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Eczema can show up all over the body, and your rear end is no exception. For MyEczemaTeam members who often experience flare-ups in this area, it can feel “disheartening, frustrating, and challenging,” as one member described it.
Eczema doesn’t commonly affect the buttocks. Adults and adolescents usually get eczema behind the knees, inside the elbows, and on the back of the neck. People often have symptoms like itchy skin on their hands and feet as well. Whether it’s your first rash on your buttocks or not, irritated skin can feel unbearable without proper care.
There’s currently no cure for eczema, but there are steps you can take to manage your rash and itchiness. It may help to follow a consistent skin care routine, using topical eczema medications and other treatments prescribed by your healthcare provider or dermatologist, and eat a healthy diet. Minimizing triggers can also help prevent future outbreaks.
Eczema flares can appear at any time and anywhere on the body. Certain types of eczema appear more often on the lower half of your body, including the buttocks.
Perianal dermatitis (or perianal eczema) can involve itchy, burning, and oozing skin lesions in this delicate area. It’s typically caused by irritants like stool, sweat, or discharge trapped in a moist area. Symptoms, like discomfort and itchiness, often become worse due to scratching and increased attention in the area.
Here are four forms of eczema that affect the buttocks and their causes.
People with irritant-toxic perianal dermatitis commonly develop discolored patches and blisters on the skin of the buttocks. Patches may appear red or pink on people with light skin and purple or brown on people with darker skin tones.
Irritant-toxic perianal dermatitis happens when irritants like feces come into contact with the skin. It can also occur due to things like excessive wiping with toilet paper or wearing tight clothing. Another potential cause is irritation from detergents and cosmetics, but this is less common.
The second type of perianal eczema is atopic dermatitis (the most common subtype of eczema). Atopic dermatitis can occur anywhere on the body, and it might affect the skin on the buttocks.
In this scenario, the skin’s protective barrier doesn’t work well. This is because reduced levels of proteins in the skin barrier limit its ability to protect itself. Irritants and allergens can then cause irritation due to the weakened skin barrier. Genetic and environmental factors may increase the risk and severity of atopic perianal eczema, such as having a family history of atopic dermatitis or food allergies.
Another type of perianal eczema is allergic contact dermatitis. As with atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis can happen on the skin on other parts of the body. It’s called perianal allergic contact dermatitis when it affects the buttocks.
This type of eczema happens when your skin has an allergic reaction to an irritating product or material. Ingredients from various products like soaps, lotions, toilet paper, wet wipes, or hygiene sprays may cause this skin reaction, usually within 48 hours.
Another possible cause of an eczema rash on the butt is seborrheic dermatitis. Like other types of perianal eczema, seborrheic dermatitis can present on many different areas of the body. Seborrheic dermatitis may also affect the skin of the buttocks or groin, but these are less common.
The exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis isn’t known. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it seems to be linked to sebum (skin oil) and yeast living on the skin. Some people may be more likely to develop this kind of eczema, though everyone’s skin has sebum and yeast. Certain conditions may increase your risk of seborrheic dermatitis, including Parkinson's disease and HIV infection.
Like any eczema flare, symptoms depend on the type of eczema on the buttocks. Common symptoms of eczema on the buttocks can include skin discoloration, itching, dryness, and small, raised bumps or patches. In more severe cases, the skin might become cracked, swollen, and even painful.
Irritant-toxic perianal dermatitis is the most common type of perianal dermatitis. It’s also the most likely to be asymptomatic (without symptoms). When there are symptoms, it’s usually a red or purple rash with inflammation on the buttocks and potentially around the inner and upper thighs.
This type of perianal eczema also causes skin discoloration that often spreads to the scrotum or the inner folds of the vagina. People may also experience fissures (small tears in the skin) and scratch-mark scars. Over time, skin may become thick with a leathery texture.
Perianal allergic contact dermatitis causes splotches of discolored patches on the buttocks where the skin was exposed to an allergen.
Symptoms can flare up without warning. A member of MyEczemaTeam described days when they would unexpectedly wake up to bumpy and itchy patches of skin on their buttocks.
This kind of dermatitis causes a dry, scaly rash that often appears on oily parts of the body, such as the sides of the nose and the scalp. Seborrheic dermatitis may appear differently depending on your age and skin tone. It often causes symptoms like burning and itchiness.
People with eczema rashes on their buttocks have said that it’s one area that’s hard to ignore. “I wish there was a cure. My butt cheeks feel tight, dry, itchy, and burning, which makes sitting uncomfortable,” describes a MyEczemaTeam member.
Eczema on the buttocks can happen only in that area, or it can be part of a larger flare-up all over the body. In addition to having eczema on the buttocks, members of MyEczemaTeam have said they experience rashes on their legs and thighs and behind their knees. For this reason, one member talked about avoiding shorts and skirts because they feel embarrassed by the rash and scabs on their rear and surrounding areas.
If you notice symptoms like dry skin and itching on your buttocks, make an appointment with a dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in treating the skin). They can help you understand whether it’s eczema or a different skin condition. Depending on the cause of your symptoms, topical treatments (medications applied directly to the skin) may help.
Sometimes, the discomfort of eczema on the buttocks can be eased by making certain lifestyle changes. One MyEczemaTeam member, for example, discovered with the help of a specialist that their perianal eczema flare-ups always coincided with their menstrual cycle.
There’s no way to completely prevent eczema on your rear end. But here are some steps you can take to help minimize your pain and discomfort.
There’s research on treating eczema rashes, but not much has focused specifically on eczema on the buttocks. One science-backed treatment for anal eczema is similar to eczema management in general — adjusting your bathroom habits. The main focus is to use gentle, fragrance-free alternatives for your soaps and cleansers.
You may also want to consider taking baths instead of showers. Several MyEczemaTeam members have discussed using a variety of gentle soaps like goat milk soap, Dove soap for sensitive skin, and oatmeal bar soaps. As always, it’s important to check in with your dermatologist. They may have their own soap recommendations for your unique skin situation.
Harsh rubbing around the perianal area with soap or wiping with rough toilet paper is another irritant to the skin and a potential contributor to an eczema flare-up. Unscented baby wipes or soft wet washcloths are recommended to clean the region. Dry off by dabbing gently with cotton balls or a soft cloth.
According to the American College of Dermatology, rinsing off with cool or lukewarm water can help to get rid of trapped sweat. Consider dialing down the water temperature on a hot day or after you’ve finished exercising. Rinsing sweat and bacteria from your skin and perianal area can help reduce possible irritation. After a bath or shower, experts recommend using a fragrance-free moisturizer to help prevent dry skin.
Tight clothing and materials like nylon and polyester make it easy for moisture to stay trapped in the genital and anal areas. They can also cause friction that irritates the skin.
Cotton underwear is breathable and helps keep the skin dry. Breathable underwear is especially important in the summertime. This is because sweat can further bother the skin on your buttocks. Another clothing recommendation: don’t wear pantyhose. They can lock in sweat and moisture around the buttocks.
Several MyEczemaTeam members also recommend investing in a good pair of cotton sheets to avoid further itching from eczema in general.
Over-the-counter medications like antihistamines and hydrocortisone may help curb the itching from irritated skin on your buttocks. Though antihistamines don’t treat the cause of eczema, they might help you get a good night’s sleep if itching keeps you up at night. The most common prescription medications for eczema, and your best options for treating itchy rashes in that area, are topical corticosteroids (steroids).
Topical steroids help decrease skin inflammation and relieve itching. This gives your skin a chance to recover. Make sure to follow your dermatologist’s instructions — including how much and how long to apply it — when using steroid cream. The strength of steroid creams ranges from mild to very potent. According to the National Eczema Association, body areas that frequently rub together, like the skin between the buttocks, absorb more of the topical steroid than other areas of the body. This extra absorption increases the risk of medication side effects, such as skin thinning.
Good alternatives for topical steroids are topical immunomodulators (medications that modify the immune system). These may be more suitable for long-term use.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several types of immunomodulators to treat eczema, including calcineurin inhibitors, JAK inhibitors, biologics, and PDE4 inhibitors. These medications work by calming the immune response in the skin and reducing inflammation. They target specific parts of the immune system to help reduce unwanted side effects. Systemic treatments are typically used when topical treatments are not effective or tolerated.
Managing eczema on the buttocks includes knowing your triggers, practicing good hygiene habits, and using the right treatments. By taking care of eczema through skin care routines and medical advice, you can ease discomfort, promote healing, and keep your skin healthier.
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Do you get eczema outbreaks on your buttocks? If so, how do you manage it? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.
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A MyEczemaTeam Member
Hate the most.. can't sit onn anything..