How to fix butt acne

PanOxyl Antimicrobial Acne Creamy Wash

Anyone who’s acne-prone knows benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid for their pimple-busting properties. Dr. Sandra Lee, a.k.a. Dr. Pimple Popper and the founder of SLMD Skincare, describes these as “maximum-strength ingredients,” especially useful since your butt skin tends to be thicker than that on your face. All of the dermatologists we talked to recommended a wash with either ingredient, but benzoyl peroxide was the more popular of the two.

PanOxyl’s benzoyl peroxide washes were the most mentioned among our experts — Kikam, Gonzalez, Dr. Heidi A. Waldorf of Waldorf Dermatology Aesthetics, and Dr. Marisa Garshick of MDCS Dermatology name-checked the brand. This cleanser contains a higher than average amount of benzoyl peroxide (4 percent versus the usual 2.5). But it’s not the highest concentration you’ll see — PanOxyl makes a wash with 10 percent benzoyl peroxide that Garshick says you could build up to if needed, though she points out that some studies have shown that a higher concentration doesn’t equal more effectiveness.

Benzoyl peroxide can cause itchiness, redness, and dryness, but this creamy cleanser features emollients and humectants like glycerin to reduce those side effects and “boost tolerability,” Garshick adds. Just make sure to rinse it off completely to avoid bleach stains on towels, robes, and sheets. (And if you want a double-duty cleanser that works on your face, Gonzalez okayed this foaming face wash from CeraVe.)

CeraVe SA Body Wash With Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid — a staple in many medicine cabinets already — is helpful for unclogging pores and sloughing away dead skin cells. “For this reason, larger red bumps tend to be best treated with benzoyl peroxide while smaller breakouts will often do well with a salicylic-acid-containing cleanser,” Garshick says. (You can alternate between the two depending on what’s popping up on your skin.) This CeraVe recommendation comes courtesy of Garshick and Jaliman, who both praise its pore-clearing abilities without causing dryness or irritation. There’s niacinamide and hyaluronic acid in there too — the two work together to strengthen the skin barrier, making it “excellent for sensitive skin,” according to Jaliman. We’ve also heard good things about Neutrogena’s Body Clear wash from Kikam and New York City-based dermatologist Dr. Michele Green, who recommends using it twice daily.

Butt acne is sometimes the consequence of not showering after sweaty workouts, so you might want to introduce an antibacterial soap to take care of bacteria. Waldorf likes this folliculitis-focused CLn SportWash; its standout ingredient is sodium hypochlorite, which she describes as a “less potent relative of hypochlorous acid.” (Hypochlorous acid heals our skin from bacteria.) That means there’s a lower chance of irritation compared to benzoyl peroxide, though Waldorf says the BP may be a better choice if you have very active acne.

Differin Acne Treatment Gel

Adapalene falls under the category of retinoids, which are best explained by our skin-care-expert-slash-contributor Rio Viera Newton as an “umbrella term for any cream derived from vitamin A”, including radiance-boosting retinol. Formerly prescription-only, adapalene is the strongest retinol you can get over the counter to treat mild to moderate acne; Kikam and King both approve of its use for buttne. There’s a long list of benefits, but King and Kikam highlight adapalene’s ability to decrease discoloration and reduce healing time. Heads up, though: An exfoliating acid (like those above) can “deactivate” a retinoid, so instead of applying one after another, space them out at different times of the day or on alternate days. The other caveat that we get more into here is that, though retinoids and retinol are the gold standard for acne woes, those with darker skin should consult a derm before applying as it can lead to even more hyperpigmentation.

AmLactin Rapid Relief Restoring Body Lotion

Good: a noncomedogenic moisturizer. Better: one that exfoliates. “With butt acne, the pores are clogged so that’s why an exfoliating cream is important,” Jaliman explains. AmLactin creams feature lactic acid, which smooths skin (especially after something like a salicylic or glycolic toner). Jaliman is partial to the Rapid Relief lotion, which features a generous amount of lactic acid as well as hydrating ceramides.