Acne sucks - no matter where it is on your body. And unfortunately, your booty isn’t immune to those frustrating red bumps.

”Butt acne” (butt-ne??) is a little bit different from facial acne, both in what causes it and how it’s treated. 

When acne forms on the butt, it’s usually because of folliculitis – caused when the Staphylococcus aureus, or staph bacteria, infects a hair follicle. Normally staph bacteria live on your skin without causing problems, but when they get inside through a break in the skin, it results in infection. If the infection gets worse, it can lead to a boil, which can be painful (butt, we are not going there).

Folliculitis bumps look very similar to regular acne. They’re irritating to see, can be itchy and cause discomfort. In most cases they go away on their own with regular at-home care – and that is where Essentially Haitos’ Booty products ride to the rescue!

Here are some natural tips and treatments to help get rid of those nasty bumps.

1.Shower Power. One of the most important ways of preventing infection is to bathe or shower regularly – which is something we honestly hope we don’t have to tell you! This is especially true if you exercise regularly – get out of those sweaty clothes asap and clean those cheeks!

Prior to hoping in the tub or shower, give your booty a good scrub with EH Booty-Scrub – it is made with all-natural ingredients, exfoliants (featuring sea salt) and gentle cleansers to wash away dirt, oil, dead skin cells and sweat – leaving you clean, soft and smooth.

2. Wash that sweat right out of your clothes. Again, something we shouldn’t have to say – but(t) we all hate doing laundry! What we are referring to here, specifically though, is gym clothes and anything with direct booty contact. Nothing more to say (other than see the comments about laundry products below).

3. Wear loose-fitting clothing. Normally, the offending bacteria sits on the skin, but tight-fitting clothing can rub the bacteria back down into the pores, causing breakouts. Yuk.

You might consider taking a break from spandex or skinny jeans (gasp) in favor of looser, more breathable bottoms. In other words, change into those cotton panties and sweats as soon as you can and give your cheeks some room to breathe.

4. Use a mask and a warm washcloth. Either pre- or post-shower, smooth on a clay mask to absorb excess oils and dirt from your skin and pores (if pre-shower, you should still start off with clean skin). Relax, catch-up on social media or an episode on Netflix while the mask does its job. Remove it with a warm washcloth – and enjoy the view!

Essentially Haitos created a Booty-Mask to help you out with this step. We make it with organic oils, aloe vera juice, honey, clays and herbal extracts designed to fight butt acne AND cellulite! Double-bonus!

5. Use what Mother Nature Supplies. Many natural products have been used for centuries to combat acne and cellulite.

Tea tree oil treats different skin infections and wounds. Studies have shown that it’s effective in killing bacteria and may be as effective as benzoyl peroxide for treating acne. Citrus and mint oils are also known as effective natural cleansers, antiseptic ingredients, toners and brighteners. Many effective natural acne products use these oils.

A combination of red clover, cocoa and green tea sounds like an interesting cold weather drink – but it is actually a natural cellulite-combating cocktail – one we found while doing our research. Lucky for us – and you!

Yes, we’re highlighting some of our Booty Collection ingredient super-stars – but more importantly, we’re highlighting what Mother Nature does best – provide us with everything we need – if we know where to look!

6. Avoid fabric softeners. Here’s something simple that we learned as we researched booty skin issues – and it’s probably nothing new to you if you have sensitive skin – but, using the wrong laundry product can create havoc for your skin. That’s why most brands of laundry detergent have a hypoallergenic version.

If you suspect that detergent, fabric softeners, or dryer sheets may be causing you issues, switch to something without dyes or skip certain products altogether. FYI: A study found that the fibers in dryer sheets that are left on your underwear can irritate your booty. (We really did our research!)

7. Saltwater solution. For a simple fix: Saltwater can help to treat mild infections. The Mayo Clinic recommends mixing 1 teaspoon of table salt with 2 cups of water and applying the solution with a washcloth to areas with butt acne.

Using sea salt takes the saltwater solution to the next level – and that is why we use it in the Booty-Scrub. Sea salt detoxifies the body, exfoliates and provides minerals and nutrients skin needs to get and stay healthy. So, use the Booty-Scrub once or twice a week and a daily saltwater rinse if you are experiencing a flare-up.

(Note: saltwater can be drying – think beach skin or hair – so make sure you moisturize if you use saltwater regularly.)

8. Moisturize. All skin needs protection to stay healthy, especially the often-neglected booty skin. You can use a little heavier moisturizer on your booty because the skin is a bit thicker and less oily, but make sure the ingredients are good for your skin and easily absorbed. Also, a good booty massage (in this case, while applying your moisturizer) works wonders for circulation and detoxification. 😊

As the final step in our Booty Collection, we created a moisturizing cream specifically for your booty and upper thighs – it contains many of the same ingredients in the scrub and mask that help fight acne and cellulite. Booty-Cream is one instance where you cannot get too much of a good thing. Enjoy!

For more information on butt acne and dermatologist-recommended solutions, see this article on the Mayo Clinic site and this article at Cosmopolitan.