A Dermatologist's Guide to Beating Butt Acne For Good

Murad Acne Body Wash ($48)

After a particularly scorching summer day, it's best to rinse off all that sweat and grime. We swear by the Murad Acne Body Wash, which is formulated with exfoliating glycolic and salicylic acids to keep bumps at bay.

For a more affordable option, try the CeraVe SA Body Wash ($14), which dermatologist Sandra Lee, MD (also known as Dr. Pimple Popper) swears by. "A lot of people break out on their back or their tush, so you want to use something [with salyclic acid] in the shower to clear everything up," she says. "It really helps clean out the debris and gunk from inside our pores."

Prefer to go the natural route? The Mario Badescu AHA Botanical Body Soap ($15) houses papaya, grapefruit, and ginseng extracts to slough away dead skin cells.

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx Acne Eliminating Pads ($42)

The best way to exfoliate in the summer is by perching your butt in the sand at the beach. The second best is a little more methodical: acne pads. Dr. Nazarian suggests looking for options with both alpha hydroxy acids for superficial exfoliation and beta hydroxy acids for deeper exfoliation.

A tried-and-true favorite? The Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx Acne Eliminating Pads, which have a host of acne-fighting ingredients such as azelaic and malic acids, plus willow bark. To help prevent buildup of bacteria, you can also consider using antibacterial wipes.

AcneFree Body Clearing Acne Treatment Spray ($11)

Don't have time to shower after a pool or sweat sesh? Mist your backside with the salicylic-acid-spiked AcneFree Body Clearing Acne Treatment Spray, a dermatologist-recommended option.

Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Prescription Strength Retinoid Acne Treatment ($11)

If you get a few spots here and there, it's worth bringing out tried-and-true ingredients. "A retinoid like adapalene in the Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Prescription Strength Retinoid Acne Treatment can help treat and prevent future acne, and help with inflammation," Dr. Nazarian says.

Bawdy Citrus Beauty Illuminating Butt Mask ($10)

If you're more of a sheet mask lover, the Bawdy Citrus Beauty Illuminating Butt Mask is perfect for eliminating butt acne. It just needs to be applied once a week, then left on for 10 to 15 minutes. Once you peel it off, you can rub in the remaining serum. It's formulated for acne-prone skin using orange peel extract for exfoliation and lemon extract to fade any post-inflammatory marks.

Zella Live-In Pocket Joggers ($39-$65, originally $65)

As sweet as your ass looks in those Lululemon pants, you'll want to take them off after a workout to avoid bacteria buildup — especially if you tend to sweat. "Wearing loose-fit clothing in the summer instead can help prevent butt acne," Dr. Nazarian says. We find the Zella Live-In Pocket Joggers just as comfy as our tighter picks.

Megababe Butt and Body Acne Mask ($22)

The Megababe Butt and Body Acne Mask is made with glycolic acid, kelp, and eucalyptus to exfoliate and moisturize the skin. You'll have to either stand or lay on your stomach while it works its magic, but the results are worth it. Just use it two to three times per week for three minutes, and then rinse it off in the shower or with a wash cloth.

Kelsey Castañon is a Brooklyn-based writer, editor, and content strategist with more than 13 years of experience in publishing. She is currently the senior content director at PS, where you can find her stockpiling (and reporting on) everything from skin care to wine.

Renee Rodriguez is a staff writer and social producer for PS. She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments. She also produces social content for the PS TikTok and Instagram accounts.