Pimples on the bottom: causes and what helps

Pimples on the bottom are usually inflamed hair follicles or clogged pores. Friction, sweat, tight clothing and hormonal fluctuations trigger them. They have nothing to do with poor hygiene. What helps is gentle cleansing with AHA and BHA, a light moisturiser, breathable clothing and a little patience. Don't squeeze the pimples.

Hardly anyone likes talking about spots on the bum, yet they are widespread. The skin on your bottom is sensitive to friction, sweat, hormones and skincare mistakes.

What are pimples on the bottom?

At first glance, pimples on the bottom look like pimples on the face or back. Most of them are inflamed hair follicles, clogged pores or small pustules and papules. As a rule, they are how the skin reacts to an area under a lot of strain. They are not a separate skin condition such as acne.

The skin on your bottom has a lot of hair follicles and is almost always covered by clothing. Add long hours of sitting, friction and sweating, and you have a combination that encourages blemishes.

What do pimples on the bottom look like?

Typical signs are:

• small spots or papules
• painful, inflamed pustules
• pus-filled pimples
• rough skin with small flakes

Sometimes the skin on your bottom itches. At other times it feels tight or sensitive. Badly inflamed pimples take longer to heal.

What causes pimples on the bottom?

Pimples on the bottom usually have several causes at once. These are the most common:

• Friction and clothing: Tight jeans, synthetic underwear and sports leggings rub against your buttocks. The pores get blocked, sebum cannot drain away and pimples form.
• Sweat: Warmth and poor airflow encourage bacteria. If sweat stays on your skin for a long time, the hair follicles become inflamed more easily.
• Clogged pores: Dead skin cells and sebum block the pores.
• Hormones: Sebum production changes during puberty, before your period, in pregnancy and during menopause. Care products for young skin are in our skin care during puberty range.
• Skincare mistakes: Cleansing too harshly and using a shower gel with the wrong pH weaken the skin barrier. Heavy, greasy creams clog the pores.
• Shaving and waxing: If you shave or wax your bottom, you can easily get razor bumps and ingrown hairs there.
• Lifestyle: Stress and too little exercise affect the skin all over your body. Long hours of sitting affect the skin on your bottom in particular.

What helps with pimples on the bottom?

Cleanse gently with AHA and BHA

Gentle cleansing protects the skin on your bottom without drying it out. Shower gels with fruit acids (AHA) and salicylic acid (BHA) work especially well. They remove dead skin cells and cleanse the pores. The Clarifying Body Wash combines glycolic acid (AHA) and salicylic acid (BHA) with zinc, niacinamide and allantoin. It cleanses and clarifies rough skin and impurities on the body.

Use a light moisturiser

The skin on your bottom needs moisture too, otherwise it becomes dry and rough. Choose a lotion that nourishes your skin without weighing it down. The Clarifying Body Lotion with salicylic acid (BHA), an AHA complex and zinc lactate nourishes and clarifies rough skin and impurities on the body. Panthenol and allantoin soothe the skin. Apply the lotion every day after showering. AHA and BHA make the skin more sensitive to light. During the day, protect treated areas that are exposed to the sun with sunscreen of at least SPF 30.

You get the shower gel and the lotion together in the Clarifying Body Duo. It is our care set for spots and blemishes on the bottom, back, décolleté, shoulders and upper arms.

Exfoliate one to three times a week

Our 2in1 AHA Body Scrub combines gentle exfoliating grains made from natural volcanic rock with fruit acids (AHA). The exfoliating grains remove calluses, sebum and dirt from the surface of your skin. This prevents ingrown hairs, which often turn into pimples on the bottom. On open, badly inflamed pimples, it is better to skip exfoliating altogether. You get the scrub together with the shower gel and the lotion in the Clarifying Body Trio.

Pay attention to what you wear

Breathable materials such as cotton reduce friction and sweating on your buttocks. Take off your sportswear straight after training.

Be careful with home remedies

Some home remedies help in the short term, but they often irritate the skin even more. Undiluted tea tree oil, toothpaste and alcohol dry the skin out.

How do you get rid of pimples on the bottom fast?

Pimples on the bottom won't disappear overnight. These first steps will calm your skin, though:

• Don't squeeze and don't scratch.
• Shower straight after exercise and put on fresh underwear.
• Place a warm, clean flannel on inflamed areas for a few minutes.
• Avoid tight trousers and leggings for a few days.
• Wear loose cotton at night.

Give your skincare routine about four weeks. That is how long your skin needs to renew itself.

Pimples on the bottom in women: what role do your cycle, exercise and shaving play?

Many women notice more pimples before their period, including on the bottom. In this phase of the cycle, oestrogen levels drop. Male hormones then have a stronger effect and stimulate sebum production. Your skin also changes in pregnancy and during menopause.

During exercise, leggings and cycling shorts rub against the skin and sweat stays on it. Our guide Chafing during sport explains how to avoid friction when you train.

If you shave or wax your bottom, razor bumps often appear there. Our guide Razor bumps in the intimate area shows you how to prevent them.

When should you see a dermatologist?

See a dermatologist if pimples on your bottom hurt a lot or are badly inflamed, leave scars or keep coming back. The same applies if you have large, hard lumps or a fever. This may point to a skin condition that needs medical treatment.

Pimples on your back or décolleté as well? Then read on in our guide Pimples on the back and body. You can find all products for pimples on the body in the Clear Body routine.