Bum spots, the girly pop guide to those red bumps and what actually helps

First up, you are not alone. Red bumps on your bum are super common. And most of the time, they are not “acne” in the same way face acne is.

This area gets hit with sweat, friction, tight clothing, workouts, sitting for long periods, and hair removal. That can irritate hair follicles and trap bacteria, dead skin, and oil.

Quick note: this is general info, not a diagnosis. If anything is painful, spreading, leaking, or keeps coming back, get it checked.

Why bum spots happen so easily

Your bum skin deals with:

• Friction (walking, sitting, gym)
• Sweat and heat (especially in tight fabrics)
• Blocked follicles (dead skin build-up)
• Hair removal irritation (shaving, waxing, creams, at-home devices)
• Bacteria and yeast that love warm, damp skin

So the bumps you see can come from a few different causes.

The most common causes (and what they usually look like)

1) Folliculitis (the classic “pimple-looking” bumps)

This is inflammation (sometimes infection) of the hair follicles. It often looks like small red bumps, sometimes with a white head. It can be itchy or sore.

Common triggers:

• Staying in sweaty clothes
• Tight leggings/underwear rubbing
• Shaving or waxing
• Long periods of sitting in heat/sweat

2) Fungal folliculitis (easy to miss)

This can look really similar to normal folliculitis, but tends to be:

• Itchy
• More uniform bumps (lots of similar-looking ones)
• Worse with heat and sweat
• Not improving with standard “acne” routines

If someone has tried everything and it keeps flaring, this is worth mentioning to a GP or dermatologist.

3) Keratosis pilaris (KP) aka texture bumps

KP is harmless but annoying. It feels like rough little bumps, more “texture” than inflamed spots. Often shows on arms, thighs, and sometimes buttocks.

KP tends to:

• Feel like sandpaper
• Be less painful
• Be persistent and slow to change

4) Ingrown hairs

Ingrowns can look like spots, especially after shaving or waxing. They can be red, tender, and sometimes infected.

5) Acne mechanica (friction acne)

This is acne triggered by pressure + heat + rubbing. Think tight gym sets, long sitting, and sweat. It can look like small breakouts and clogged pores in the area.

6) Boils (bigger, painful lumps)

If it’s a deeper lump, hot to touch, painful, or growing, it may be a boil. Do not squeeze. If it’s not improving, or you keep getting them, that’s GP territory.

7) Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) (recurring painful lumps)

Less common, but important. If you get repeated painful lumps in folds (groin, underarms, bum) and it keeps coming back, sometimes with leaking or scarring, get checked.

8) Contact dermatitis (irritation or allergy)

If the skin is red, sore, patchy, or flaring after certain products, it could be irritation from:

• fragranced body wash
• laundry detergent
• fabric softener
• scented wipes
• harsh scrubs

Quick self-check (to point you in the right direction)

• Itchy bumps after sweating, tight clothing, shaving -> folliculitis or fungal folliculitis
• Tiny rough bumps, mainly texture -> KP
• Single angry bump with trapped hair -> ingrown
• Bumps after tight gym sets or long sitting -> acne mechanica
• Big painful lump, hot, swelling -> possible boil
• Recurring painful lumps, scarring, leaking -> ask a GP about HS
• Patchy irritation after products -> contact dermatitis

What actually helps (simple routine)

Step 1: Fix the sweat + friction loop

This makes the biggest difference.

• Change out of sweaty clothes fast
• Shower after workouts
• Avoid sitting in damp clothes
• Choose breathable underwear
• If leggings are super tight and you flare every time, rotate in looser options sometimes

Step 2: Cleanse properly (but don’t strip your skin)

• If you think it’s folliculitis or friction breakouts, a body wash with an active ingredient can help
• If you think it’s KP or irritation, stick to a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser

Start slow. If your skin gets dry or stingy, scale back.

Step 3: Exfoliate the right way (no harsh scrubs)

• For KP texture: chemical exfoliation + moisturising usually works best (look for ingredients like lactic acid, urea, or salicylic acid)
• For inflamed bumps: skip gritty scrubs, they can make it worse

Step 4: Moisturise (yes, your bum wants it)

Dry skin + friction = more irritation. A simple fragrance-free moisturiser helps the barrier recover.

Step 5: Hair removal tweaks (big one)

If shaving triggers bumps:

• Use a fresh, clean razor
• Shave with the direction of hair growth
• Use a gentle shaving gel
• Avoid tight clothing straight after shaving

If you wax and you always flare after, you’re not imagining it. Some skin just reacts.

Step 6: Don’t pick

Picking makes bumps last longer and increases the chance of dark marks and scarring.

What about the dark marks after the bumps?

Totally normal, especially on melanin-rich skin. The key is:

• First calm the bumps (otherwise marks keep forming)
• Then focus on brightening gently

Helpful habits:

• No picking
• Gentle exfoliation (once inflammation is down)
• Consistent moisturising
• Sun protection if the area is exposed on holiday (sun can deepen marks)

When to see a GP (don’t wait it out)

Get medical advice if:

• It’s very painful, hot, rapidly swelling
• You feel unwell or have a fever
• It’s spreading
• You have repeated boils
• You suspect HS
• It hasn’t improved after 2 to 3 weeks of sensible care
• You’re pregnant, immunocompromised, or have diabetes (extra caution)

Where laser hair removal fits (and when it doesn’t)

Laser is not a treatment for active infection or inflamed broken skin. If you have sore bumps, open skin, or anything that looks infected, you should wait until it settles.

But if your bumps are mainly driven by:

• ingrown hairs
• shaving irritation
• repeated follicle flare-ups from hair removal

Reducing hair growth can help reduce that cycle over time for some people.

At Laser Me Out, we start with a consultation and patch test so we can check the skin properly and keep it safe.

Quick FAQs

Is it normal?
Yep. Super common, and nothing to be embarrassed about.

Is it always acne?
Not usually. A lot of “bum spots” are folliculitis, ingrowns, KP (texture bumps), or irritation from friction.

What’s the fastest way to calm it?
Reduce friction and sweat first (change out of gym clothes fast, shower after workouts). Keep cleansing gentle, moisturise, and do not pick.

Can shaving make it worse?
Yes. Shaving can trigger irritation and ingrowns. If you shave, use a fresh razor, shave with the grain, and avoid tight clothing right after.

When should I see a GP?
If it’s very painful, hot, spreading, leaking, you feel unwell, you keep getting lumps/boils, or it hasn’t improved after 2 to 3 weeks.

If you’re getting bumps around the bikini line or bum mostly because of shaving and ingrowns, laser can help reduce that cycle over time (once the skin is calm and suitable).

If you want, book in for a consultation and patch test at Laser Me Out and we’ll check your skin properly, talk through the best plan for you, and keep it safe from the start.