A variety of causes, from insect bites to fungal infections, can result in tiny red bumps on your feet. Socks and shoes can restrict the airflow to the area, creating damp, moist conditions that can make the bumps worse. Leaving the bumps untreated can even lead to skin infections that can cause pain and scarring. Your doctor can help identify the cause of the bumps and recommend appropriate treatment options.
Athlete's Foot
This fungal infection causes an itchy red rash between the toes of your feet and along the arches of your feet. If left untreated, it can also cause blisters, cracked and peeling skin and excessively dry skin. The infection is contagious and can spread via direct skin contact with an infected person or by touching contaminated surfaces, like floors, towels, socks and shoes. Over-the-counter antifungal medications can often clear up mild cases of athlete's foot, according to MayoClinic.com, but you might need prescription medications for more severe cases.
Preventing Athlete's Foot
Taking some basic hygiene measures can help you prevent athlete's foot infections, as well as lessen the symptoms of an existing infection. Dry your feet well after bathing or showering, especially between your toes. Go barefoot as much as possible when at home to air your feet out. Change socks or stockings regularly -- you might need to change them as often as twice a day if your feet sweat a lot. Do not wear shoes made of vinyl, rubber or other synthetic materials. Instead, opt for ones made of lightweight natural materials, like leather.
Insect Bites
Chigger and fire ant bites can both cause small, extremely itchy red bumps on your feet and legs. Although you will probably not know when a chigger bites you -- their tiny bites usually appear hours after exposure -- it is impossible to miss a fire ant bite. A person stung by a fire ant immediately experiences a burning sensation along with sharp pain. Fire ant bites eventually turn from small red bites to itchy white blisters over the course of two to three days. Chigger bites can last for weeks. To avoid developing skin infections, do not scratch at your insect bites.
Allergic Contact Rashes
These types of rashes occur when the skin on your feet encounters various allergens. Common allergens include rubber, dyes, preservatives, fragrances, soaps, medications, poison ivy, poison oak and other related plants. Your doctor will probably conduct a skin patch test to determine the cause of the allergic reaction. To do the skin patch test, your doctor will put small amounts of potential allergens on strips of tape attached to your skin, which he will remove after two days to check for allergic reactions. The rash will clear up when you find and eliminate the source of the irritation.
