What Causes a Butt Rash?

You may experience irritated, swollen skin that can be itchy, discolored, or painful, known as a rash. These skin changes can happen anywhere on your body—including your butt. A butt rash may occur for many reasons, like your skin coming into contact with something irritating or having an allergic reaction.

Rashes can also be a symptom of underlying conditions such as lupus, psoriasis, or lichen sclerous. Here's what you need to know about how to identify, prevent, and treat rashes that may appear on your butt.

Butt Rash Cases

Sometimes, you might develop a red, itchy rash between your buttocks. Sometimes, these rashes will itch or burn. Several different conditions could be at the bottom of this problematic rash.

1. Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis occurs when skin becomes red, painful, or inflamed after contact with an irritant or allergen. Irritants that may cause contact dermatitis on your butt include shampoo or hair dyes. Allergens that may bring about a stubborn case of contact dermatitis include:

• Antibiotics
• Clothing
• Fragrances in soaps or moisturizers
• Poison ivy
  

2. Eczema

Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema may show up on the butt. Eczema is a chronic (long-lasting) skin condition that causes symptoms including:

• Dry patches of skin
• Red patches of skin
• Rashes that ooze or weep a clear fluid, or bleed if scratched
• Thick and hard patches of skin
  

3. Folliculitis

This condition causes an itchy rash due to hair follicle infection and can appear on any part of a person's skin. With folliculitis, a person may have pimples or sores that crust and don't heal. Additionally, the rash may feel a little sore.

4. Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that spreads through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. It may also bring about a rash on your butt, sometimes accompanied by muscle aches in the buttocks. The rash itself may include painful, fluid-filled blisters.

5. Heat Rash

Heat rash, or miliaria, develops when your sweat glands and ducts become clogged. That blockage causes sweat to build up, which brings about small pimple-looking bumps on the skin. Heat rash commonly occurs during the summer months, when it's especially hot and humid.

6. Incontinence

If you experience urinary or bowel incontinence, you may develop a rash on your butt. That's because moisture in the groin or anal area stimulates the growth of harmful invaders, like bacteria and fungi.

7. Intertrigo

Intertrigo is a rash that appears when warm, moist skin rubs together, commonly after a workout. A person may develop a butt rash due to intertrigo, where the skin becomes raw. They may also experience itchy skin that oozes, has a foul odor, and cracks and bleeds.

8. Keratosis Pilaris

Keratosis pilaris occurs when keratin—one of the proteins found in your skin—builds up and plugs your hair follicles. Keratosis pilaris commonly causes rough, small pink bumps that resemble "goosebumps." Though commonly found on your arms and thighs, those bumps may appear on your butt as well.

9. Lichen Sclerosis

One inflammatory disease that causes rashes near the genital and anal areas is lichen sclerosis. Although uncommon, the condition may cause atrophy—tissue loss—if left untreated.

10. Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease characterized by thick red rashes and silver scaly patches on the skin. The immune system mistakes healthy skin cells for germs like bacteria or viruses and attacks them.

11. Ringworm

Also known as jock itch, ringworm commonly occurs on the genitals, butt, and thighs. It's characterized by a ring-shaped rash that may become red, brown, or gray and flaky or scaly.

12. Shingles

Shingles—also known as herpes zoster—is an infection that occurs when the chickenpox virus becomes reactivated. Shingles is most common among people with weakened immune systems and people over 50 years.

13. Yeast Infection

Yeast infections, or candidiasis, are fungal infections typically affecting the genital and anal areas. You may experience itchiness, red skin rashes, and small, red bumps on the affected area.

Stretch Marks

When your skin stretches from rapid weight changes, it's not uncommon for lines to appear on the skin. At first, the lines can be red, purple, pink, reddish-brown, or dark brown, depending on your skin color—and the color fades over time.

Those lines form when elastin and collagen fibers just below the surface weaken and tear, leaving streaks of indented skin. Also, stretch marks tend to run in families; you're more likely to have them if a sibling or parent had them.

Cellulite

Cellulite refers to the dimpled flesh caused by bulging fat cells beneath the skin, and it's normal. It appears bumpy because the fat is pushing against the connective tissues under the skin's surface.

The appearance of cellulite depends on genetics, too. In fact, according to the article, 85% of all women over 20 have cellulite.

Home Remedies

For many rashes, the following actions are ones to do at home to get relief:

• Avoiding skin scrubbing
• Avoiding direct cosmetic lotion and ointment use on the area affected
• Using gentle cleansers
• Trying an oatmeal bath
• Washing the affected area(s) with warm water and patting them dry

Treatment

Rash treatments will vary, and some may include some of the home remedies above. Depending on the cause, prescriptive treatments might be:

• Antifungal medications
• Antihistamines
• Cortisone creams
• Laser or light therapy
• Lotions and moisturizers

Prevention

Some rashes can be prevented by avoiding exposure to what caused the rash. For example, you may have to change your soap if you experience a butt rash after using it. Other ways to prevent rashes may include personal care changes. It may be helpful to keep your skin cool and dry to decrease moisture or to wear looser clothing to reduce irritation.

A Quick Review

Skin problems can happen anywhere on your body, including on your butt. Some problems clear up on their own or with the help of topical creams, ointments, or lotions.

Still, you should consult a healthcare provider if your rash increases in size or spreads and covers your body. If you have a fever, develop painful blisters near your genital or anal region, or notice signs of an infection, see a healthcare provider immediately.