Mysterious bumps can appear on your skin for many reasons. While skin bumps can cause discomfort and affect your aesthetic appearance, most bumps are essentially harmless. If you are concerned about the presence of mysterious bumps on your skin, contact your doctor or dermatologist. Your doctor or dermatologist can help you identify the exact source of the bumps and determine whether the bumps are cause for concern.
Causes
Contact dermatitis occurs when you come into contact with an allergen or an irritant. Bumps caused by contact dermatitis may itch, sting or appear red. Bites from insects like mosquitoes and fleas can also produce bumps that cause intense itching. Some bumps are symptoms of a viral infection. The human papillomavirus, or HPV, produces dome-shaped bumps called warts. Chickenpox is caused by a virus known as the varicella-zoster virus. Measles comes from the rubeola virus. These diseases cause hundreds of itchy bumps to appear all over your body.
Treatments
According to the Mayo Clinic, over-the-counter hydrocortisone and topical antihistamine creams can help ease mild or moderate itching associated with skin bumps. These creams can also help reduce inflammation. Topical anesthetic ointments like lidocane and benzocaine can help relieve more severe cases of itching. Most warts can be removed successfully with a simple freezing procedure.
Time Frame
The length of time that your bumps will last depends on what caused them. Bumps associated with contact dermatitis can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Most insect bites will clear up within a few days. Bumps resulting from conditions like warts, chickenpox and measles caused by underlying viral infections can take as much as two or three weeks to clear up.
Prevention
Getting an allergy test can tell you exactly what substance or material you are allergic to so that you can reduce your risks of developing contact dermatitis by avoiding contact with that item. Wearing insect repellent is a good way to help prevent bumps caused by insect bites. There is currently no surefire way to prevent viral infections, but practicing good hygiene and staying away from infected individuals can help reduce your chances of contracting chickenpox or measles.
Complications
If the itching associated with contact dermatitis causes you to scratch your bumps too intensely for an extended period of time, you could develop a bacterial infection. Insect bites will typically only cause problems if you are allergic. An allergic reaction to insect bites can cause symptoms like nausea, swelling, decreased blood pressure and trouble breathing. Severe cases of chickenpox can lead to complications like skin infections, pneumonia and dehydration. Complications associated with measles include ear infections, pneumonia, bronchitis and encephalitis.
