How to Treat Folliculitis on Buttocks

Itchy red bumps on your butt are uncomfortable, sometimes embarrassing, and they can make working, sitting, or exercising feel miserable. In many cases, the culprit is folliculitis, which is inflammation or infection of the tiny hair follicles that cover your buttocks.

The good news is that most mild folliculitis on the buttocks can be treated at home with gentle care and the right over the counter products. This guide walks through how to recognize it, what actually helps it heal, and when you should stop self treating and see a medical professional.

What folliculitis on the buttocks looks and feels like

Folliculitis happens when a hair follicle becomes irritated, blocked, or infected. On the buttocks, it often shows up in areas where skin meets a seat, tight clothing, or sweat.

Common signs include:

• Clusters of small red or skin colored bumps around hair follicles
• Bumps that may have a white or yellow tip, like tiny pimples
• Mild to moderate tenderness, burning, or itch
• Worsening after long periods of sitting, intense sweating, or shaving

Mild cases stay near the surface, look like scattered goosebumps or shallow pimples, and usually feel more annoying than truly painful. More severe folliculitis can form larger, deeper bumps or boils that are sore to touch and may leave dark marks after they heal.

Any time you see spreading redness, warmth, swelling, or you feel unwell with fever or chills, treat that as urgent and seek in person care. Those can be signs that a simple folliculitis has turned into a deeper skin infection.

Why folliculitis develops on the buttocks

Your buttocks sit at an awkward intersection of friction, heat, sweat, and occlusion. That combination makes the follicles in this area especially easy to irritate. Common triggers include:

• Friction and pressure. Long hours of sitting, cycling, rowing, or tight seams rubbing over the same spot can damage follicles and trap sweat and bacteria.
• Sweat and humidity. Synthetic underwear and leggings that do not breathe well keep moisture pressed against the skin, softening the top layer and helping germs overgrow.
• Hair removal. Shaving, waxing, and aggressive trimming can cause razor bumps and ingrown hairs that become inflamed or infected.
• Occlusive products. Heavy creams, oils, or thick body butters on the buttocks can clog follicles, similar to body acne.
• Infection. Bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and sometimes yeasts like Malassezia can infect damaged follicles and trigger deeper, more stubborn bumps.

Certain health issues like diabetes, obesity, taking antibiotics often, or immune system problems can also make folliculitis more likely or slower to heal. If your buttock bumps keep coming back despite careful home care, that is a good reason to involve a clinician.

Folliculitis, acne, or something else?

Folliculitis on the buttocks is often mistaken for regular acne or for keratosis pilaris. A quick comparison can help:

• Folliculitis. Bumps center around hair follicles, may show a tiny hair in the middle, can be itchy or tender, and often flare after friction, sweating, or shaving.
• Acne. Usually mixes blackheads, whiteheads, and deeper pimples. It more often affects the upper back, chest, and shoulders than the central buttocks.
• Keratosis pilaris. Feels like rough, sandpaper skin with tiny, hard bumps. It is usually not painful and often lives on the outer arms and thighs rather than where you sit.

Other conditions can mimic folliculitis on the buttocks and do need medical care, such as herpes, shingles, large boils or abscesses, and hidradenitis suppurativa. Get urgent evaluation if:

• The bumps are grouped painful blisters rather than pimples
• Pain is severe, out of proportion to what you see on the surface
• You notice a single large, hot, angry swelling or deep lump
• There is drainage that smells foul, or you feel sick overall

Step by step: how to treat folliculitis on buttocks at home

Most mild, localized folliculitis will clear with 1 to 2 weeks of consistent, gentle care. Think in terms of four goals: remove triggers, cleanse without stripping, use targeted treatments, and protect the skin barrier.

Step 1: Pause friction and hair removal

First, give the area a break so your skin can calm down.

• Skip shaving, waxing, or using depilatory creams on your buttocks until bumps resolve.
• Switch to loose, breathable cotton underwear and pants when possible.
• Limit long stretches of sitting on hard chairs or bike seats; get up to stand or walk every 30 to 60 minutes.

Simply reducing mechanical irritation can quiet a mild folliculitis significantly in a few days.

Step 2: Cleanse gently once daily

You want to keep the area clean without scrubbing it raw.

• Shower once a day, and always after intense sweating or a workout.
• Use a mild, fragrance free body wash or bar soap on the buttocks. Avoid deodorant soaps, strong antiseptic washes, and gritty scrubs, which can worsen irritation.
• Use warm, not hot, water and your hands or a very soft cloth instead of loofahs or stiff brushes.
• Rinse thoroughly so no cleanser is left sitting in the folds of skin.
• Pat dry completely with a clean towel. Do not rub aggressively.

If your folliculitis tends to be bacterial, a short contact antibacterial wash a few times per week may help, but start slowly to avoid overdrying.

Step 3: Use targeted over the counter treatments

Next, layer in active ingredients that reduce inflammation, clear blocked follicles, or calm an overgrowth of microbes. Start with one category at a time to see how your skin reacts.

Benzoyl peroxide wash

Benzoyl peroxide is an antibacterial ingredient that reduces the bacteria that commonly cause folliculitis and acne. Using a low to moderate strength body wash on the buttocks in the shower a few times per week can help clear existing bumps and prevent new ones.

Pros: Good for pustules and inflamed red bumps, does not cause antibiotic resistance, works relatively quickly. Cons: Can bleach fabrics and dry out or irritate sensitive skin if overused.

To use, apply a thin lather to the affected area at the end of your shower, leave on for 1 to 2 minutes, then rinse well and pat dry. Moisturize afterward with a gentle, noncomedogenic lotion.

Salicylic or glycolic acid

Salicylic acid and glycolic acid are exfoliating acids that help clear dead skin and oil from follicles. They are particularly helpful if your bumps feel rough, clogged, or acne like.

You can use a low strength body wash or leave on lotion with one of these acids on nonbroken skin. Apply once every other day at first to check for stinging. Pair with a bland moisturizer because chemical exfoliants can be drying if used too often.

Topical antibacterial ointment

For a few isolated, irritated bumps that look clearly infected, a thin layer of over the counter antibiotic ointment placed directly on the spots can be useful for a short time.

Use this sparingly and only on small areas. If you end up needing antibacterial treatment over a wide area or for longer than one week, a prescription topical from a clinician is safer and more effective.

Antifungal cream

Some folliculitis on the buttocks is driven more by yeast than by bacteria, especially in very humid climates or in people who sweat heavily. In that case, a nonprescription antifungal cream containing an azole ingredient applied twice daily to clean, dry skin can help.

If bumps are not improving after 1 to 2 weeks of this approach, or if you are not sure whether bacteria or yeast is the problem, it is time for a professional diagnosis instead of guessing.

Hydrocortisone for itch

Short term use of a low strength hydrocortisone cream can reduce itch and redness. Apply a very thin layer once or twice daily for up to one week on intact skin, not on open sores.

Do not use steroid creams for longer stretches on your own without medical advice. Long term or heavy use can thin the skin and sometimes mask a worsening infection.

Step 4: Soothe and protect your skin barrier

Harsh treatments may clear germs but leave skin dry, stinging, and more prone to future issues. Gentle barrier support keeps healing on track.

• After bathing, apply a light, fragrance free moisturizer to the buttocks if the skin feels dry or tight.
• Avoid heavy body butters, straight oils, or petroleum based ointments directly over many clogged bumps, since those can trap sweat and heat.
• If skin rubs when you walk, consider a thin layer of a nonmedicated anti chafe balm at the inner cheeks or where seams hit, but not on actively infected bumps.

Step 5: What to avoid while treating folliculitis

Some common habits can stretch out healing time or turn a mild problem into a bigger one.

• Do not pick, squeeze, or pop bumps. This drives bacteria deeper and increases the chance of scarring or dark spots.
• Avoid harsh physical exfoliation like loofahs, body brushes, sugar scrubs, or pumice. These rarely help follicles unclog and often worsen inflammation.
• Skip home chemical cocktails such as full strength tea tree oil, undiluted apple cider vinegar, or mixing multiple strong acids at once.
• Do not share towels, washcloths, or razors with others while you are treating folliculitis.

If you are consistent with these home steps and your folliculitis is mild, you can expect noticeable improvement within 7 to 10 days and clearer skin over about 2 to 3 weeks.

When to see a doctor about buttock folliculitis

Home treatment has limits. Seek medical care if any of the following apply:

• Bumps are very painful, deep, or keep merging into larger swollen areas
• Redness is spreading or the area feels hot and firm
• You have a fever, chills, or feel ill
• The bumps keep coming back repeatedly in the same spots
• You have diabetes, poor circulation, a weak immune system, or you are on chemotherapy or biologic medications
• Home treatment has not helped after 2 weeks of consistent care

A clinician can examine the skin, possibly take a culture or scraping to see what organism is involved, and prescribe targeted medications. These may include prescription strength topical antibiotics, oral antibiotics, oral antifungal pills, or short courses of prescription anti inflammatory creams.

Professional guidance is especially important if yeast folliculitis, resistant bacteria, or another condition that mimics folliculitis is suspected, because the right treatment is very different for each of those.

Preventing folliculitis on your buttocks long term

Once you have calmed an active flare, the next goal is to reduce how often it comes back. Small daily habits go a long way.

Keep the area clean and dry

• Shower after workouts or any time you are sweaty for long periods, and change out of damp clothes promptly.
• Use a gentle cleanser on the buttocks instead of harsh antibacterial soaps.
• Dry carefully between skin folds so moisture does not sit trapped.

Choose breathable clothing

• Favor underwear made from cotton or other breathable fabrics instead of fully synthetic materials.
• Rotate in looser fitting bottoms when you can, especially on days when you sit a lot.
• For workouts, choose moisture wicking gear and wash it after each use.

Be strategic with hair removal

• If shaving seems to trigger flares, consider trimming hair instead of full removal, or reduce how often you shave.
• Always shave with a clean, sharp razor and a lubricating shaving cream, never on dry skin.
• Shave in the direction of hair growth with light pressure, then rinse thoroughly and moisturize with a noncomedogenic lotion.

Use maintenance treatments if needed

If you are prone to recurrent folliculitis on the buttocks, a simple maintenance routine can help:

• Use a gentle exfoliating body wash with salicylic or glycolic acid on the area once or twice a week, not daily.
• On high risk days such as long bike rides, consider a short contact benzoyl peroxide wash in the shower afterward, followed by a light moisturizer.
• Check in with a dermatologist if you still get frequent flares; they may recommend prescription topicals for long term prevention.

Remember that folliculitis does not mean you are dirty. It is a mechanical and microbial problem on a very hardworking piece of skin. Being kind, consistent, and gentle with this area is usually more effective than scrubbing or stripping it.

See also

For help choosing gentle treatments that target bumps on the body without irritating sensitive skin, see our guide to products for treating body acne without wrecking your barrier, and if you also have breakouts higher up, our backne basics guide can be useful too.

• Best body washes for sensitive skin on the body
• Gentle bar soap options for reactive skin
• Razor burn recovery tips if shaving worsens bumps

FAQ

How long does folliculitis on the buttocks usually take to heal?

For mild cases, you should see clear improvement within about 7 to 10 days of gentle cleansing, reduced friction, and targeted over the counter treatment. Completely flat, smooth skin can take 2 to 3 weeks, and any dark marks left behind may take several more weeks to fade. If bumps are not improving at all after 2 weeks, seek medical advice.

Is folliculitis on my butt contagious to my partner or family?

Most simple folliculitis is not highly contagious in casual contact, but the bacteria or yeast involved can spread more easily through broken skin, shared razors, towels, or tight skin to skin contact. Avoid sharing personal items, wash linens and underwear regularly in hot water, and keep the area covered if it is draining. If someone close to you also develops bumps, you both should be assessed.

Can I use home remedies like tea tree oil or apple cider vinegar on butt folliculitis?

Strong home remedies can easily irritate already inflamed skin on the buttocks. Full strength tea tree oil or undiluted vinegar can cause burning, allergic reactions, or even chemical burns. If you want to try a more natural approach, look for professionally formulated products that include those ingredients in safe concentrations and focus on proven treatments like gentle cleansing, benzoyl peroxide, or mild exfoliating acids.

Should I pop or drain folliculitis bumps on my buttocks?

No. Squeezing, popping, or trying to drain bumps increases the risk of driving bacteria deeper into the skin, causing larger infections, scars, and dark spots. Warm compresses and appropriate topical treatments are safer ways to bring bumps to a natural head. If a bump is very painful or feels deep, let a medical professional decide whether it needs drainage in a sterile setting.

What if folliculitis on my butt keeps coming back even when I treat it?

Recurrent folliculitis can mean that the underlying trigger has not been fully addressed, or that the main cause is something other than simple bacterial overgrowth, such as yeast, resistant bacteria, or another skin condition. In that case, a clinician may take a culture, check for contributing factors like diabetes or immune issues, and prescribe stronger or more targeted medications. Long term, small changes in clothing, hygiene, and hair removal usually need to go along with any prescriptions to break the cycle.

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