Common Causes Of Itchy Red Bumps On Your Skin
After acne, rashes are the second most common skin infection. Although rashes can affect any part of the body, they often affect the legs, arms, and torso.
Like many other infections, the cause of your itchy red skin may be bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic. Although taking over-the-counter treatments can help you eliminate unsightly skin lumps, its usually not so simple. The cause of your itchy red skin has a major role in determining the type of treatment youll take.
Lets dig in! And find out what could be causing your skin to form red itchy bumps.
Whats Causing Your Itchy Skin
Itchy skin, also known as pruritus, is an irritating and uncontrollable sensation that makes you want to scratch to relieve the feeling. The possible causes for itchiness include internal illnesses and skin conditions.
Its important to contact a doctor for itchiness if the cause isnt obvious. They can find the underlying cause and provide treatments for relief.
Several home remedies such as over-the-counter creams and moisturizers work well for itching.
Psoriasis: A Disease Affecting The Growth Cycle Of Skin Cells
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can cause patches of thick, dry skin covered with silvery scales. Known as plaques, these itchy, raised patches can appear anywhere on the body. An estimated 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis, which is thought to occur when a faulty immune system accelerates the growth cycle of skin cells. Up to a third of people with the condition also suffer from psoriatic arthritis, which causes joint pain and swelling. The exact cause of psoriasis is unclear, but genetics play a role. Treatments such as topical creams, light therapy, and medications can help manage psoriasis symptoms.
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Itchy Red Spots On Skin
So, your skin is itchy with bumps? Itchy red spots can happen on your skin for many reasons. When these bumps show up, they can cause unwanted stress or anxiety. Some types of itchy red bumps may resolve spontaneously, while others may require evaluation and management by a board-certified dermatologist. This article lists some of the most common conditions of itchy red bumps and key points to consider.
Is Aloe Vera Good For Itchy Skin
First and foremost, aloe vera has cooling and anti-inflammatory properties. This helps it soothe the skin that it is applied on. It is a great at-home way to soothe rashes and itchy skin. To increase its soothing properties, you can keep aloe vera gel in the fridge and apply it to your face when it is cool.
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How To Treat Heat Rash In Babies And Children
If your child has heat rash, try to keep them cool and dry. Dress them in light cotton clothing and avoid too many layers when you dress them.
You can help to ease the itching with a lukewarm bath, though avoid using soap as this can make the skin irritation worse. You can also press a cool, damp cloth on the spots for relief.
You can talk to your doctor or pharmacist about ways to stop your child scratching, such as by using calamine lotion or corticosteroid cream. This will avoid the spots getting infected.
Change sweaty clothes and wet nappies regularly. Make sure you dry in their skin folds after a bath and avoid using a plastic mattress.
Insect Bites And Stings
Aside from the pain that accompanies bug bites, their bites can also leave itchy red bumps on your skin. Although they can cause discomfort, most insect bites are usually harmless. Not all bites and stings are the same. For example, mosquito bites produce a small red, round, and puffy bump.
Bites from bed bugs are quite different. Compared to mosquitoes and spider bites, bites from bed bugs produce bigger rashes.
Other insects that can produce itchy red bumps on your skin include
If you enjoy spending time outdoors, youre likely to get a bit now and then. The good news is, most bites fade away in 714 days.
The signs of a bug bite show almost immediately. If you notice a bug bite on your skin, quickly wash the area with soap and water.
If the itching is unbearable, you can apply a cold compress to the bite mark. Alternatively, you can apply calamine lotion to relieve the itching.
Top tip: Prevention is always better than cure. If you wake up from sleep with bite marks, you may have a bedbug infestation. I recommend you remove all your beddings, clothes and treat the area with a repellent.
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Common Causes Of Small Red Dots On Skin
Waking up in the morning with mysterious small red dots on the skin can be confusing and frightening. They are usually small and appear on the chest, face, arms, legs, and other body areas. In most cases, these blemishes are harmless and will clear up on their own. However, they can also be a sign of a more serious medical condition, like a blood disease or a skin infection.
Why Do I Get Razor Bumps When I Shave
It can be incredibly frustrating when razor bumps ruin your freshly-shaved look. But, what are they and why do they happen? Razor bumps, also called pseudofolliculitis barbae or ingrown hairs, occur after shaving when the hair curls back and grows into or beneath the skin instead of outward.
Your sharp razor blades cut hair off below the surface of your skin rather than cleanly removing them from their follicles. This leaves an open portal for bacteria to enter which can cause infection leading to inflammation and an itchy red bump along with sloughing of dead skin cells around that same area. When you shave against the grain, this worsens as each follicle gets irritated by being pulled against its natural growing direction as well as by being cut too close to its root – causing more harm overall than good in terms of trapping a new ingrown hair beneath your skins surface.
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Red Bumps Trace Your Steps
Outbreaks of itchy red skin bumps are very common and have many different causes. If youre experiencing outbreaks, there are a couple of things you should consider before talking to a doctor. Having these things in mind will help the doctor make a more accurate diagnosis.
Itchy Red Bumps What is the cause?
Recent Contact?
First of all, you should think about anything unusual youve come into contact with recently. This list can include both natural materials and artificial ones . Then you should check to see if anything on that list stands out to you: maybe you ate a fruit that you dont normally eat, or used a new soap that you just bought. If something jumps out, its likely that you have allergy related hives.
A remote doctor can confirm a case of allergy related hives in just a few minutes . After getting your case diagnosed, you should ask your primary doctor about getting a blood allergy test. The blood allergy test can look at your sensitivity to hundreds of different allergens and give you a full picture of your allergies. You can use that information to avoid outbreaks in the future.
Disease of Infection?
If your rash doesnt seem related to an outside source, the next most likely cause is a disease or infection. Infection related rashes are easy to spot because they normally come with other symptoms. They also usually appear after contact with an infected person.
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Can You Get Petechiae Without Any Reason
First, note that having petechiae is not a disease but a symptom. There is always a reason why you have petechiae. The reasons may be as simple as physical straining or as severe as cancer.
You must find out the leading cause of your petechiae and deal with it accordingly. Finding the root cause will ensure that you have the chance to get rid of them.
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Mosquito Bites Vs Fleabites
Larger itchy bumps are a sign that youve been bitten by a mosquito, not fleas. You might see one bite, or a cluster of several bites.
Female mosquitoes leave these bumps behind when they feed on your blood. Usually, mosquito bites are harmless, but in people with a weakened immune system they can cause symptoms like a fever or headache.
To treat a mosquito bite, wash the area with warm water and soap. If the itch bothers you, hold an ice pack to the bites, take an antihistamine, or rub on an over-the-counter anti-itch medicine.
Mosquitoes can also transmit diseases such as West Nile virus. Using a few preventive measures around your house can help you avoid the itch of mosquito bites, and reduce your risk of getting a more serious infection.
Bedbug Bites Vs Fleabites
Bedbugs are another tiny critter that feeds on human blood. Unlike fleas, bedbugs only come out at night. They hide in mattresses and carpets, and bite humans while theyre sleeping.
Unlike fleabites, which are most commonly found around the feet and ankles, bedbugs bite the upper body. Youll see small dark red spots on areas like your face, neck, arms, and hands. Like fleabites, these spots often pop up in a cluster or line.
Bedbug bites should disappear on their own within a week or two. If they bother you, try using a steroid cream.
Not sure if you have a fleabite or a bedbug bite? See how to tell the difference.
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Treatment For Red Patches On Skin
Treatment for red patches on the skin will vary depending on what the underlying cause of the redness is. For mild cases, natural home care options might be available. Due to this varying causes, it is difficult to offer a general treatment option for red, blotched skin. It is, therefore, important to first diagnose the underlying cause of the redness before you can attempt to get rid of the symptom.
For most cases of skin redness such as eczema, calamine lotion may offer relief for the itching caused by the rash on the skin. If the red skin persists for more than a day, then oral antihistamine may be used. Topical ointments such as anti-itching creams and anti-inflammatories may also be used. For fungal or bacterial infection causing the red patches on the skin, antifungal and antibacterial creams or gel may help in treating the conditions respectively.
As mentioned, the red skin could also be caused by anxiety or high-stress level. If this is the case, then treating the condition will involve adopting relaxation techniques such as slow breathing and other activities such as yoga and meditation.
Aloe Vera a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory may get rid of the redness on the skin by taking down the inflammation and cooling the skin. You will also need to:
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How Long Will It Take To Get Rid Of Perioral Dermatitis
Expect gradual improvement. This rash tends to clear slowly. It may take a few weeks or a few months to clear completely.
If youre having trouble getting rid of a rash, you can find a board-certified dermatologist by going to: Find a dermatologist.
ImagesImage 1: Used with permission of the American Academy of Dermatology National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides.
Image 2: Getty Images
ReferencesChamlin SL and Lawley LP. Perioral dermatitis. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatricks dermatology in general medicine . McGraw Hill Medical, USA, 2008:709-12.
Nguyen V and Eichenfield LF. Periorificial dermatitis in children and adolescents. J Am Acad Dermatol 2006 55:781-5.
RodrÃguez-MartÃn M, Sáez-RodrÃguez M, et al. Case letters: Treatment of perioral dermatitis with topical pimecrolimus. J Am Acad Dermatol 2007 56:529-30.
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When To Consult A Doctor
You should consult your doctor if the tiny pinprick red dots dont go away after a few days. Some causes are serious that the doctor has to treat immediately. Delaying consultation may result in heart problems, infections, and damage to your internal organs
When these symptoms appear, you should go to the nearest health facility within your area:
You could consult a hematologist, an oncologist, or a dermatologist depending on your other symptoms.
Common Causes Of Itchy Red Bumps On Skin
The skin is the largest human organ. In fact, it accounts for about 15% of all our body weight. Whats more? Its our first line of defense against infection. Our skin also acts as a shield against microbes and harmful pathogens lurking in the outer environment.
Unfortunately, when infections make it through the outer barrier, the skin is also one of the most affected organs. Most times, when our skin is irritated, it appears as red itchy skin bumps.
However, having itchy red bumps may not be a symptom of an underlying infection in some cases. Most times, your itchy red bumps may be a nasty mosquito bite.
Regardless of the cause of the red bumps on your skin, having these discolorations and inflammation can make you look sick and affect your self-confidence too!
Once a part of your skin becomes swollen, reddened, or irritated, your skin is reacting to something it cant handle.
Unfortunately, a rash is not a specific diagnosis. Rather, it can result from infections, allergies, or something more serious like skin cancer.
More so, skin rashes vary in appearance, depending on their source. While some skin bumps may be hard and firm, others may be soft and moveable. Additionally, the size of skin bumps can also vary. Some may appear small and pimple-like, while others may be as large as boils. Fortunately, whether your skin bump is large, small, irregular, or itchy, its probably harmless.
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Here Are Some Other Common Types Of Rashes:
- Eczema , also called atopic dermatitis, is a common rash for kids. Eczema can cause dry, chapped, bumpy areas around the elbows and knees or more serious cases of red, scaly, and swollen skin all over the body.
- Irritant contact dermatitis is caused by skin contact with something irritating, such as a chemical, soap, or detergent. It can be red, swollen, and itchy. Even sunburn can be a kind of irritant dermatitis because itâs red and might itch while itâs healing.
- Allergic contact dermatitis is a rash caused by contact with an allergen . An allergen is something you are allergic to, such as rubber, hair dye, or nickel, a metal found in some jewelry. If you have nickel allergy, you might get a red, scaly, crusty rash wherever the jewelry touched the skin, like around your finger if you were wearing a ring. Urushiol , an oil or resin contained in poison ivy, oak, and sumac, also can cause this kind of rash.
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Rubella: Small Red Spots All Over The Skin
Another viral skin rash that affects children and young adults is rubella, or German measles. Rubella causes a rash of red skin spots that spreads like chickenpox from the face down. The skin rash can be itchy. Other symptoms include sore throat, fever, swollen glands, headache, and runny nose. There is a vaccine for rubella, and the Centers for Disease Control note that the virus has been eliminated from the United States, but it is still common in other countries. Rubella can be very dangerous for pregnant women because it can cause birth defects. Treatment includes rest and acetaminophen to relieve discomfort.
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When Should I See My Doctor
If the area becomes infected, you or your child may need antibiotics. See your doctor if:
- the blisters fill with pus
- the area is getting red and swollen, or feels warm
- the rash lasts more than 3 days
- you or your child are unwell or have a fever
- you or your child have swollen lymph nodes
Why Does My Skin Become Irritated After Shaving
Shaving can be a necessary part of daily hygiene, but your skin may not always agree with your choice to shave. Its very common for your skin to become irritated after shaving due to contact with razor blades and soaps, bacteria and other irritants. Razor burn is one of the most common types of irritation after shaving, and it can cause red bumps or rashes that can be uncomfortable or even painful.
If you often experience skin irritation after shaving, there are some measures you can take to prevent this discomfort. The most important factor in preventing razor burn is preparation: Properly cleansing the area you plan on shaving before doing so removes excess oils that could clog your razor blades and lead to further irritation. Use a product specifically designed for pre-shaving like an exfoliating scrub these types of cleansers open up pores on the face and make for a smoother shave. Additionally, using cold water during the shaving process helps keep the skin from getting inflamedwarm water can cause tiny cuts in the face from more aggressive razor strokes when it relaxes hair follicles too much.
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Causes Of Rashes In Children
Children are particularly prone to rashes that develop as a result of illnesses:
- Chickenpox is caused by a virus, and the rash is characterized by small itchy bumps and blisters that form all over the body.
- Measles is a viral respiratory infection that causes a widespread rash consisting of itchy, red bumps.
- Scarlet fever is an infection due to group A Streptococcus bacteria that produces a toxin, causing a bright red or skin-tone-colored, sandpaper-like rash.
- Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a viral infection that can cause red lesions on the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet.
- Fifth disease is a viral infection that causes a red, flat rash on the torso, arms, and legs.
- Kawasaki disease is a rare but serious illness that triggers a rash and fever in the early stages and can lead to heart complications.
- Impetigo is a contagious bacterial infection that causes an itchy, crusty rash and yellow, fluid-filled sores on the affected area, such as the face, neck, or hands.
You can treat most contact rashes, but it depends on the cause. Follow these guidelines to help ease discomfort and speed up the healing process: