Postpartum Butt Skin: What Changes and What Helps

Updated September 2026

How does your butt skin change after pregnancy? New stretch marks, darker patches, breakouts, dryness and extra sensitivity are all common on the butt and thighs after having a baby. Most of it calls for gentle care: a fragrance-free wash, moisturizer on damp skin, and waiting for your provider's OK before adding exfoliation or active ingredients. If you're breastfeeding, retinoids are generally avoided, while topical salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are considered low risk.

This guide is for people in their first year postpartum. If you're pregnant or nursing, run any new skincare past your OB, midwife or dermatologist. Nothing here replaces their advice.

What's happening to your skin after pregnancy?

Pregnancy is one of the biggest hormonal and physical shifts a body goes through, and the skin between your hips feels it. Common reasons:

• Stretching. Skin stretched over months to make room.
• Hormones. Shifts in estrogen and progesterone affect oil, pigment and sensitivity.
• Friction. A changed body shape rubbing against the same clothes.
• Sleep deprivation. It doesn't help anything, skin included.
• C-section recovery, if that was your birth, which changes what's comfortable below the waist for a while.

What skin changes are normal postpartum?

The American Academy of Dermatology lists acne, dark spots, stretch marks, dry skin and sensitive skin among the changes pregnancy can bring. On the butt, that often looks like this:

New stretch marks

They start red, purple or dark brown and fade toward silvery white over time. Like any scar they're permanent, but the AAD notes treatment can make them less noticeable. Early marks respond best. Our stretch marks guide covers the options, including which ones wait until you've finished nursing.

Breakouts

Hormone shifts, sweat and friction can bring on bumps where you've never had them. On the butt, these are often folliculitis or keratosis pilaris rather than true acne. Keep it gentle, and ask your provider before starting medicated products.

Darker patches

Pregnancy hormones plus friction can darken skin on the inner thighs, underarms and butt. Many people find these lighten gradually after delivery, but it can take a while and isn't guaranteed. Sun makes it worse. For causes and care, see why is my butt darker.

Dryness and sensitivity

Many people find their skin is drier and more reactive after birth, especially while breastfeeding. Products you used before might sting now.

Cellulite shifts

Fat redistributes during and after pregnancy, so cellulite can look different. That's normal. See our cellulite guide for the honest treatment picture.

What's a gentle postpartum butt-care routine?

There's no official schedule. Go by how you're healing and what your provider says.

Early weeks: keep it simple

• Daily: a gentle, fragrance-free body wash.
• Daily: a thick, fragrance-free cream or ointment on damp skin right after showering.
• Skip for now: scrubs, acids and retinoids. New routines on sensitive postpartum skin are more likely to sting.

Once you're cleared and skin has settled: gentle exfoliation

After your postpartum check-up, once bleeding has stopped, any incision is fully healed and your skin isn't irritated, you can add gentle exfoliation if you want smoother skin:

• Start once a week. A gentle physical exfoliant like Becky Booty Scrub on damp skin leaves skin feeling smoother and softer. It's fragrance-free, and the full ingredient list (walnut shell powder, aloe leaf juice, gentle plant-derived cleansers, lavender and chamomile flower waters, plant oils and white willow bark extract, among others) is on the jar and product page, so you can show it to your provider.
• If your skin is happy, move to twice a week.
• Don't scrub stretch marks that are still raw or sore, broken skin, or anywhere near an unhealed incision.
• Moisturize right after.

Later: layering in actives

If you want to go further, talk to your provider about options such as niacinamide or vitamin C for uneven-looking tone, lactic acid or urea for rough texture, and hyaluronic acid for newer stretch marks. Retinoids wait until you've finished breastfeeding.

What skincare is safe while breastfeeding?

Always confirm with your provider, but here's what reputable sources say:

• Topical salicylic acid: LactMed, the NIH's drugs-and-lactation database, says it's considered safe during breastfeeding because it's unlikely to be absorbed in meaningful amounts. Keep it off areas your baby's skin touches.
• Topical benzoyl peroxide: LactMed calls it low risk to a nursing infant, since only about 5% is absorbed. Same rule: no contact between treated skin and baby.
• Gentle basics like fragrance-free cleansers, ceramide moisturizers and hyaluronic acid are common choices.

Generally avoided or used only with a doctor's input:

• Retinoids (retinol, tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene)
• Hydroquinone
• High-strength salicylic acid over large areas, and some essential oils. The AAD suggests checking these with a dermatologist during pregnancy.

If your skin is extra reactive right now, our sensitive-skin butt routine is a good starting point.

How do you deal with a body that feels different?

Your body just did something enormous. The version you have right now isn't a fixed forever version: many changes ease with time. Some don't fully reverse, and those are part of your body now.

If you're struggling with body image after birth, you're in very common company. Skincare can be part of feeling like yourself again. It doesn't have to be a project of "getting back" to anything.

FAQ

When can I start using a body scrub after giving birth?

There's no set date. Wait until after your postpartum check-up, when bleeding has stopped, any incision is fully healed and your skin isn't irritated, then start once a week. If you're unsure, ask your provider.

Can I use a scrub near a C-section scar?

Not until your surgeon says the incision is fully healed. After that, be gentle around the scar and don't scrub directly on it.

Can I treat stretch marks while pregnant?

Keep it gentle. The AAD notes products with centella or hyaluronic acid may help prevent stretch marks, while retinoids should be avoided during pregnancy. Procedures like lasers and microneedling usually wait until after.

Can my partner use the same routine?

Yes. Skin care doesn't care about gender, and new parents of every kind get stressed, sleep-deprived skin.

The bottom line

Postpartum butt skin goes through a lot. Keep things gentle early on, add exfoliation or actives only once you're cleared and your skin has settled, and check anything new with your provider while nursing. Many changes ease with time; the ones that stay are part of your story now.