Red dots upper arm

Bumps on Arms: Causes, Treatment, and More

Whenever you encounter unfamiliar bumps on your skin, it can be stressful. You might ask yourself questions such as: “Are the bumps dangerous? Will they go away? What caused these bumps to begin with?”

Bumps on the arms are pretty common. Unless they gradually change or get larger over time, they are usually harmless.

Most bumps on the arms are caused by a condition called keratosis pilaris. There are other possible causes as well, ranging from inflammatory skin conditions to irritation, such as folliculitis.

Because of the wide range of possible causes, you shouldn’t self-diagnose bumps on your arms. However, you can use the information below to start investigating the underlying causes, which you can then discuss further with a dermatologist or doctor.

Keratosis pilaris, commonly known as chicken skin, is the most common cause of bumps on your arms.

This condition is characterized by small red or brown bumps that develop on the backs of your upper arms. They may also occur on the backs of your thighs and the buttocks.

While keratosis pilaris can be frustrating, it isn’t harmful.

Like acne, the bumps develop when dead skin cells get trapped in your pores. Some, but not all, of the bumps may have pimple-like heads. However, most keratosis pilaris bumps on the arms are small and flat.

What makes keratosis pilaris difficult to prevent entirely is the fact that it can be hereditary.

However, since the bumps are linked to the buildup of dead skin cells, you can help treat them and prevent others from forming with regular exfoliation. Dermabrasion and chemical peels from a dermatologist can also help in more severe cases.

Dry, less humid times of the year can contribute to the development of these bumps. Regular exfoliation can still help, along with keeping your skin hydrated with lotion. While the bumps may feel dry and rough to the touch, keratosis pilaris is not itchy most of the time.

Genetics aside, you may be at risk for keratosis pilaris bumps if you have one or more of the following:

eczema
dry skin
ichthyosis vulgaris, or dead skin cell buildup
allergies and hay fever
a history of skin cancer
obesity

Keratosis pilaris also occurs more often in females, as well as teens and young adults.

Keratosis pilaris is the most common cause of arm bumps, but it isn’t the only possible cause.

It isn’t usually itchy, but some other types of arm bumps can be. If the bumps on your arms are itchy, then consider the possible causes below.

Itchy causes

Some bumps on the arms can be itchy, in part because of inflammation and irritation in the skin. Possible causes of itchy bumps that may develop on the arms include:

Eczema. This inflammatory skin condition can cause a red itchy rash that may be raised in some areas.
Hives. These are red bumps that develop from an allergic reaction.
Folliculitis. In folliculitis, inflamed hair follicles cause multiple bumps on the skin.
Heat rash. Heat rash is caused by excessive heat and results in clogged sweat in your pores.
Psoriasis. Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition in which excessive skin cell growth leads to notable red to silvery skin patches.

Non-itchy causes

In addition to keratosis pilaris, another typically non-itchy cause of bumps on the arms is acne.

Pimples on the arms can develop when your pores get clogged with:

dead skin cells
bacteria
dirt
oil

Skin cancers may or may not cause itchiness. This cause of arm bumps is rare, but prompt diagnosis is important in preventing the tumors from spreading.

Knowing what keratosis pilaris looks like can help you determine whether your arm bumps are related to it or to another common condition.

A doctor can also diagnose the bumps on your arms with a physical exam. Since there are numerous possible causes of skin bumps, it’s important to get the correct diagnosis so you can properly treat them.

In some cases, you may be referred to a dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment. This is especially true if your primary care doctor suspects an inflammatory skin condition, such as eczema or psoriasis.

If the cause of your arm bumps isn’t quite clear, a dermatologist may conduct a biopsy. Especially useful in ruling out skin cancers, a biopsy involves scraping off a small amount of the skin bump and studying it under a microscope.

As mentioned above, keratosis pilaris is treatable with regular exfoliation as well as deeper exfoliating treatments, such as dermabrasion. In severe cases, a dermatologist may prescribe a retinol cream to help clear up the bumps.

Exfoliation

Exfoliating can help other causes of arm bumps, too. This process helps remove dead skin cells from the top layer of skin so they don’t get trapped in your pores.

To that end, exfoliation techniques may be helpful for acne, psoriasis, and dead skin cell buildup. You can use a washcloth or loofah alternative to gently exfoliate.

Be careful not to scrub. This can cause irritation and possibly even more bumps to form.

The best loofah alternatives

Read our recommendations to find the right loofah alternative for you.

Medications

Other treatments for bumps on your arms depend on the underlying causes. Exfoliation can irritate eczema, folliculitis, and heat rash. Plus, this process won’t get rid of more serious bumps, such as skin cancers.

Inflammatory skin diseases may be treated with topical creams to help soothe the inflammation and prevent more bumps from occurring.

Over-the-counter (OTC) creams with oatmeal or hydrocortisone can help soothe itchy skin bumps and provide some relief. If your skin doesn’t improve, you may need a prescription ointment.

If a healthcare professional suspects that allergies are contributing to your skin bumps, you may need to take an antihistamine. Skin reactions to allergens can take some time to clear up, but treatment and prevention will help take care of the related skin bumps.

While it’s tempting to self-diagnose arm bumps, it’s always a good idea to reach out to a doctor for confirmation. You should also contact a doctor if the bumps worsen or change in shape or size.

If you don’t already have a dermatologist, the Healthline FindCare tool can help you locate a physician in your area. Make an appointment if you start to see any signs of infection.

Symptoms of a skin infection include:

increased inflammation
oozing
pus from the bumps

Bumps on the arms can be discomforting, but they’re an extremely common phenomenon. In most cases, keratosis pilaris (chicken skin) is to blame, and it can be cleared up with regular exfoliation.

Other causes of arm bumps may require a doctor’s visit and medical treatment. When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to reach out to your doctor.

Keratosis pilaris - NHS

Keratosis pilaris is a very common harmless condition where small bumps appear on your skin. It can last for a long time, but there are treatments that may improve your skin.

Check if you have keratosis pilaris

Symptoms of keratosis pilaris may include:

Dry rough skin.

Credit:

Alamy Stock Photo https://www.alamy.com/the-arm-of-a-patient-with-keratosis-pilaris-image9151209.html?pv=1&stamp=2&imageid=573F9FF5-45CE-4E98-9838-D212A7D2FD62&p=4274&n=0&orientation=0&pn=1&searchtype=0&IsFromSearch=1&srch=foo%3dbar%26st%3d0%26pn%3d1%26ps%3d100%26sortby%3d2%26resultview%3dsortbyPopular%26npgs%3d0%26qt%3dARCWJA%26qt_raw%3dARCWJA%26lic%3d3%26mr%3d0%26pr%3d0%26ot%3d0%26creative%3d%26ag%3d0%26hc%3d0%26pc%3d%26blackwhite%3d%26cutout%3d%26tbar%3d1%26et%3d0x000000000000000000000%26vp%3d0%26loc%3d0%26imgt%3d0%26dtfr%3d%26dtto%3d%26size%3d0xFF%26archive%3d1%26groupid%3d%26pseudoid%3d195878%26a%3d%26cdid%3d%26cdsrt%3d%26name%3d%26qn%3d%26apalib%3d%26apalic%3d%26lightbox%3d%26gname%3d%26gtype%3d%26xstx%3d0%26simid%3d%26saveQry%3d%26editorial%3d1%26nu%3d%26t%3d%26edoptin%3d%26customgeoip%3d%26cap%3d1%26cbstore%3d1%26vd%3d0%26lb%3d%26fi%3d2%26edrf%3d0%26ispremium%3d1%26flip%3d0%26pl%3d

Small, painless bumps on your skin.

Credit:

CID/ISM/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/482073/view

You usually get patches of small bumps on your arms, thighs or bottom, but they can appear in other places.

The bumps are usually the colour of your skin. They can also be red on white skin or brownish-black on darker skin.

The skin can sometimes feel itchy, and may be better in summer and worse in winter.

Keratosis pilaris can affect people of any age. If your child has a rash and you're not sure it's keratosis pilaris, see more about rashes in babies and children.

Things you can do yourself to help

Most people with keratosis pilaris have it for years, and it may eventually clear up by itself.

Until it does, there are things you can do to help improve the appearance of your skin.

Do

moisturise your skin – ask a pharmacist what's most suitable for you
use mild and unperfumed soaps and bathing products
gently scrub your skin with a washcloth or exfoliating mitt
have cool or lukewarm showers and baths
pat your skin dry instead of rubbing it after washing

Don’t

do not use perfumed soaps or bathing products that can dry out your skin
do not use harsh scrubs on your skin – this can make it worse
do not have hot baths or showers
do not scratch, pick or rub your skin

A pharmacist can help with keratosis pilaris

Speak to a pharmacist if:

things you try yourself are not helping your keratosis pilaris and the condition is bothering you
your skin becomes itchy or inflamed
you're not sure if you need to see a GP

They can recommend creams or lotion to help your skin. They can also tell you whether you need to see a GP.

Specialist treatments

Specialist treatments for keratosis pilaris include steroid creams and laser treatments.

These types of treatments are not usually available on the NHS and can be expensive to pay for privately. While they may help relieve symptoms in some cases, they do not cure keratosis pilaris, so symptoms can come back after a course of treatment.

Causes

Keratosis pilaris happens when your hair follicles become blocked with a build-up of keratin, a substance found in skin, hair and nails.

Nobody knows exactly why keratin builds up, but the condition is thought to run in families. So if your parents have it, you may get it, too.

Keratosis pilaris is not infectious, so you cannot spread or catch it.

Page last reviewed: 25 June 2021
Next review due: 25 June 2024

Why do red dots appear on the body? – Family consultation

Small red dots on the body can be both neoplasms and the result of skin damage. Let's see how dangerous it is and when you need to see a doctor immediately.

HEMANGIOMA AND MICROHEMATOMA

Small red dots on the body may occur after skin injury. For example, such superficial capillary injuries are often obtained during epilation. If the skin is strongly affected, then the surface of small vessels located close to the surface is injured. And outside there is a small bruise due to the fact that the blood goes into the subcutaneous fat layer. Such points are also called microhematomas. If you did epilation with a novice master, then there may be quite a lot of them.

Small hematomas may appear in other places. Outwardly, these red dots on the body look like moles. If you see a cluster of dots, or if they appear periodically without being tied to any procedures, then this may be due to increased fragility of the vessels. Usually it occurs due to a lack of vitamin C and K in the body. If any injuries, strong friction of the skin against tissue cause such “redness”, then this is most likely the reason. You will need to undergo the necessary tests and drink the course of vitamins recommended by the doctor.

As for hemangiomas, these are benign vascular tumors. Their features are as follows:

They can be up to several centimeters in diameter.
If we are talking about dilated capillaries that provoked the disease, then the hemangioma is called capillary.
But cavernous hemangiomas can often occur on the face and trunk. These are large cavities filled with blood, they look like swelling and can cause significant discomfort and change appearance.
Hemangiomas can appear at any age, even in infants.

Here you can't expect the tumor to go away on its own. Be sure to consult a doctor, and he will help you choose the treatment.

RED DOTS WITH VASCULAR BRANCHES AND IN THE FORM OF SMALL RASHES

There are other reasons for the appearance of such skin imperfections:

Red dots on the body can be spider veins and occupy a fairly large area. In this case, you should also not postpone a visit to the doctor. The fact is that such reddening in the form of capillary branches may indicate the development of dangerous diseases - cirrhosis of the liver and viral hepatitis.
If we are talking about red dots resembling small rashes on the chest and back, then most likely the person has problems with the pancreas. Interestingly, when pressed, they do not disappear. Also, their number may increase or decrease.
Often these rashes can be the result of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatism. Then they do not resemble bruising, but rather a skin allergy. By the way, allergies can also lead to the appearance of red dots on the body, and in this case they will have different localization. It is easiest to distinguish an allergic disease by the presence of itching, but a doctor's consultation does not fit here either.

We think that we have answered your question “Red dots on the body - what is it?”. If you still have doubts about your own health, you can always come to us for a consultation. Also, do not forget that a person needs to maintain health with proper nutrition and vitamins. For example, a lot of vitamin C is found in cauliflower and green peas, parsley, tomatoes and apples. And chicken eggs, spinach and broccoli are rich in vitamin K. Together, both of these vitamins “work” to strengthen blood vessels and strengthen immunity.

Why do red dots and spots appear on the body and what do they mean | 74.ru

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All news , but may indicate diseases that require immediate treatment. How to understand the nature of the appearance of red dots and whether they need to be treated - our colleagues from Wday.ru figured out together with the surgeon, candidate of medical sciences Valery Guryanov.

The reasons for the appearance of points can be different. For example, these skin formations may appear due to microtrauma received during epilation. The thing is that when exposed to the skin, the capillary walls are damaged, the blood goes into the subcutaneous fat layer and a microhematoma is formed . A lack of vitamins such as C and K can also cause vascular fragility and lead to the formation of small red dots on the body. The number of points will increase from any falls or, for example, skin rubbing against fabric.

If you notice dots on your body, consult a doctor, because they can be hemangiomas , that is, vascular benign tumors. They come in different diameters - from a few millimeters to several centimeters.

— Hemangioma is a congenital formation. It begins to actively manifest itself in a child during the first year of life. Often doctors intimidate patients with this diagnosis, - explains the surgeon, candidate of medical sciences Valery Guryanov. - Many people think that hemangioma is a tumor that can develop into oncology. On the Internet, you can read various horror stories about the failure of the functioning of organs and the urgent need to be operated on. But there is no need to rush. Yes, it is a tumor, but benign.

According to the expert, such a tumor cannot become malignant. The surgeon says it's a pretty innocent vascular lesion that can appear anywhere. Including in the spine, especially in the thoracic and cervical regions. Most people over 40 will have at least one hemangioma. On the tomogram, it is visible as a white spot. There is nothing to do with this formation, only to observe.

- I advise you to do an MRI once a year. Currently, conservative treatment is used. There are a number of drugs and ointments, after which everything disappears, explains Guryanov.

According to the surgeon, you need to worry when the hemangioma increases in size, bleeds and becomes inflamed.

If you notice that small dots appear on the body that have capillary ramifications, this may be a sign of viral hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver. In this case, you need to urgently consult a doctor.

Also, diseases of the pancreas can be the cause of the rash of red dots on the body. More often, formations appear on the back, chest and abdomen. When pressed, they do not disappear. Such points also require expert advice.

Imagine that the cause is identified. Now you need to fix this defect. The method of treatment will directly depend on the nature of the origin. For example, if the points are due to external influences on the skin, you must first of all try to avoid further injury.

If the reason lies in the deficiency of vitamins, start taking vitamin complexes. In addition, eat foods rich in these organic compounds. For example, vitamin C is found in rose hips, cauliflower, green peas, orange, mountain ash, parsley, wild garlic, garlic, apples, tomatoes, kiwi. Vitamin K can be obtained from foods such as green kale, spinach, broccoli, beans, chicken eggs, cucumbers, and veal.

Did a hemangioma cause the appearance of red dots on the body? Simple tumors are treated with X-ray irradiation, surgical excision, and cauterization of the skin with carbon dioxide.

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Lisa Barskaya

Medializes on the body