Chemical Peel for Butt Acne: Will It Help?

Acne tends to take root in softer, more sensitive skin, particularly on the face. But another place that acne likes to inconveniently show up is on the bum and thighs. Can you use a chemical peel for butt acne?

Yes, chemical peels can be quite effective at treating butt acne and bum and thigh acne scars.

In this article, we’ll go over the details of how chemical peels work to help with acne scars on your buttocks. We’ll also take a closer look at bum acne in the first place.

We’ll also explore some other methods that you can use to get acne off of your buttocks if you’d rather not perform a chemical peel.

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Will a Chemical Peel for Butt Acne Work?

Chemical peels have been touted as a solution to countless skin troubles such as hyperpigmentation, and acne scars. They are particularly effective if that acne is found on your butt. A chemical peel procedure consists of the addition of a specific type of acid to your skin that will burn away the outer layer of the epidermis.

They can be performed at professional clinics and medispas (these are usually “deep peels”), and with home peels like the Natura Bisse Glycol Extreme Peel  we reviewed here.

Peel Power

The exact kind of acid that is used during your chemical peel depends on the depth of the treatment. There are three treatment “depths” when performing chemical peels:

• Shallow peel
• Medium peel
• Deep peel

Shallow peels can be done at home with beauty products generally containing glycolic acid, such as the MediPeel 70% Glycolic Acid Peel .

Many home peels are effective at tackling acne salicylic acid as well. We’re fans of the QRxLabs Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid pads .

They’re easy to use on the bum, and work well.

As you go down the scale to deeper peels, you’ll need to involve medispas and doctors. In fact, some of the deepest chemical peels will require you to be hooked up to an IV to ensure that your skin remains hydrated and is supplied with all of the necessary nutrients.

While this sounds extremely uncomfortable, it’s essentially a more extreme version of exfoliation.

Since the acid is slathered all over the affected skin, you can exfoliate a large part of your body without having to put a lot of work in with something like an exfoliation glove or sonic cleansing brush.

Of course, at home chemical peels are milder, but are much more convenient and cheaper.

Another advantage to using a chemical peel for acne scars on your butt is that you won’t have to wait to see results.

Most other methods will require you to wait for between a few weeks to a few months to deal with the acne scars on your bum. But chemical peels will solve your issue within a couple of weeks at maximum.

With each chemical peel session, the skin will be exfoliated further, wearing away the layer of skin that has acne scar tissue on it. As this skin is worn off, you will eventually start to regenerate the skin on your buttocks, and it will come in looking as clean and fresh as possible.

Note that you won’t always see the skin peeling off in sheets with more modern chemical peels.

Another advantage of chemical peels is that they have additional benefits that will improve the quality of your butt skin, beyond getting rid of existing scars. Since the collagen production in your skin is responsible for making it stretchy and youthful, a chemical peel will always improve its overall appearance. It may result in dry skin immediately after the peel.

That’s right, you’ll end up with a cuter rear end at the end of the process!

Finally, our favorite thing about using a chemical peel to remove acne from your bum is that it won’t wear away after a certain period of time. Chemical peels are permanent procedures that won’t have to be touched up. Though if you have another bad case of butt acne that results in scars, you may need to get another peel.

Thankfully, a successful chemical peel will ensure that your skin doesn’t have any built-up debris on it, and this will lessen the chances of a breakout afterward. This is because your pores end up getting unclogged, and clogged pores are one of the primary causes of cystic acne breakouts.

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Is Butt Acne the Same as Other Kinds of Acne?

Butt acne is surprisingly common, but it’s technically a different kind of acne when compared to the kind of acne you’d find on your face. Instead of acne, the condition that is commonly found on your butt is known as folliculitis, which is defined as the inflammation of your hair follicles.

While both of these conditions result in bumps in your skin, there are a few key differences between the two of them. While zits typically pop up when you’re suffering from acne, bumps are the telltale sign of folliculitis.

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Folliculitis

Folliculitis typically appears as large red bumps with a hair in the center.

Folliculitis bumps tend to be red, though they may sometimes have a white center underneath the hair follicle. But this isn’t the pus and sebum you’d expect to find in a zit.

Instead, the white material underneath the bump consists of dead skin cells as well as white blood cells that have accumulated there.

While folliculitis is the most common skin ailment you’ll find on your butt, this doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to get actual acne on your butt.

This is why you should typically get a professional opinion from a dermatologist before you try to treat butt-based skin conditions.

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Best Treatment to Get Rid of Acne on Your Buttocks

1. L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Bright Reveal Anti-Aging Peel Pads with Glycolic Acid 

Many people love to use chemical peel pads to tackle acne on the buttocks. It’s a very convenient format, and it’s not terribly expensive. There are several companies that make these sorts of peel pads, but L’Oreal is always an excellent choice.

These are an excellent choice to start with!

2. Divine Derriere Glycolic Acid Peel 40% 

Divine’s 40% Glycolic Acid Chemical Peel is another great option, if you prefer to stick to a liquid peel. It’s excellent for tackling persistent acne scars, and is also not terribly expensive.

The format is a bit more of a hassle than pre-soaked pads like the L’Oreal above, but it’s still only a 5 minute or so process.

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Other Ways to Get Rid of Butt Acne

There are many other strategies for treating butt acne, even if you don’t think that a chemical peel will work well for you.

Some of the options at your disposal include washing off sweat as soon as you can, wearing the proper clothes, and using the right products on your butt skin.

Roll a Derma-Roller

Derma-rollers, or microneedling rollers, are an excellent option for getting rid of acne scars. Like Chemical Peels, you can go to a mediSpa or clinic for an intense version, or use a safer and milder at-home roller. These rollers essentially poke tiny holes in the skin with many microneedles.

This process encourages the production of collagen and elastin, which can smooth acne scars.

Try a Bleaching Cream

Bleaching creams can be effective at reducing acne scars, removing bumps and pimples, and evening out the skin tone for a smoother appearance. These creams hydrate and smooth out the skin. They are also generally pretty inexpensive if you want to give one a try.

Use an Antiseptic Wash

One of the best alternates you can try is an antiseptic wash. Something like a benzoyl peroxide wash will allow you to remove the dead cells and bacteria from your butt, ensuring that further acne doesn’t pop up on your butt.

One thing to consider is that this kind of antiseptic wash will bleach fabrics, so be sure to get it entirely off of your skin before using something like a towel to dry off. On the other hand, you can use an old rag or towel that you don’t really care about to rub it off of your skin.

Pick the Right Kind of Underwear

The kind of underwear that you wear can also influence the development of butt acne that may eventually turn into scars. Cotton underwear tends to be the best choice because it is naturally breathable. Non-breathable fabrics create the perfect environment for the formation of butt acne.

You may also want to switch to granny panties, as having enough space between your underwear and your butt can also help reduce your chances of dealing with folliculitis.

Sigh.

Shower After Sweating Whenever Possible

Since sweat buildup on your skin can result in bacteria and folliculitis, you’ll want to ensure that you remove any sweat that lingers on your skin after a workout or just a hot day. Hop into the shower a few times a day just to rinse any lingering sweat off of your butt to reduce the likelihood of more butt acne taking hold.

You may even wish to alter your workout clothes, as using the wrong clothing can rub the sweat deep into the skin on your butt. We’d recommend using moisture-wicking clothing that will absorb any sweat that pools up on the surface of your skin.

Tea Tree Oil

One of the best natural methods you can use to treat acne scars on your buttocks is tea tree oil. This oil has several properties that help you resist the formation of acne scars on your butt, especially since it disinfects the surface of your skin, ensuring that dirt and bacteria don’t end up in your pores.

You can either apply the tea tree oil directly to your skin or you can opt to use a skin product that incorporates tea tree oil as one of its primary ingredients.

Yet another option you have available is a solution of saltwater. You won’t have to go all the way to the ocean to get your hands on some saltwater.

You can create your own saltwater solution by getting some water from the tap, mixing it with salt at a ratio of one tablespoon of salt per two cups of water.

And if you do choose to go to the ocean, stay out of the sun. Tanning can make your acne worse!

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Final Thoughts

A chemical peel is one of the most efficient ways to remove acne scars from any part of your body, but it works especially well when used on your butt.

You can choose to go to a mediSpa or clinic, but you can also choose an at-home chemical peel. The L’Oreal Paris chemical peel pads and the Divine Derriere Glycolic Acid Peel are great places to start.