Dry Skin Bumps

Usually dry skin spots occur due to certain allergies, and is not a serious condition. However, if you have itchy skin bumps which hinder your daily activities, or if you are showing other symptoms like fever, then it is important that you seek medical help.

Keratosis Pilaris

Symptoms: Keratosis pilaris is the number one condition which matches the symptoms of dry skin bumps. In this condition a person will get a fine bumpy texture to the skin over the upper arm, thigh, or other body areas.

The bumps on the arms or skin are size of a grain of sand, and slightly pink color can be seen around the bumps. This condition generally is worse during winters, and clears up during the summer.

Causes: This condition occurs when a protein in the body called keratin forms hard plugs within hair follicles.

Treatment: Moisturizing lotions or cream are soothing for the skin, and also help to make the appearance of the skin look better. Creams which contain medications like urea, lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, tretinoin, or vitamin D might also be recommended by the dermatologist.

Allergies

Symptoms: Common symptoms of allergy include red, scaly, or itchy skin, swelling, dry flaking skin, inflamed or blistered skin, dry skin bumps or rashes.

Causes: Skin allergies can occur due to various reasons. It can be due to a specific material a person is wearing like latex gloves, or due to eating certain foodstuffs, or due to certain weather.

Treatment: The doctor will help you to diagnose what you are allergic to, and then recommend the appropriate treatment. Mostly, the doctor might give you creams containing corticosteroid, and antihistamine pills.

Eczema

Symptoms: Symptoms of eczema vary according to the phases of the condition. If children under 5 years get eczema they will develop itchy, dry, red skin, and dry skin spots on face areas like the cheeks or forehead. In eczema one gets dry to very dry skin.

Causes: Eczema is also known as dermatitis. Common causes are emotional stress, intake of certain foodstuffs, contact with irritants like wool, pets, soaps, and other allergens.

Treatment: Again the doctor will help you diagnose the cause of the dermatitis, and provide the appropriate treatment which involves certain creams and antihistamine pills.

Newborn babies can also get bumps or blotches on their skin, which clear up by themselves. A common skin condition which gives a pink rash in infants is diaper rash.

Hives (Urticaria)

Symptoms: A person who gets hives will have raised, white or red marks of various sizes, which can look like a rash or bumps. Some bumps might go away after a while, and new ones might occur. A person might also get a severe itching and burning sensation in the affected area.

Causes: Hives can occur due to foodstuffs like nuts, eggs, chocolate, milk, etc. It can also occur due to specific medications or due to allergens like pollens, latex, insect bites, etc.

Treatment: The most common treatment for allergy relief of hives are antihistamine medications. However, if the symptoms are mild then no treatment is required.

Another condition which occurs with hives is angioedema which gives a person red or itchy skin bumps or swelling on the areas like eyelids, mouth, or genitals. It lasts for only short time and doesn't recur.

You can use home care measures to get rid of the dry skin bumps, however seek medical help if the condition calls for a dermatologist treatment.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.