can switch your panties from synthetic materials to cotton for a more breathable butt experience.
2. Dry skin
Dry skin can cause easily clogged pores, and since your clothes are in constant contact with clothing, the effect can be exacerbated. Try to buy a lotion that includes tea tree oil.
Tea tree oil includes anti-bacterial properties to get into your pores and clean that butt 'til it glistens, and lotion will do the trick to keep that cheek skin super soft.
3. Sweat
No one likes the mental image of a sweaty asshole. But even worse is the thought of a sweaty asshole covered in acne.
Unfortunately, the two often go together.
Staying in your yoga pants or swimsuit after a workout basically turns all your pores into petri dishes for bacteria, which can turn a regular ingrown hair into a nightmare trip to the doctor's office.
Obviously, this can be fixed by making sure you shower after every good workout session.
Unfortunately, people who work out regularly are also the most at risk of developing pimples on their butts.
4. Not exfoliating
The foundation of good hygiene is washing yo' ass. And it's not just washing it, but washing it well.
Use exfoliating gloves or a body wash with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
If you're not willing to go the extra mile to exfoliate (although you should), at least buy some antibacterial exfoliating soap to get in there and clean out those clogged-up pores.
5. Sitting for too long
You need to air out that booty, and sitting in a chair all day long is not helpful.
I know we all hate people who constantly brag about standing desks like they've found the cure to cancer, but at least their butts are getting a little more oxygen.
6. Heavy lotions and oils
Another way to clog your pores and cause a breakout is to use a heavy moisturizer like coconut oil, when in fact, your butt doesn't need that much moisture in the first place.
Remember, it doesn't take much heat for it to get kind of, well, damp down there.
Try jumpstarting a change in your routine by sitting on a hot, damp towel for 15 to 20 minutes before you shower to help open your pores to scrub away the yuck.
You could also take a warm bath.
Once your pores are opened up, make sure you wash with a deep cleanser like salicylic acid, but be careful not to overdo it. Too much can cause irritation.
Dr. Peredo tells Elite Daily,
Lactic acid can also help to prevent the bacteria causing the bumps, and calamine lotion can help soothe the affected area.
So, in order to prevent a doctor's visit, avoid all of the above mistakes.
Also, remember that on an everyday basis, drinking a ton of water is always incredibly good for the skin, especially when it comes to flushing toxins out of your system.
