Adult Butt Rash: Causes and Effective Natural Treatments

A rash on your butt or having patches of red skin between your buttock cheeks can be a very uncomfortable condition. The patches of red and, sometimes, flaky skin can cause mild to severe itching and may start to blister. This can cause a lot of embarrassment as the rash can be deep in your butt cheeks causing you to have an anal itching.

In most cases, adult butt rash is caused by a type of fungal or bacterial infection. However, in some cases, red bumps on your buttocks can be the result of a skin condition like eczema, psoriasis, or folliculitis.

Treating a rash on your buttocks can sometimes be a challenge. The skin area between your buttocks and around the anus is usually dark and moist which is the perfect environment for microbes to flourish. But, there are many natural remedies that can help to relieve itching, irritation, and discomfort from a butt rash. For example, tea tree oil is a great natural ingredient to kill off various infection-causing germs. Also, aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, oatmeal, and baking soda effectively help soothe itchy red skin and stop irritation around your buttocks.

This article looks at the various causes of adult butt rash and why you can sometimes have itchy patches of red skin on your buttocks. You will also find out some great natural treatments to quickly get rid of butt rash.

Symptoms of Butt Rash

A skin rash on your butt happens when certain conditions cause the texture and color of your buttock skin to change. This can result in red patches on the buttocks skin with raised bumps or pimples that can become very itchy.

According to Dr. Melissa Conrad Stöppler on MedicineNet, the term “rash” can refer to many kinds of skin conditions. Along with itchiness, Dr. Stöppler says that the rash could be accompanied by blisters, scaling, and ulcers. These combine to cause irritation in and around your buttock area.

Rashes are also common in your intergluteal cleft – the medical name for your butt crack. The moist conditions, as well as a risk of infection from your anus, can cause terrible itching around your anus. Sometimes, the red itchy skin can appear near your anal opening and spread out onto your buttock cheeks.

Causes of Rash on Buttocks

Let’s look at the various causes of having a rash on your buttocks. This can help you identify the cause and know which are the best natural treatments to get rid of adult butt rash.

Eczema

A very itchy red patch of skin on your butt could be a symptom of eczema. Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that is caused by various triggers. According to the National Eczema Society, severe cases of eczema can make the skin weep which then crusts over.¹

Dr. Stephanie Gardner on WebMD says that eczema often shows up on the buttocks, insides of your elbows, behind your knees, and on your face.²

Dr. Gardner warns that you shouldn’t scratch patches of eczema on your buttocks as this can lead to a secondary bacterial infection. Most of the home remedies for butt rash mentioned at the end of the article are excellent to treat eczema symptoms on your buttocks. For more information you can refer to my articles on how to use coconut oil for eczema and 13 natural remedies for eczema. Also these 12 essential oils have been shown to be effective in treating eczema.

Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is another form of eczema that can affect the skin on your buttocks and in the area in between your buttocks. Contact dermatitis on your bottom is usually caused by irritants from clothing or detergents that results in dermatitis flare ups.

The Cleveland Clinic reports that contact dermatitis often affects the buttocks and genital area and can be a reason for an itchy rash on your upper thigh. If contact dermatitis is causing your butt rash, your skin will be itchy and painful with bumps on the skin. Depending on the severity, your skin may also blister and ooze fluid after coming into contact with an allergen.³

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is another inflammatory skin condition that can cause patches of itchy scaly skin on your buttocks and in your buttock crack. Skin affected by psoriasis is generally very itchy and red and may or may not be scaly.

The National Psoriasis Foundation says that psoriasis can affect both the anal region and the buttocks. Anal psoriasis will cause severe itching and burning around the anus and may also bleed when passing stools. Psoriasis in the buttocks crease will show up as patches of itchy red skin.⁴

Some people have found that supplementing their diet with omega-3 supplements or vitamin D supplements has helped to reduce psoriasis symptoms and other inflammatory responses on the skin. For more information please refer to my article about 12 natural ways to relieve psoriasis.

Fungal infection

The dark damp conditions between your buttock cheeks mean that this area is prone to fungal infections. Fungal skin infections are caused by yeasts that live on the top layer of the skin and are common in skin folds. Fungal infections can cause the skin to be affected by red blotches and become very itchy and scaly.

Doctors from the Cleveland Clinic report that a burning rash commonly affects the buttocks and can spread to the groin and thigh area. To help prevent fungal infections in your butt, it is recommended to keep the area between your butt cheeks as clean and dry as possible.⁵

Bacterial infection

Another type of infection that can give you an itchy anus with red patches of inflamed skin on your butt is a bacterial infection. The skin on your buttocks can become itchy and red if Staphylococci bacteria infect the skin.

Dr. Mary Harding on Patient.info says that excessive scratching can lead to a Staph infection which can damage the skin. However, Dr. Harding warns that the more you scratch your itchy anus the more it itches.⁶

Another type of bacterial infection that can cause itchy red bumps on your butt is cellulitis. Doctors from the National Health Service (NHS) say that cellulitis causes red, painful, swollen patches of skin in the affected areas.⁷ The journal Acute Medicine reports that cellulitis can affect unusual locations like the buttocks.⁸

Folliculitis / Acne

Patches of red inflamed bumps on your buttock cheeks could be caused by inflamed hair follicles. The medical term for inflamed follicles is folliculitis. The infected follicles become swollen, red and can fill with pus to become a pustule.

Dermatologist Dr. Amanda Oakley says that folliculitis can affect any part of the body, including the buttocks, chest, back, arms, and legs. Folliculitis affecting the buttocks is quite common and is usually bacterial in origin. She says that acne and its variants are also types of folliculitis.¹⁰

Buttock folliculitis can be acute, resulting in red painful papules and pustules, or chronic, which doesn’t often cause significant symptoms but can be very persistent.

Viral infection (shingles)

A skin rash on your buttocks preceded by a tingling sensation could be a symptom of shingles. Shingles is a viral disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus which results in blotchy red rashes on the affected area. These patches of itchy skin blister and will then crust over after a few days.

Shingles generally causes a blotchy rash on your upper torso and make your skin sensitive to touch. However, doctors from the National Health Service (NHS) say that it can also affect the genital area.⁹

Manuka and clover honey have shown to be effective in treating shingles, as well as these essential oils which have strong antiviral activity.

Chaffing

A rash between your buttock cheeks could be caused by chafing. Butt chafing occurs when your buttocks rub together when you walk, run or exercise. The result can be irritated skin that becomes chapped, red, and raw. Once the skin has become chafed, further irritation can occur quite easily when underwear or sweat aggravates the condition even more.

Heat rash

A cluster of small bumps that form a rash in your butt could be a heat rash. The irritating rash occurs when tiny sweat ducts get blocked and become itchy bumps.

Dr. Jerry Balentine on eMedincineHealth says that heat rashes can be red or pink patches of skin. If the rash becomes severe, the affected skin can become very irritated and develop into large raised red bumps. Some people also experience intense butt itching with a heat rash. Although a heat rash can affect any part of the body, common areas affected by heat rashes are the buttocks, under the breasts, groin, and elbow folds.¹¹

Intertrigo

Another skin condition that can cause red itchy patches in your buttocks is intertrigo. This type of skin irritation is common in areas of the body where there are skin folds.

According to Dr. Carol DerSarkissian on WebMD, the symptoms of intertrigo are a red or brownish rash that is very itchy and oozes fluid. These irritating rashes can occur between the buttocks, in your groin, in your armpits, or cause itching under your breasts.¹²

Insect bites

A rash affecting your buttocks that isn’t caused by a medical condition could be caused by bed bugs. The bites from bed bugs can leave you with inflamed, itchy red skin and can occur anywhere on your body.

According to Dr. William Blahd on WebMD, bed bug bites tend to be in straight rows. If you scratch them, you could break the surface of the skin and cause a secondary infection around the bite area.¹³

To prevent bed bug bites from occurring in the first place, you can get rid of bed bugs naturally with these home remedies.

Scabies

Another cause of a rash with intense itching around your buttocks and anus is having scabies. Scabies is a contagious itch caused by small mites that burrow under the skin and can cause an inflammatory response in your skin.

According to the Family Planning Association, scabies are often found around the buttocks and genital area, although, they can also affect your hands, wrists, and abdomen. These mites can cause severe itching, especially at night, and you may notice tiny spots that form an itchy rash.¹⁴

For more information on how to get rid of these pesky mites naturally, please read my article on how to get rid of scabies naturally.

Generalized granuloma annulare

A pinkish, red-colored rash on your buttocks may be a condition called generalized granuloma annulare. This is an inflammatory skin reaction which doctors don’t know why it happens.

According to Dr. Amanda Oakley, a dermatologist from New Zealand, these rashes can affect any area of the body, including the groin, armpits, or hands. Usually, the rashes on the buttocks clear up by themselves without any special treatment.¹⁵

Hives

Hives are raised patches of itchy skin that can affect the buttocks or any other area of the body.¹⁶ Hives, or urticaria, is an allergic reaction to an allergen. However, according to doctors from the Mayo Clinic, factors like stress, exercising, sunlight, and extremes in temperature can bring on hives.¹⁷

You can try some natural antihistamines or other natural remedies to get rid of hives to help soothe your itchy skin patches on your buttocks. You can also try these top 15 essential oils for allergies.

Effective Natural Treatments for Rash on Butt

Depending on the cause of your butt rash, there are many natural and effective home remedies that can alleviate the irritation. Here are some of the best natural remedies for treating a rash on the butt.

Coconut oil and tea tree oil for butt rash

Because of their strong antimicrobial activity, a combination of virgin coconut oil and tea tree oil is a great natural remedy for butt rash. Coconut oil together with tea tree oil helps to reduce itching and inflammation in bacterial, fungal, and viral skin infections.

For example, the journal Clinical Microbiology Reviews reported that tea tree oil contains active components that can inhibit fungal growth and prevent bacterial strains causing more infections on the skin.¹⁸ Also, research into coconut oil has found that it can kill off Staphylococcus strains of bacteria which are often associated with dermatitis and can help treat eczema.¹⁹

In addition to its antibacterial properties, the fatty acid content of coconut oil helps to moisturize the skin and provide a protective barrier to prevent further infection.

How to use:

To use tea tree oil and coconut oil together as a home remedy for clearing up a buttock rash, this is what you should do:

1. Mix 2-3 drops of tea tree oil with one tablespoon of virgin coconut oil.
2. Apply the concoction to the skin area on your buttocks affected by the rash 2-3 times a day.
3. Use every day until the symptoms of your butt rash have gone completely.

Oatmeal compress

Oatmeal is a natural soothing ingredient that can help to get rid of an itchy rash between your buttocks. Oatmeal contains anti-inflammatory properties that help to calm itchiness, reduce redness, and heal damaged skin.

Studies into the medicinal use of oatmeal for healing skin conditions have found that it’s an effective treatment for dermatitis and other inflammatory skin problems. For example, the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology reported that oatmeal cleanses the skin from germs and infections and has an anti-inflammatory effect.²⁰

How to use:

You can either add oatmeal to a bath to help reduce irritation from large rashes on your buttocks or you can make a healing paste. This is what you should do:

1. Fill a bathtub with warm water and add 2 cups of ground oatmeal.
2. Mix the oatmeal well in the water to help release the healing compounds.
3. Soak in the bath for up to 20 minutes. While doing so, you can take a handful of oatmeal mixed with water and gently rub the mixture on your buttock rash.
4. Rinse off with warm water and pat yourself dry.
5. Bathe in oatmeal 2-3 times a week to help relieve itchiness around your buttocks and anal area.

You can also use an oatmeal bath to eliminate itching from all over your body.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera is a well-known home remedy for reducing itchiness and healing damaged skin. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, aloe vera can especially help to soothe a rash that you have between your buttocks.

Research into the healing potential of aloe vera for skin rashes has found that it can help repair damaged skin and speed up the healing process. The journal Inflammopharmacology reported that aloe vera leaf extracts can help treat atopic dermatitis. In fact, the researchers stated that aloe vera is as effective as antihistamines and topical corticosteroids to treat inflammatory skin diseases.²¹

How to use:

It is very easy to use aloe vera as a home remedy for a rash on your buttock or in your buttocks cleft. This is what you should do:

1. Use pure aloe vera gel with as few as possible added ingredients.
2. Apply the aloe vera gel to the rash on your buttocks.
3. Gently massage so that it’s absorbed into the skin.
4. Apply 2-3 times a day to the itchy butt rash to relieve itching and help your skin heal quicker.

Apple cider vinegar

Raw apple cider vinegar (ACV) diluted in water is great for getting rid of an itchy skin rash on your butt. The reason that ACV is effective at soothing itchiness is thanks to its acetic acid content. Also, apple cider vinegar is a natural antiseptic that can help to destroy germs that cause skin infections.

Studies into the medicinal effect of apple cider vinegar have found it to be effective in treating many skin complaints. For example, the Annals of Dermatology reported that acetic acid can help to treat even severe cases of dermatitis.²²

How to use:

Use apple cider vinegar as a cheap and effective home remedy to treat itchiness and redness on a butt rash. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Dilute raw unprocessed apple cider vinegar with equal parts of water (don’t use ACV neat on your skin as it could irritate it even more).
2. Using a cotton ball soaked in the ACV remedy, apply to the itchy rash on your buttocks and in your butt crack and let it dry.
3. Use the healing solution 2-3 times a day to get rid of a fungal or bacterial infection from your buttocks.

The apple cider remedy will also work well to soothe itchiness from bed bug bites, scabies infestations, or heat rash.

Baking soda

Another cost-effective and easy way to get rid of an itchy butt rash is to apply a paste of baking soda. You can use baking soda to help dry out a severe rash that oozes fluid or causes you severe itching. Apart from being a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient, baking soda gently kills off infection-causing bacteria.

For example, the National Eczema Association says that people with dermatitis can bathe in baking soda water. This is a great way to treat itchy rashes on large areas of your body or in areas that are hard to reach.²³

Also, the Journal of Dermatological Treatments reported on a study showing that baking soda can relieve psoriasis symptoms of itchy, red, scaling skin.²⁴

How to use:

All you need to do to use baking soda to relieve the irritation from an itchy red rash on your buttocks is put some in a bath of warm water. Here are the instructions:

1. Run a bath of warm water and add about half a cup of baking soda.
2. Relax in the bath for 20 minutes to help soothe the itchy skin in the area in between your buttocks.
3. Rinse yourself in the shower and pat yourself dry.
4. Apply some aloe vera or virgin coconut oil to the affected skin area on your butt and between your buttocks.
5. Bathe in baking soda 1-2 times a week to help prevent flare-ups of dermatitis or psoriasis.

Witch hazel

You can quickly soothe an itchy rash in your butt crack and stop your butt itching by applying witch hazel. Witch hazel contains tannins which are natural astringents and will quickly take the irritation and discomfort out of a red itchy butt rash. Witch hazel also contains antiseptic compounds to prevent any skin infection making the itching worse.

A study by German scientists found that witch hazel helps to treat eczema and other inflammatory skin conditions due to its anti-inflammatory properties. The antimicrobial properties also treated infections on the skin and helped to accelerate healing.²⁵

How to use:

It couldn’t be easier to use witch hazel to treat butt rash and stop anal itching. This is what you should do:

1. Soak a cotton pad or ball in pure witch hazel.
2. Gently apply to the affected skin area on your butt and in between your buttocks and around your anus to reduce itchiness.
3. Use 2-3 times a day to help the butt rash heal quicker and continue using until all symptoms of the rash have gone for good.

When to See a Doctor

Most cases of a red itchy butt rash can be effectively treated using natural home remedies. However, in some cases, you should see a doctor for a rash on your buttocks or in your butt crack.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends seeking medical attention for a rash in the following circumstances:²⁶

• The rash develops suddenly and spreads.
• You notice blisters on the affected area on your buttocks.
• The rash is accompanied by pain and discomfort.
• There are signs of an infection like pus oozing from the rash, warmth around the affected area, or you have a temperature.
• There is a red streak that comes from the rash which could be a sign of sepsis.

Read my other related articles:

• Rash on Inner Thigh: Causes and Effective Home Treatments
• Itchy Skin After Shower: Causes and Effective Home Treatments
• The Best Natural Remedies For Tinea Cruris (Jock Itch)

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