When we think about dark spots or hyperpigmentation, we automatically associate it with facial skin or our upper body. However, one of the most common areas where dark spots emerge, believe it or not, is your butt.
Why does this happen, and how can we save ourselves from this embarrassment? Well, we decided to look into it.
Let’s get rid of those butt spots!
What are dark spots and what causes them?
Hyperpigmentation (dark spots) refers to areas of the skin that become much darker than the rest of the skin on your body. Dark spots appear due to a higher level of melanin production in the body. Hyperpigmentation can affect everyone, but it is usually more prevalent in black and brown people, and people who have naturally darker skin.
There can be several other reasons why hyperpigmentation occurs:
Sunspots
Sunspots, also called liver spots, can arise after the skin has been exposed to the sun for long periods of time. They become more common as we age, but anyone can develop them if they spend a long time in the sun.
They are usually small and flat and are a result of your skin’s natural protective response against the sun’s UV rays.
Melasma
Melasma, or chloasma, usually occurs in women, especially pregnant women. It is a skin condition that sees patches of the skin become darker and discolored. Melasma isn’t considered to be harmful, but it can make people self-conscious about the way they look, especially if they have a lot of dark patches on their faces.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
If your skin has endured periods of stress and damage, such as bad acne, aggressive breakouts, or environmental damage, it can develop post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This is usually a protective bodily response, but it can be frustrating and unsightly.
If you’re concerned about any of these possibilities, be sure to speak to a professional dermatologist for personal advice.
Why do you have dark spots on your butt?
Well, that was weird to type. Anyway! While dark spots on the butt might sound a bit silly, for many people it’s no laughing matter. So why does hyperpigmentation strike your beautiful derrière?
In reality, the reasons why you might develop dark spots on your face, arms, or any other part of your body, are the same reasons why it can develop on your butt.
Sun exposure
If you’re a dedicated tanner, the large levels of sun exposure you gift your butt can be a trigger for hyperpigmentation. Make sure to always use appropriate sunscreen and never spend too long soaking up those rays.
Acne & ingrown hair
Again, acne or general skin breakouts and irritation can strike any area of the body. Though when it concerns your butt, the acne technically isn’t really acne, but rather a condition called folliculitis. Folliculitis describes the inflammation of hair follicles, which then form spots and whiteheads. This can be caused by wearing tight clothes or sweat, which traps dirt, debris, and dead skin cells in your pores, leading to irritation.
Ingrown hair is also a major cause of dark spots, as the hair follicle gets trapped under the skin and causes inflammation, triggering a bodily response with the production of melanin.
Folds
Look, our butts have a lot of folds and crevices. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, but these areas can deal with a lot of friction and rubbing during the course of a day. This causes irritation, which then causes the body to produce melanin, which contributes to dark spots.
How to get rid of dark spots from your butt
Okay, let’s get down to the solutions, shall we? Dealing with hyperpigmentation on your butt is much the same as dealing with it anywhere else on your body.
If you’re suffering from a lot of ingrown hairs, check out our amazing guide on how to remove dark spots as a result of ingrown hair.
If you’re more concerned about your butt, follow the following tips:
Clean, clean, clean
Keeping your butt clean is probably in the best interests of everyone, let’s be honest. In regards to dark spots, regularly cleaning your butt cheeks properly will go a long way in preventing ingrown hairs, breakouts, and folliculitis.
Using exfoliators, cleansers, and moisturizers, make sure every time you take a shower you’re paying extra special attention to your rear end. This will ensure that dirt, dead cells, and dry skin will be washed away, lowering the risk of pore blockages and irritation.
Wear loose clothing
Look, wearing a tight pair of jeans or leggings can really show off your figure, but if you’re having issues with dark spots, maybe you need to loosen up a bit. Literally. Tight clothes can cause friction on the skin and also trap sweat, which can then clog pores and lead to inflammation. We’re not saying you need to start wearing trash bags, but save the hot tight clothes for special occasions instead of the daily Walmart trip.
Use brightening products
In combination with exfoliators, using brightening products on dark spots will also go a long way in helping to rebalance skin tone. Brightening cosmetics containing potent ingredients such as Vitamin C, kojic acid, and hydroquinone, can massively help to lighten the skin and lessen the visual appearance of dark spots and pigmentation.
Use sunscreen when tanning
The sun can make dark spots and pigmentation much, much worse. The sun’s UV rays are ultra-powerful and can really damage the skin if left unprotected. This is why we recommend wearing sunscreen whenever you hit your favorite tanning spot, even if it’s not a particularly “summery” day. Use sunscreen with SPF 30 as a minimum.
Not enough people take sun protection seriously enough, so set a good example and do the right thing for your skin.
Conclusion
Dark spots can affect all areas of our body, and our butts are no different. Remember to take extra care when tanning, clean regularly, make smart clothing choices, and keep an eye out for signs of inflammation.
Soon, your butt will be back to full health and ready for Insta.
