Red bumps on your stomach may be the result of an number of things. Insects like bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets and fire ants can inject venom into the skin on your stomach if they bite you. You may have an allergic reaction to certain foods, medications, latex or animal dander that produce red bumps on your stomach known as hives. Bacterial infections like pseudomonas folliculitis can also produce red bumps at the hair follicles on your stomach.
Venom
Red bumps may develop as substances in your skin react with insect venom. Most reactions to insect bites are mild and produce itching or stinging sensations and mild swelling that subsides within a day. Delayed reactions that occur with insect bites may include fever, hives, painful joints or swollen glands.
Allergies
Hives are raised red or white welts that vary in size and may burn, itch or sting. An acute case of hives may subside in a day or last as long as six weeks. Chronic hives last longer than six weeks and may occur for months or years at a time. Environmental factors may trigger your body to release histamine that causes hives. Environmental factors that can trigger hives may include heat, cold, sunlight, water, pressure on the skin, emotional stress or exercise.
Infections
Pseudomonas folliculitis is also known as "hot tub folliculitis." This type of folliculitis may affect areas of your skin that are exposed like your stomach, if you use a jacuzzi without enough chlorine. This form of folliculitis may occur within eight hours after exposure to the pseudomonas bacterium. Hot tub folliculitis produces a rash of red, round and itchy bumps that may develop into pus-filled blisters.
Treatment
Treat insect bites by removing the insect's stinger if it's lodged in your skin and applying a cold pack or ice to the bite. You can apply over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams and ointments to insect bites on your stomach several times a day until your symptoms subside. Mild cases of hives may not require treatment but you can take antihistamines like diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine to stop the formation of these bumps. A severe case of hives may require an emergency injection of adrenaline. Pseudomonas folliculitis may not require treatment but anti-pruritic drugs can help relieve itching. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics for more severe cases of hot tub folliculitis.
Prevention
You can prevent insect bites by avoiding areas near insect hives or exterminating concentrations of dangerous insects near your home. You can also avoid attracting venomous insects like bees by sealing sweet foods and beverages. You can prevent hives by avoiding any triggers that you know you are allergic to or that may cause a histamine reaction. Keep a journal to log things that might have triggered your hives. You can avoid contracting pseudomonas folliculitis by maintaining chemical levels in your hot tub or Jacuzzi and only using hot tubs and Jacuzzis that you know are well maintained.
