You’ve heard of bacne—but what about buttne? Okay, that might not be much of an official term, but it’s what I’m choosing to go with.
You might not have heard the word ‘buttne’, butt (sorry) there’s a good chance you’ve seen, experienced, or heard about it under a different name.
Body acne, including on the bum, is quite common. It’s just talked about far less than acne on the face. Although other than where it’s located, body acne is not all that different to face acne. It can range from mild to severe, occur regularly or only occasionally, and can be frustrating in all the same ways.
While it’s super normal and nothing to be ashamed of, if it is bothering you, the good news is that butt acne is treatable.
Opt for breathable undies
Pure cotton and bamboo undies, like those from Vee Underwear, are some of the best underwear for bum acne. The lack of breathability in many synthetic pairs of undies can be the culprit behind (sorry again) a pimply bum. While I’m sure your lace lingerie makes you feel hot in all the right ways, there’s a good chance it’s making your bum hot in all the wrong ways, so give it a break when you can and treat your toosh to something a little more comfy.
Wash and gently exfoliate
Of course, it goes without saying that you should be keeping your cheeks clean, but how you do so is particularly important if you’re looking at how to prevent bum pimples. If you’ve got active or painful acne on your bum, make sure you’re using a very gentle body wash like the QV Gentle Wash. It can also be helpful to exfoliate with a specially formulated product like the Frank Body Glycolic Body Scrub, which has glycolic acid and pumice to clear out those pores and exfoliate away any dead skin or other unwanted build up. Skincare doesn’t stop at your face and neck, but it might be a little hard to stick a pimple patch to your bum, so try out a good cleanser and exfoliator, maybe even a simple moisturiser, and you should be good to go.
Don’t sit in your sweat
Now I don’t mean literally in a puddle of your sweat—I hope you’re not doing that at all. But did you know that even the sweat absorbed by your clothes post-pilates can be enough to encourage those pesky butt pimples? Trapping sweat between your skin and activewear creates the perfect breeding ground for acne-encouraging bacteria. So, take that everything shower post-workout, and wash your sweaty clothes after each gym sesh.
Nobody really hopes for any kind of bumps on their butt, but acne can bring with it a whole lot of frustration, discomfort, and even pain. If you’re experiencing persistent buttne, it’s a good idea to check in with your GP or dermatologist for some professional advice. Remember though, a little bit of body acne is normal, and it doesn’t have to be such a pain in the ass (last one—this time not sorry)—there are plenty of things you can do at home to prevent and treat it.