Dark Pimples on Buttock

Having dark pimples on buttock areas is embarrassing and can even be painful, but it is rather common. There are many different possibilities when dealing with pimples on the backside, and different treatments are required.

What Causes Pimples on Buttocks?

Pimples on your bottom are caused by the same things that cause pimples on the face and body: excess oil production and stress.

Contrary to popular belief, the food you eat doesn't really cause acne, and excess oil production can cause acne to sprout anywhere on the body. Some people report pimples will start out red but soon turn to dark pimples on buttock areas, which are a little more disturbing and irritating than those other places on the body.

The good news is that pimples on the butt are usually not dangerous and can be treated in the same way that any other kind of acne is dealt with.

Treating Dark Pimples on Buttock

If you're worried about the dark pimples on your buttocks, the best thing you can do is visit a dermatologist. They can help you determine exactly what is causing your acne (and that it is actually acne) and develop a treatment program that is right for you.

If you don’t want to visit a dermatologist, you can try over-the-counter acne treatments that are designed for the face, such as spot treaters and acne-reducing body wash. If the treatment doesn't work after a couple of weeks, you may still want to visit a dermatologist to make sure there isn't something else going on (see below).

Once you have your acne under control, you may be able to prevent future problems by taking care to keep the area clean and trying to reduce the amount of time you sit in one position. If you ride a bike, do so wearing proper clothing to prevent irritation, and consider wearing cotton underwear rather than other types to allow air circulation so that sweat does not stay around for a long time.

When it's Not a Pimple

There are other possibilities when you are dealing with things that look and feel like pimples on your buttocks. For instance, you could have an ingrown hair that has gotten irritated and made a raised bump that looks and feels like a pimple.

The best course of action if you or a trusted friend can see a hair in the sore spot is to remove the hair and treat it with antibacterial ointment.

You may also have a cyst, which can develop when the oil ducts get infected (known as cystic acne) or when the hair follicles in the buttocks get infected, a condition called pilonidal cysts, which can develop after long periods of sitting.

Bikers who travel for long distances are particular disposed to this kind of cyst or boil. These can be treated with the application of heat. Sometimes a visit to the doctor to get the boil lanced or drained is beneficial, especially if it is a large boil or in between the buttocks.

Antibiotics might also be prescribed to fight the underlying infection, especially if it has spread to surrounding tissue.

An extreme case of regularly occurring boils centered around the buttocks, groin and armpits may be a condition known as Hidradenitis suppurativa, which causes boils on the sweat glands. This problem is more common in women than men and manifests itself as clusters of pus-filled abscesses or boils that range in size, cause a lot of pain and eventually lead to open wounds that will not heal.

If you think you might have this problem instead of acne, visit the Hidradenitis suppurativa website for more information.

Dark pimples on the buttocks are usually not a serious problem, irritating though they may be. Diligent treatment will help you get rid of the problem and hopefully keep it from coming back.