Small Red Bumps On Your Body? Possible Causes, When to Worry

Oliver Campbell October 1, 2022

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In the case of small purple bumps bobbing up in your physique, there are various doable culprits. In case you’ve been recognized with a sure medical situation, akin to psoriasis or eczema, you might already know what’s inflicting the purple bumps or rash in your pores and skin. In case you have pimples, you’re in all probability all too conscious of that, too.

However there are different causes that you could have some small purple bumps in your physique, and you might not even know what they’re.

“A lot relies on the distribution,” says Amy Kassouf, MD, a dermatologist with the Cleveland Clinic. “In case you’ve obtained all-over little purple bumps, it’s going to be very totally different from only one or two.”

Plus, you must think about the situation of the bumps, in addition to components like itchiness and ache. That data might help your physician decide the almost certainly trigger—in addition to suggest remedy (if wanted).

Potential Causes for Purple Bumps

What are you able to blame to your small purple bumps? Right here’s a partial record of doable candidates:

Insect bites

“Within the summertime particularly, the very first thing that you just’re going to consider is bug bites,” says Dr. Kassouf.

Relying on the place you’ve been, your purple bumps could the work of:

Mosquitoes
Chiggers
Sand flies
Ants
Fleas

One other doable insect accountable: Mattress bugs. “In case you’re touring in the summertime and also you come residence out of your journey, and all of the sudden these bumps begin arising, you could have introduced extra residence out of your summer season trip than simply your photos,” says Suzanne Friedler, MD, a dermatologist with Superior Dermatology PC in New York Metropolis.

Contact dermatitis

In case you’ve ever developed a sequence of purple bumps or a rash after coming into contact with a selected substance, you’ve skilled the discomfort of contact dermatitis. Some folks develop this type of allergic response after coming into direct contact with sure cosmetics, fragrances, jewellery or crops, in keeping with the Mayo Clinic.

An enormous one on this class is poison ivy—or related crops like poison oak and poison sumac that may trigger a rash to flare up. When your pores and skin comes into contact with a substance known as urushiol within the poison ivy, it could develop a purple, blistery rash. You may usually deal with it at residence, however typically a case of poison ivy can warrant a spherical of prednisone. In case you develop a rash in your face or your genitals, positively see a health care provider, provides Dr. Kassouf.

Rosacea

The precise reason behind rosacea hasn’t been pinpointed, though specialists have theorized that it could have a genetic element or an autoimmune element. Some folks simply develop flushed patches on their faces, however others develop acne-like breakouts. So, for those who’re between the ages of 30 and 50, and also you begin noticing that your cheeks look abnormally flushed otherwise you’re experiencing new breakouts, see your dermatologist.

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Shingles

The varicella-zoster virus causes this viral an infection, which might begin out as a raised purple rash or bumps, often on one facet of the physique. With shingles, you might develop blisters, a tingling or burning space in your pores and skin, in addition to a fever, headache, chills and sensitivity to mild.

“We’ve medicines for it, however they work greatest if it’s caught early,” says Dr. Kassouf. “So, the sooner you get the treatment in your system, the extra treatable the shingles is, and the much less like you might be to have long-term ache from that.”

Keratosis pilaris (KP)

A scattering of rough-feeling purple, white or skin-colored bumps that resemble goosebumps or hen pores and skin may very well be a case of keratosis pilaris. They will seem nearly wherever besides the soles of your ft and the palms of your fingers.

However don’t fear: keratosis pilaris is a harmless condition, and also you don’t even need to deal with it, in keeping with the American Academy of Dermatology. The wrongdoer is often useless pores and skin cells clogging your pores.

Cherry angioma

These little bumps, which can range from mild to darkish purple, are constructed from blood vessels or lymphatic vessels. They have a tendency to develop on the torso, legs and arms—and often extra incessantly after your 30^thbirthday. However because the Cleveland Clinic notes, cherry angiomas are benign, so no must deal with them or fear about them.

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Hidradenitis suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa is an auto-inflammatory situation that may be fairly painful. “It may well begin as pimples bumps that may turn out to be extra like abscesses and boils within the armpit, the groin, below the breast, and in hair-bearing areas,” says Michelle Kerns, MD, a dermatologist with the Cleveland Clinic. It may well’t be cured, however it may be managed with anti-inflammatory medicines, and immediate remedy is vital as a result of it might probably stop scarring from occurring.

Medicine reactions

Generally folks develop a sequence of raised purple bumps, or hives, in response to sure medicines. However you possibly can develop different varieties of rashes as a part of an allergic response to a medicine, too. Based on Johns Hopkins Drugs, drug-related rashes often fall into certainly one of three classes: allergic response to the drugs, a facet impact of a selected drugs or a rash that develops from excessive sensitivity to daylight brought on by that specific drug. Your physician could advise you to cease taking the drug to see if the rash clears up, or they might suggest a corticosteroid or antihistamine. Be careful for facial swelling, as that may typically be an indication of a drug response, in keeping with Dr. Kerns.

Numerous viral infections

Generally, a swath of purple or pink bumps will develop throughout components of your physique as a response to a viral sickness. This is called a viral exanthem rash. These rashes typically–however not all the time–begin on the face and unfold, they usually can seem wherever in your physique. Generally they itch, and typically they don’t. Plenty of viruses may cause the sort of rash, together with enterovirus, coxsackie virus, parvovirus B19, in addition to the viruses that trigger measles, roseola, rubella and chickenpox. Watch out of scratching—you possibly can introduce micro organism.

When to fret

Generally you actually don’t want to fret in any respect about small purple bumps that crop up in your pores and skin, particularly if you already know what they’re and you already know that they’re innocent (see: cherry angiomas and keratosis pilaris).

However for those who’re not completely positive what’s inflicting the bumps, or if sure adjustments happen, that’s a sign to concentrate. Contact your physician for those who discover any of the next:

The affected space is getting greater

In case you discover that the purple bumps or the rash is beginning to unfold and canopy a bigger space, that may very well be a possible signal of an infection. Granted, in some instances, it may simply be an indication that you just’ve gotten bitten by just a few extra hungry bugs, however in different instances, it may very well be extra critical.

The affected space is heat

In case you contact the affected space and it feels very heat to the contact, it may very well be an indication of growing an an infection.

The bumps are oozing or leaking fluid

This is also a possible signal of an infection. For instance, in case your bumps become sores, which then leak fluid after which scab over with a honey-colored crust that may very well be an indication of impetigo. Impetigo is an infectious pores and skin situation brought on by both group A Streptococcus micro organism or Staphylococcus aureus micro organism (or each), and also you’re going to want topical or oral antibiotics to knock it out.

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You’ve developed systemic signs

In case you discover that you just’re working a fever or having chills, that’s not an excellent signal. The identical goes for nausea and vomiting. A majority of these systemic signs may very well be an indication of a response or growing an infection, and you might want further remedy.

A primary method to recollect

On the whole, right here’s an method you possibly can take for those who discover some new purple bumps:

Monitor the scenario

Look ahead to any adjustments to your pores and skin within the affected space. Are the bumps getting worse? Are there extra of them? Is it spreading? Are you growing blisters? Does your pores and skin really feel heat and swollen?

Attempt over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream

It’d clear up the bumps or rash. However even when it doesn’t utterly clear up a rash, that’s helpful data to your physician. “It offers me a clue that that is one thing that’s inflammatory, and if it’s partially responding to the over-the-counter hydrocortisone, odds are that if I give them a stronger prescription steroid, it’s going to have a stronger response,” says Dr. Kerns.

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Look ahead to different signs to develop

Keep in mind all these systemic signs? Don’t ignore these. “These issues are all warning indicators,” says Dr. Kerns.

You principally don’t wish to let one thing that’s getting worse go for too lengthy with out being seen by a doctor. Along with impetigo, bacterial infections like MRSA and cellulitis can develop and trigger critical issues if not handled promptly.

“And if it’s near your face or near your eyes, I might say go instantly,” says Dr. Friedler. “In case you see blistering, I might say go instantly. In case you see that honey-colored crusting, I might go instantly, too.”