Butt Acne: What Causes It and How to Get Rid of It

Updated September 2026

Butt acne is usually set off by sweat, friction, tight clothing and irritated hair follicles, and most of it responds to the same basics: a benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid wash with a few minutes of contact time, getting out of sweaty clothes quickly after workouts, hands off, and about two months of patience. Many butt "pimples" are actually folliculitis (inflamed hair follicles) rather than true acne. If bumps are deep, painful or not improving after 6–8 weeks, see a dermatologist.

Is it butt acne or folliculitis?

Often it isn't acne at all. Cleveland Clinic says the three most common causes of so-called butt acne are folliculitis, keratosis pilaris and boils. Folliculitis means inflamed hair follicles, and DermNet lists the buttocks as one of its common sites. The AAD describes it as looking like a sudden acne breakout, where each spot may have a red ring around it. True acne (blackheads, whiteheads, deeper bumps) can show up there too.

Not sure which you have? Start with our guide to buttne vs. folliculitis vs. KP. The steps below help both folliculitis and mild acne on the butt.

What causes butt acne?

Cleveland Clinic points to sweating, friction, sitting, clothing that's too tight, and shaving or waxing. Here's how each one plays out and what to change.

If breakouts flare in the week before your period, hormones may be part of the picture too: see why your butt breaks out before your period.

What body wash helps butt acne?

• Benzoyl peroxide wash. Kills acne-causing bacteria. The AAD's body acne guidance says a 5.3% product is less likely to irritate, 10% is the strongest you can buy without a prescription, and it works best left on for two to five minutes before rinsing. It bleaches fabric, so white towels are your friend.
• Or a 2% salicylic acid wash. Helps unclog pores and is often easier on sensitive skin.

The most common mistake is rinsing too fast. Lather up, wash your hair or shave your legs, then rinse. For a broader look at body breakouts, see body acne treatments dermatologists actually recommend.

Why does your butt break out after workouts?

Spin, indoor cycling, hot yoga and long runs stack several triggers at once:

1. Tight or padded shorts hold fabric against your skin for the whole session
2. Heat and effort mean lots of sweat
3. Sweat and bacteria sit against follicles with nowhere to go
4. Pressure and friction from a saddle or mat, rep after rep

Add a commute home in the same shorts and follicles get a long, warm, damp window to get irritated. The result is often red bumps right where the seat made contact, and it's usually folliculitis.

What should you do right after a workout?

• Get out of sweaty clothes fast. The AAD's advice is to shower and change as soon as possible after working out. If you can't shower, Cleveland Clinic suggests at least changing your clothes.
• Pack a change: breathable underwear (cotton is a safe bet) and loose pants. Pulling tight, damp leggings back on undoes the point.
• Shower with your medicated wash on the butt and upper thighs, using your hands rather than a rough loofah, then pat dry.

How do you stop workout breakouts from coming back?

• Wash shorts and leggings after every session. If you ride often, rotate a few pairs so each one is fully dry before you wear it again.
• Choose breathable gear. The AAD suggests loose-fitting workout clothes made of cotton or sweat-wicking fabric. Technical fabric isn't the problem; staying in it long after you've stopped sweating is.
• Don't exfoliate on the same day you ride. Skin that's just spent an hour under pressure and sweat doesn't need more friction.
• Take a few days off the bike if bumps are sore, then come back with the new habits.

Should you exfoliate butt acne?

Gently, and not over active breakouts. The AAD says scrubbing skin with acne actually makes it worse, and notes that acne-prone skin may find scrubs too irritating and do better with a washcloth and a mild chemical exfoliant. Cleveland Clinic likewise favors a gentle cleanse over scouring with lots of exfoliants. Scrubbing inflamed bumps makes them angrier and can leave dark marks, especially on deeper skin tones.

Where a scrub fits: once active bumps have settled, exfoliating two to three times a week on clear skin helps rough, bumpy skin feel smoother. That's the job of Becky Booty Scrub. It exfoliates and softens; it isn't an acne product, so your medicated wash still does the heavy lifting.

Don't:

• Exfoliate daily
• Exfoliate within 24–48 hours of shaving or waxing
• Use a scrub and a chemical peel on the same day

Do you still need moisturizer with butt acne?

Yes. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid can be drying, and dry, irritated skin is uncomfortable and easier to aggravate. After you shower, apply a light, non-comedogenic lotion to damp skin. Look for ceramides, glycerin or niacinamide. Skip thick, greasy balms on breakout areas, since heavy, occlusive products can block follicles.

What should you do with bumps you already have?

• Don't pop or pick. It can spread bacteria, worsen inflammation and leave marks that last months longer than the bump. If you can't keep your hands off, a hydrocolloid patch over a bump overnight puts a barrier in the way.
• Use warm compresses. For folliculitis, the AAD suggests a warm compress for 15 to 20 minutes at least three or four times a day.
• Keep using your wash daily, even once bumps look better.

Already have marks? See why is my butt darker?

How long does it take to clear butt acne?

Longer than anyone wants. The AAD's guidance for body acne is to expect results in about six to eight weeks, with complete clearing taking three to four months.

• First few weeks: Little visible change. Skin may feel a bit drier.
• Around 6–8 weeks: Fewer new bumps.
• 3–4 months: Clearer skin for many people, if you keep going.
• After that: Leftover dark marks can take months more to fade.

Switching products every two weeks resets the clock, so give one routine a real run. If you've been consistent for eight weeks and nothing has improved, it's dermatologist time.

What if nothing is working?

1. See a dermatologist if bumps are painful, spreading or draining, come with fever or chills, or haven't improved after 6–8 weeks. They can tell whether it's bacterial folliculitis, yeast (fungal) folliculitis or acne, and may prescribe a topical or oral antibiotic, an antifungal, or a retinoid.
2. Ask about adapalene. This retinoid gel is sold over the counter, and the AAD suggests pairing it with benzoyl peroxide for body acne. It can irritate at first. If you're pregnant or trying to be, check with your doctor before using it.
3. Watch for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Deep, painful lumps that keep coming back in the same places, like the buttocks, groin or inner thighs, need a dermatologist. The AAD explains the signs of HS.

FAQ

Will benzoyl peroxide bleach my underwear?

Yes, and your towels and sheets. Use white linens while you're using it, and rinse thoroughly before skin touches fabric.

Can I use benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid together?

Using both in the same shower can be very drying. Many people pick one, or alternate days.

I shower right after working out and still break out. Why?

Check the basics: are you using a benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid wash and leaving it on for a couple of minutes? Are your shorts freshly washed? If you're doing all of that and still breaking out, see a dermatologist, since some folliculitis is caused by yeast and needs different treatment.

Do I have to give up spin or cycling?

No. Changing quickly, showering with a medicated wash and washing your gear after every ride work without cutting back. At-home cycling counts too: same sweat, same saddle, closer shower.

Is butt acne contagious?

Acne isn't contagious. Folliculitis usually isn't passed person to person either, but don't share towels or razors.

Why does it come back after I shave or wax?

Hair removal irritates follicles as hair grows back, which can set off folliculitis. Use a fresh blade, shave in the direction of hair growth, and exfoliate gently a day or two before hair removal rather than after. More in ingrown hairs and razor bumps on the butt.

Where does Becky Booty Scrub fit if I get butt acne?

On clear skin only. It's an exfoliating scrub that leaves skin feeling smoother, not an acne product. Keep it off active bumps, skip it on workout days, and let your benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid wash do the breakout work.

The bottom line

Butt acne and folliculitis are very common and usually manageable. A benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid wash with real contact time, getting out of sweaty clothes fast after workouts, washing your gear, hands off and two months of patience get most people somewhere good. Anything deep, painful or stubborn goes to a dermatologist.