Have you noticed strange, raised bumps on your skin that don’t look like acne? Sometimes, they’re the same color as your skin. Other times, they look red, but either way, they aren’t attractive. But we have good news! There are some great home and professional treatments that are sure to get your skin looking smooth and feeling soft again.
Most of the time, these skin bumps are harmless. They might not look pretty, but they won’t hurt you and usually aren’t a sign of something serious going wrong in your body. Raised skin bumps might be itchy, but that’s usually the worst thing about them. So, if you’re struggling with unexplained raised skin bumps, let’s find out how to get your glow back on.
Types of Skin Bumps
In addition to moles, there are lots of different things that can bump up in the night on your skin. But not to worry, we’ve got you covered. We're not including allergic reactions like atopic dermatitis or poison ivy, viral infections like chickenpox, or bacterial infections like staphylococcus, although these can all result in itchy skin and red bumps.
If you suspect you have one of these, stop using the allergen immediately and seek medical advice. You never know when it could be something more serious, like skin cancer or cell carcinoma.
Here are the top five most common problems that we all hate to see in the mirror.
Problem 1: Acne
Undoubtedly the most common skin condition. Acne is the unwanted gift that just keeps giving. It can be caused by poor hygiene, hormone fluctuations, eating certain foods, stress, smoking, washing your face too often (or not enough), and sometimes it just appears for no reason at all. It can come in the form of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, or even inflamed cystic acne.
On the other hand, since acne is such a big problem for so many, there are tons of over-the-counter products and lotions to treat acne and prevent it from popping up in the future. We’ll dive into more about treatment options below.
Problem 2: Ingrown Hairs
When you shave or wax the first time for the summer, you might end up with a lot of red, itchy bumps. These are ingrown hairs or hairs that weren’t properly removed when you shaved or waxed. We don’t want those anywhere, but especially not in the bikini area!
The skin gets irritated from shaving or waxing, and when a hair isn’t removed entirely, the follicle can swell up, or the hair can curl back into the skin. When the skin grows over it, it gets itchy. If you have curly or thick body hair, this can be a common (and uncomfortable) occurrence.
Luckily, this is an itch you can scratch. Usually, we tell you not to pick at acne or other skin conditions, but if you’re dealing with an ingrown hair, scratching it (gently!) until you get the hair out perfectly fine (and fun!).
Problem 3: Skin Tags
Skin tags are small flaps of skin that tend to grow where your limbs connect to your torso. That means the pelvic region, your neck, and armpits, although they grow anywhere. Skin tags are usually the same color as your skin or just a bit darker.
They are completely natural, and there’s no way to do anything to prevent them. Skin tags are generally small and easy to hide, and if you’re worried about some kind of medical condition, don’t be. They are only skin deep.
Problem 4: Boils
A boil is what happens when an ingrown hair becomes infected. This doesn’t usually happen from a little razor burn, but it can. Unfortunately, boils are pretty painful. When a hair follicle becomes infected, it swells up with fluid to fight the infection, resulting in a painful battle for you.
But that’s just your immune system doing its job to handle the skin infection. Boils usually go away on their own and eventually burst. Nevertheless, if you notice that it’s more than 2 inches in size or that after a few weeks, the boil is still there and still painful, see a doctor.
Problem 5: Warts
Usually, warts are brown or a dark pinkish color, depending on your normal skin tone. Warts don’t usually hurt but can, based on their location. Generally, warts appear on the hands and feet. The human papillomavirus causes them.
That sounds a lot worse than it is. While some types of warts require medical treatment, it’s rare. You’ll know if you need treatment if the wart is painful all the time, not just when you press on it.
Mainly, warts just look ugly, and people want them to disappear for aesthetic reasons. Check out the next section for tips and tricks for treating warts and other skin bumps.
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Treatment
There are various ways to treat bumps, but one of the best ways to care for your skin is to follow a skincare routine that includes a good face wash and moisturizer. This goes for all types of skin problems. So, let’s break down what that means for you.
First off, if you find that they're particularly itchy, you may be able to treat that symptom with antihistamines.
Keep in mind that there’s no treatment other than surgery for some raised bumps, like skin tags. However, most people just learn to love the skin they’re in since skin tags never go away. They aren’t a condition; that’s just naturally how your skin is.
If you want to take action, you have plenty of options available for clearing up your skin and revealing your outer beauty. Here are a few of the best methods to get rid of raised skin bumps:
Exfoliation
Exfoliation is a fancy word for eliminating dead skin cells before they accumulate on your skin. Dead skin cells cover the pores, which contribute to further breakouts. Your body eventually gets rid of the skin cells as they die and leaves the new cells behind, but you can move this process along.
Most skin bumps result from ingrown hairs or clogged pores that haven’t yet become infected. By exfoliating the area where you see the small bumps, you can release the hair or dead skin cells, and the bumps should go away. This can be particularly helpful if you're dealing with eczema or dry, scaly skin.
Gentle exfoliation may also be helpful for keratosis pilaris, a skin condition from a buildup of keratin that commonly appears on the upper arms, making the skin feel like sandpaper, and very gentle exfoliation might help with psoriasis. On the other hand, people with rosacea, a condition that can cause redness and visible blood vessels, should avoid physical exfoliants and instead turn to a gentle chemical one.
Use a washcloth or facial brush to scrub the dead skin gently. Be careful, and don’t get too enthusiastic about it, or you’ll hurt your sensitive skin.
Warm Compress
There isn’t really a shortcut to get over boils, but a warm compress drains them faster and might relieve some of the pain. Use the compress both before it pops and afterward to keep the area clean.
Whatever you do, don’t scratch it or try to pop it yourself. Seriously, don’t do it. It’ll probably scar and might lead to an even worse infection.
Freezing It Off
This method works for warts only and is definitely not for the faint of heart. Also, never use this method if the wart is on your face or genitalia since those are extremely sensitive regions of the body.
Freezing a wart involves your doctor or dermatologist spraying concentrated cold air over the wart, killing both the skin cells and the HPV infecting the area.
Once frozen, it’s easy for them to scrape the wart off. This method effectively eliminates warts fast, but it might not work on every wart, especially larger ones. Consult with your doctor to see where on the spectrum your wart falls. Warts sometimes go away on their own, so another option is just to wait it out.
Face Masks
Our Gleamin clay face mask is perfect for improving your complexion and saying goodbye to raised skin bumps. By combining powerful Vitamin C, soothing Aloe Vera, and clarifying Turmeric with the gentle, detoxifying clay, your skin gets what it needs to keep pores open and clean. Keep it on for ten minutes to see optimal results.
The clay sucks the impurities out from your skin while locking in your skin’s natural moisture barrier, so you aren’t left with dry skin when you wash it off. Say goodbye to the day’s dirt and grime when you wash it all down the drain.
Acne can’t stand up to the powerful duo of Vitamin C and Turmeric. Also, if you’re worried about irritating the infected skin, fear not. Aloe Vera cools your skin down and helps reduce redness and swelling.
Just apply the mask with our included brush, sit back and relax, and then wash it off. Plus, your kit includes an adorable pink Twisted Satin Headband to keep your gorgeous hair out of the way (and out of the clay!).
That’s a Wrap
Although raised skin bumps are uncomfortable and unsightly, they usually aren’t harmful. Luckily, by exfoliating your skin and opting for an occasional face mask, you’ll eliminate most types of raised bumps and let your inner glow shine through.
Sources
Raised Skin Bumps: Pictures, Types, Causes, and Treatment | Healthline
What to Know About Furuncles (Boils) | Healthline
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