What Is The Cause Of Itchy Red Bumps On Skin – Medically reviewed by Joanne Paul, MD, MPH, DTMH, Dermatology — By Jamie Esk — Updated September 10, 2023

A person may notice spots on their skin for various reasons ranging from heat exposure to infectious diseases. Depending on the skin color, the dots may be red, skin-colored, gray, or darker than the person’s skin.

What Is The Cause Of Itchy Red Bumps On Skin

Many causes of spots on the skin are harmless and resolve on their own. Others may require home or over-the-counter (OTC) treatment.

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In this article, we will discuss some of the possible causes of spots on the skin, their treatment options, and when to contact a doctor.

Heat rash, or miliaria, is a disorder involving skin vesicles, papules, and pustules. It occurs when the sweat glands become blocked, trapping sweat in the deeper layers of the skin.

Treatment usually involves using lotions to soothe itching, irritation, and swelling. Heat rash usually goes inwards

Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a common skin condition that causes small red, white, or flesh-colored rashes on the skin.

Itchy Red Bumps On Skin

It often affects the upper arms and outer thighs. It can also affect the arms and upper back, but is less common.

Contact dermatitis occurs when a person comes into contact with a substance that irritates their skin or causes an allergic reaction.

Mild to moderate symptoms improve when a person avoids exposure to irritants or allergens. If possible, people should:

If the rash affects only a small area, a person can apply 1% hydrocortisone cream, which is available OTC.

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There are many types of eczema. Follicular eczema affects the hair follicles. Papular eczema consists of small spots on the skin known as papules. These papules can appear pinkish red in light skin or grayish brown in darker skin tones.

For severe atopic dermatitis that does not respond to the above treatment options, a person should see a board-certified dermatologist.

Rosacea is a skin condition that causes irritation, inflammation, and small pimples on the skin, which can be red, purple, or flesh-colored.

Some infections can also cause red or skin-colored spots on the skin. Anyone who suspects an infection should consult a doctor.

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This contagious viral infection causes a distinctive rash of small red or pink dots. Dots may be difficult to see on darker skin tones.

The rash usually starts on the face before spreading to the trunk, arms and legs. Rubella infection also causes fever, headache and swollen lymph nodes.

Note that rubella is a relatively rare infection in the United States due to widespread use of the MMR vaccine. The first dose of the vaccine is given at

Meningitis is a medical emergency. It is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the spinal cord and brain. It is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection.

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A rash does not always appear. However, if this is the case, a person may notice small pink, red, brown or purple pinpricks on the skin. The rash will not fade when a person rolls a glass over it.

MRSA can cause painful areas of inflamed skin. People may also experience discharge of pus from the affected skin and fever.

Other bacterial skin infections can also cause painful and inflamed areas of the skin. If a person suspects that they are experiencing a skin infection, they should consult a doctor.

A rash usually appears 12-48 hours after the onset of fever and other symptoms. It may start to fade and peel within 6 days.

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Petechiae is a type of rash that results from bleeding under the skin. It shows as red or purple spots that measure

In darker skin, the spots may be darker than the surrounding skin. They can be harder to see than lighter skin.

Treatment of petechiae will depend on the cause. It can be a sign of serious illness. Anyone who notices petechiae unexpectedly, especially a child, should seek emergency medical help.

If the rash does not improve despite using OTC or home treatments, or if they also have the following symptoms, they should talk to their doctor:

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Not all rashes require emergency treatment. However, people should seek immediate medical attention if they develop a rash and notice any of the following symptoms:

People should also seek immediate attention for new rashes that are painful and affect the eyes, inside the mouth or genitals.

If a person suspects a skin infection, they should contact a healthcare professional before trying any home remedies.

A wide range of conditions can cause spots on the skin. Possible causes range from irritant reactions to meningitis. On pale skin, they may appear pink or red. In darker skin tones they may appear as purple, dark brown or darker than the surrounding skin.

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Red, purple spots, or dark spots known as petechiae, can be symptoms of leukemia and many other conditions. If a person has petechiae, it is best to consult a doctor, as they may indicate a problem that requires urgent attention.

Petechiae can occur for many reasons, including an injury, in which case, it usually resolves on its own. However, it can also occur with meningitis, blood cancer, endocarditis, and sepsis. These are all serious conditions that require medical attention, so it is best to consult a doctor for any appearance of petechiae.

There are many possible causes for red, discolored or dark spots on the skin, including heat rash, contact dermatitis, and meningitis.

People can treat some skin rashes and their accompanying symptoms with home remedies and OTC treatments, but it’s best to check with a doctor first, as spots on the skin can sometimes indicate a more serious condition.

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You will get expert advice on what your next steps should be, be it monitoring the condition or taking personal care.

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More than 70% of the cases we review are resolved with over-the-counter treatment, which means a visit to the doctor’s office may not be necessary.

In more severe cases, our dermatologists will recommend that you see a dermatologist in person. This advice can speed up your visit as we help identify your condition.

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