Uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing red bumps and rashes can ruin your day. Not knowing how, why or what a bump or rash may be can spur anxiety, stress and even physical pain. Although, a lot of the time rashes and bumps are the result of common and harmless skin problems. Find out what might be causing your irritated skin.
Bed Bug Bites
Although bed bugs can affect people differently, typical signs of being bitten appear as red welts, if clustered together they can look like a large rash. Welts do not typically appear until a few days after the bite, as bed bugs inject an anesthetic and an anticoagulant that prevents a person from realizing they are being bitten. Typically they are slightly swollen and may itch like a mosquito bite.
You cannot tell if a red bump is caused by a bed bug by its appearance alone, visually seeing a bed bug or signs of bed bugs is the only way to truly tell if welts and rashes are actually caused by the small parasite.
Bed bugs feed on human and animal blood, are reddish-brown in color and often leave brown spots on bed dressings. Typically bed bugs are caused by being picked up through traveling or by a lack of preventative pesticide use or awareness.
Contact Dermatitis
Simply put, contact dermatitis is a rash caused by allergy or irritant. It appears as a red bumpy rash that is sometimes blistered, scaly or even crusted. Contact dermatitis can be caused by a number of things, from cleaning products, poisonous plants or cosmetics. If you have changed a chemical product you use like lotion, shampoo or laundry detergent, or have been outside recently, chances are you have found your cause. If painful or persisting it’s best to seek medical attention before self diagnosing the problem.
Swimmer’s Itch
According to Mayo Clinic, “Swimmer’s itch (cercarial dermatitis) is a burning or itchy rash caused by an allergic reaction to a waterborne parasite that burrows into the top layer of skin.”
usually in the form of bumps or blisters the rash is an allergic reaction, it is not serious and will subside without medical treatment within a week. Mayo Clinic suggests at-home treatments like lotions that soothe the skin or taking a bath with colloidal oatmeal or baking soda for lessening the symptoms.
Chicken Skin
Medically referred to as Keratosis Pilaris, “Chicken skin” appears as rough fleshy to pink and brown-colored bumps scattered along the upper arms and thighs. The skin condition is hereditary and it’s suggested that products and treatments like scrubs, rubs and peels with Glycolic Acid, Urea, Vitamin A Treatments and Immunomodulators be used to lessen symptoms.
Folliculitis
According to Mayo Clinic, this “is an infection that usually appears as small, white-headed pimples around one or more hair follicles — the tiny pockets from which each hair grows. Most cases of folliculitis are superficial, and they may itch, but on occasion they’re painful too. Superficial folliculitis often clears by itself in a few days, but deep or recurring folliculitis may need medical treatment.”
According to Web MD, “Folliculitis occurs when hair follicles become infected,” often with a certain type of bacteria. Also called barber’s itch, the infection ranges in degrees of severity, from a mild itch to a permanent hair loss and scarring.
Causes of this include anything that can cause the skin irritation such as friction from shaving or wearing tight clothing, acne, abrasions, surgical wounds, excessive sweating and adhesive tapes.
Authored by Elizabeth Yardley An equestrian and health food nut, Elizabeth offers advice on health, finances, and animal care for readers online.