Spotty arms why and how to cure

Pimples are a common skin condition for people of all ages. While pimples on the face, back, neck, chest, and shoulders are more common, pimples can occur on the arms as well.

However, it could be an indication of a more serious underlying condition. A pimple, a symptom of acne, is caused by the opening of a pore. This allows bacteria, dead skin, or oil to enter the pore, which can then trigger a response from your body. Sometimes the red bump will form a pus-filled head. Our skin can be very sensitive.

This means that there are many causes and contributing factors to pimples on the arms. The National Institutes of Health reports that every four out of five people have been affected by acne in their teens and early adult life. Treating a pimple on your arm is pretty simple. A pimple normally heals on its own, but if you have a large number of pimples on your arm, you may want to consider prescribed treatment from a dermatologist.

Pimples are very common! The good thing about that is that there are plenty of ways you can prevent pimples from occurring. Some common ways to prevent pimples include:. However, there are other skin conditions that can look like pimples. Keratosis pilaris appears as small, rough bumps.

They may have a slight pink ring around them. You can treat this by moisturizing or using steroid creams. Hives can appear as red, raised bumps. If your bumps are itchy, they may be hives rather than pimples. The bumps are most common on the upper arms and the front of the thighs. Dead skin blocks the pores and causes bumps.

Keratosis pilaris may cause itching but is otherwise harmless. Hives can appear as small red spots, which may itch, anywhere on the skin. Sometimes, they are the result of an allergic reaction. An insect bite may also cause them to develop. A reaction to a skin irritant, heat, or stress usually causes the rash. A staph infection can cause red pimples or a rash, though it may also look like sores or blisters.

Staph bacteria live on parts of the skin such as the armpits and nose. If these bacteria enter a cut, it can cause a staph infection. It is important to treat staph promptly, as it can sometimes cause complications.

If the infection reaches organs in the body, it can potentially become fatal. Folliculitis affects hair follicles and can appear anywhere there are follicles on the body.

When hair follicles sustain damage, bacteria can get in and cause an infection. This usually appears as red spots on the skin. The symptoms of folliculitis may look similar to acne.

Shaving, rubbing the skin, and wearing tight clothing can all damage hair follicles. This is more likely to happen when the skin is warm and damp.

Skin infections that cause pimples often go away without treatment. Applying a warm washcloth to the skin can help ease the symptoms of folliculitis. Sometimes, a staph infection requires treatment with antibiotics. This is likely to be the case if a person has a rash that lasts for longer than a week, gets worse, or spreads rapidly. Seek medical advice if the cause of hives is not clear.

An allergy test can often help pinpoint the cause of the reaction. A person can then avoid this allergen to prevent a future reaction. Acne may require treatment with medication.

Topical treatments include creams and lotions that a person applies to the skin. These kill the bacteria or reduce the amount of oil the skin makes and can take 4—8 weeks to work. Continuing with treatment after this can help prevent acne reoccurring. Laser therapy, light therapy, and chemical peels are other options to treat acne. These can help remove bacteria from the skin or remove the top layer of the skin to clear pores. Treating dry skin can help clear keratosis pilaris, or lessen the appearance of pimples.

Applying a moisturizer two or three times per day can keep skin from drying out. Your doctor can also diagnose the bumps on your arms with a physical exam. In some cases, you may be referred to a dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment. This is especially true if your general practitioner suspects an inflammatory skin condition, such as eczema or psoriasis. 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, your dermatologist may prescribe a retinol cream to help clear up the bumps. Exfoliating can help other causes of arm bumps, too.

To that end, exfoliation techniques may be helpful for acne, psoriasis, and dead skin cell buildup. You can use a loofah or a washcloth to gently exfoliate. Be careful not to scrub, as this can cause irritation and possibly even more bumps to form. Other treatment measures for bumps on your arms depend on the underlying causes.

Exfoliation can irritate eczema, folliculitis, and heat rash. Inflammatory skin diseases may be treated with topical creams to help soothe the inflammation and prevent more bumps from occurring. Over-the-counter creams with oatmeal or hydrocortisone can help soothe itchy skin bumps and provide some relief.

If allergies are suspected to contribute 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 clear up the related skin bumps. You should also see your doctor if the bumps worsen or change in shape or size. Make an appointment if you start to see any signs of infection. Bumps on the arms can be a nuisance, but this is an extremely common phenomenon. In most cases, chicken skin is to blame, and it can be cleared up with regular exfoliation.

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