Tiny red spots on the skin may appear on any part of the body including the groin, fingers, feet, and private parts in both males and females. They may appear as tiny small bumps, dots, spots that may be red, raised pimple-like dots. They may be itchy or non-itchy, red, with whiteheads or blackheads depending on what caused them. Some of these small spots on skin do not last for more than 48 hours especially when they are caused by allergies or insect bites. Other causes of these red spots or rashes on the skin are very serious and need medical attention. Continue reading below for more on how to get rid of these spots on the skin using home remedies, skincare, and treatment.
Tiny Red Bumps on Skin Itchy
Tiny itchy red bumps on the skin can be very irritating and ugly to look at. It is very embarrassing to scratch yourself in public. It is easier to know the root cause of these tiny itchy red bumps if you try and eliminate possibilities. Such bumps are caused by allergens, insect bite, or infection.
Itchy red bumps that appear suddenly and disappear after a day or two are caused by an allergic reaction. Allergies are caused by pollen, dust, or food like meat, milk, eggs, fruits, and some vegetables that you are not used to eating.
Chemicals found in detergents or cosmetics can also cause an allergy. A blood allergy test will indicate all the allergens that affect you. This will help you determine the kind of food or chemical that you are reacting to and avoid it in the future as well.
Tiny red spots on spots that itch can also be due to mosquito bites or other insects like bedbugs and mite. Avoid scratching insect bites however itchy they are. Apply a cold compress or cold water on mosquito bites will stop the itchy feeling.
Tiny red bumps that are itchy may be a symptom of a disease or infection. If you notice such bumps that won’t go away easily and are accompanied by other symptoms then you must be having an underlying health issue.
Diseases or infections like scabies, chickenpox, or impetigo cause small red dots on the skin which are very itchy. Your doctor will be able to perform an accurate diagnosis and provide you with the right treatment options.
Red Spots on Skin Not Itchy
Non-itchy tiny red spots on skin have different causative agents from the itchy ones. They may be unnoticed for some time because they are not itchy so your attention is not drawn to them. The following are the possible causes of non-itchy tiny red spots on the skin;
- Birthmarks: They are caused by abnormal blood vessels in the skin that form the red dots.
- Angiomas: Angiomas are skin growths that can occur anywhere on the body. They are caused by blood vessels that have clumped together hence the red color.
- Keratosis pilaris: This is a benign skin condition caused by excessive production caution of keratin and forms hard bumps around hair follicles of the skin.
- Acne: Is a skin condition that mostly affects teenagers with oily skin. It forms when hair follicles are clogged with dead skin cells and sebum.
- Heat rash: During hot weather, sweat can clog skin pores and cause tiny red spots on the skin that are not itchy. They usually disappear when the weather becomes cool.
- Boils: A boil is a firm red bump on the skin that gets filled with pus overtime.
- Pityriasis Rosea: This is a viral skin condition. A large red scaly patch is surrounded by tiny red spots on the skin.
- Petechiae: are non-itchy tiny red spots on the skin. They are flat in shape and form on any part of the skin. It? Bis associated with other symptoms like; bleeding gums, frequent nose bleeding, heavy menstruation, easy bruising, and hemorrhage on the joints.
Pinpoint Red Dots on Skin
There are several causes of tiny red spots on the skin; however, the shape of the spots or bumps can help your doctor diagnose the cause of your red rashes. Some are round while others are flat. Hives are large and raised bumps.
Pinpoint red dots on the skin that appear in clusters are a symptom of a skin condition known as petechiae. According to Mayo Clinic,” Petechiae appear when capillaries bleed, leaking blood into the skin.” It can be a sign of an underlying health issue because these tiny red spots on the skin are caused by bleeding and do not change color even when pressed.
The health conditions associated with petechiae include; Leukemia, atopic dermatitis, autoimmune diseases, allergies, Viral infections, skin trauma, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Petechiae can also form as a side effect of some drugs like cortisone or aspirin.
Red Spots on Legs
Red spots on legs can be very annoying especially for a woman who likes wearing short dresses and skirts. They are unsightly and it may force you to change your dress code until they go away because you don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to them.
These spots can be itchy or not depending on the cause. It is quite unfortunate when they leave black marks on your legs after healing. You can use bio-oil to get rid of the scars. The following are the common cause of tiny red spots on legs;
- Insect Bites-by mosquitoes, fleas, body lice, bed bugs, gnats, or mites.
- Allergic reactions – to food, medicine, pollen grains, cold weather, or chemicals.
- Eczema
- Folliculitis-inflammation of hair follicles due to bacterial or fungal infection.
- Keratosis Pilaris
- Psoriasis
- Schamberg’s Disease
Campbell de Morgan Spots
Campbell de Morgan spots, also known as cherry angiomas are noncancerous tiny red spots on the skin that are caused by multiplication and dilation of blood capillaries. This can happen on any part of the skin except the mucous membrane. Bleeding can occur if these spots are scratched or cut.
This condition can be inherited from genetics or can be caused by other factors like climatic changes, pregnancy, and chemicals. It’s an old people’s disease. It affects people who are over 30 years old.
There is no need for treatment of these spots, although if you keep bruising them you will be bleeding often. You can get rid of them permanently via surgery. There are several types of surgeries. Your doctor should be able to advise you on the most suitable surgery method depending on your skin type and medical history.
Angiomas
Angioma is a condition whereby blood capillaries overgrow and multiply rapidly. These blood vessels clump together and appear as tiny red spots on the skin. They are named differently depending on their shape and general appearance.
The topic discussed above gives details of a type of angioma known as Campbell de Morgan. These bumps are referred to as cherry angioma when they take the shape of a cherry. They are usually red in color because they take after the color of blood.
These spots can develop on any part of the body. They affect people who are 30 to 40 years old or above 40 years old.
Causes of Tiny Red Spots on the Skin
Tiny red spots on the skin have a diverse range of causes. They may be itchy or not itch at all. At times these tiny red are natural some are artificial like chemical compounds the following are the major causes of red spots;
1. Allergic reaction
Allergies occur when the immune system becomes hypersensitive. Allergens can be found in food, pollen grains, or chemicals. People are allergic to different types of food, you may not know unit you try it out and get affected.
Chemicals found in detergents and cosmetics can also cause an allergy especially if you try it a new product that you are not used to. Your doctor can conduct a blood allergy test in order to determine all the allergens that affect you and help you identify the exact cause of your allergy so that you avoid me in future
2. Parasites
Parasitic insects feed on human blood. Mosquitoes, bedbugs, fleas, and mites can hide and breed in households. Bedbugs hide in your Bed or furniture while fleas and mites can even live on pets and spread whenever you come into contact with the pets.
Mosquito breed in puddles of water or bushy vegetation around the house. When they bite you they leave behind tiny red spots on skins that are very itchy. Flea bites turn white when pressed while mite bites have a hard surrounding. A topical cream like hydrocortisone can be used to treat such bites.
3. Eczema
Eczema is a skin condition believed to be caused by an overactive immune system that responds aggressively to irritants like allergies, weather, synthetic fiber, or chemicals.
It is characterized by tiny red sits on the skin that is itchy, dry, and flaky. These patches mostly occur on elbows and knees but can be found anywhere on the body
4. Keratosis pilaris
It is a skin condition that occurs when skin cells block hair follicles and trap hair beneath the skin. The result is a rough raised non-itchy bump. They form at the back of arms and thighs and can be eliminated by exfoliating the skin using lactic acid or glycolic acid.
5. Friction
Clothes that are made from wool or synthetic fiber can cause friction between your skin and the fabric and lead to the formation of tiny red spots on the skin that itch. It is even worse if the cloth is very tight and you sweat as you engage in an activity like exercising while wearing it.
6. Heat rash
When you sweat and don’t wash it off immediately, the sweat will clog your skin pores and lead to the formation of tiny red spots on the skin which are also known as heat rash. They can be very itchy but will go away when the weather gets cooler.
According to NHS,” The main thing to do is keep your skin cool so you don’t sweat and irritate the rash.”
7. Sun allergy
Sun allergy mostly happens when you have been away from the sun for too long, like maybe during winter or a cold season then you expose your skin to the sun. The skin will react to the sun rays and you will notice an outbreak of tiny red spots on skin.
8. Psoriasis
It is a skin condition that occurs when there is excessive production of skin cells that pile and form red bumps with silvery patches around them.
9. Schamberg’s Disease
This is a skin condition caused by blood vessels leaking close to the skin.
Leukemia
Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects your blood and bone marrow. White blood cells and other healthy cells are destroyed. Most of its symptoms may go unnoticed.
Since blood vessels get damaged by this disease, tiny red spots on skin will appear as a symptom. It is not easy to notice other symptoms but they may include;
- Easy bleeding or bruising
- Unexpected weight loss
- Painful bones and joints
- Excessive fatigue
- Flu symptoms
- Recurrent nosebleeds
- Fever or chills
- Bleeding gums
- Frequent infections
Allergic Eczema
Allergies occur when your immune system becomes overactive and attacks a possible threat by inducing chemical changes that will destroy the threat (allergen). The result is an allergic reaction that can be in the form of tiny red spots on the skin or other reactions like sneezing, coughing, heavy breathing, or a runny nose.
Allergic eczema is also known as allergic dermatitis is an example of an allergic reaction. It is triggered by all sorts’ allergens like metals, chemicals, antibiotics, and even the sun.
The reaction does not take place immediately. It can occur a day after coming into contact with the allergen. Apart from tiny red spots on the skin the following symptoms also accompany this skin condition;
- Itching and a burning sensation on the skin
- Scaly or crusty and thickened akin
- Oozing bumps on the skin
- You may also see more on is eczema contagious? Contagious skin conditions should be checked by a dermatologist to avoid an outbreak.
Stress Rash
Stress can come from all angles. Emotional stress can weaken the immune system and makes your body prone to attacks by pathogens. You should find ways of controlling your stress levels if you want to have fair skin. Yoga exercises and herbal teas help in relieving stress. Always hang out with people who enlighten your mood or watch comedy shows.
Stress causes rashes look like tiny red spots on the skin or they may also appear to inform of hives with pointed tips. Stress can also cause existing rashes to flare-up.
Stress rash can appear anywhere on the skin. They may disappear on their own but will keep coming back if you don’t handle your stress. Simple home remedies like a col compress can be used to manage stress rashes.
How to Get Rid of Tiny Red Spots on the Skin using Home Remedies
Tiny red spots on akin can be managed using simple home remedies. You only require treatment if they are a symptom of an underlying health issue. Here are some ideal home remedies for dealing with red ashes.
1. Apple Cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is an antifungal and antibacterial agent hence prevents any secondary infection on the rash as it heals. It also balances the pH of the skin.
Requirements
- Apple cider vinegar
- A Cotton Ball
- A clean piece of cloth
Procedure
- Ensure the affected area is clean
- Mix one part of apple cider vinegar with 3 parts of water
- Soak a cotton ball with the mixture
- Apply the mixture on the affected area using the cotton ball
- Let it settle overnight
- Wash it off with cold water in the morning
- Dry the affected area with a clean piece of cloth to avoid dampness
- Repeat this process every night before you go to bed
2. Olive oil
Olive oil is rich in vitamin E hence rejuvenates the skin. It is an effective moisturizer and also soothes the rashes. It is natural antioxidants and contains fatty acids that are essential for dry skin that is prone to eczema.
Requirement
- Extra-Virgin Olive oil
- Water
- A clean towel
How to apply Olive oil
- Warm the extra-virgin olive oil
- Apply extra-virgin olive oil on the affected area
- Let it stay on your skin overnight
- Rinse it off using warm water in the morning
- Dry your skin using a clean towel
- Repeat this process every night
3. Baking Soda
Baking soda will remove excess oil on skin and help in drying out the rashes. It soothes and balances the pH of your skin.
What you need
- Baking soda
- Water
- A clean piece of clothe
What to do
- Mix a teaspoon full of baking soda with a few drops of water
- Stir them together into a smooth paste
- Apply the paste directly on the rash
- Allow the paste to dry for about 5 minutes.
- Use Luke-warm water to wash it off
- Dry the affected area with a clean piece of cloth
- Repeat the whole process once a day for a week
4. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is the best home remedy for tiny red spots caused by poison ivy, eczema, sunburn, chickenpox, and allergens. It is an anti-inflammatory agent and soothes the red rashes on the skin.
What you need
- Raw oatmeal
- An old sock or muslin bag
- A clean towel
- Water
Steps to follow
- Fill up the old sock or muslin bag with oatmeal and tie a tight knot on its open edge to ensure that the oats do not drop out of it
- Dip the sock full of oatmeal in your bathing water
- Take a bath with this water
- Dry your body completely with a towel
- Repeat this 3 times a week
5. Aloe Vera
Natural fresh Aloe Vera is an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent. It will soothe your skin and prevent secondary infections.
Requirements
- Aloe Vera leaves
- A Sharp knife
- A mixer/ blender
- A container for collecting the gel
Preparation and application
- Take two pieces of aloe Vera leaves and cut them on both ends. Use a knife to take out the upper green layer from the leaf in order to expose the thick aloe Vera gel in the leaves.
- In case you find any yellow liquid on the leaf, rinse it out with clean water.
- Peel off the greenback of the leaf.
- The clear thick gel that is left is the aloe Vera gel.
- Cut the gel into small pieces and blend the gel into a liquid form.
- Apply the aloe Vera gel directly to the affected area in a circular motion.
- Let it settle for 30 minutes
- Rinse it off with clean water and dry your skin
- Repeat this twice a day
6. Cold Compress
A cold compress is able to prevent itching and reduce inflammation of raised bumps caused by insect bites, heat rash, or poison ivy.
Requirements
- Ice cubes
- A clean piece of cloth
- A spoon
What to do
- Scoop one or two ice cubes using a spoon.
- Do not put ice cubes directly on your skin.
- Place them on a clean piece of cloth.
- Wrap them with the cloth and tie a knot so that they do not fall off.
- Press the ice cubes in the cloth against the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Remove the ice cubes.
- Repeat this as often as you can in a day especially when the swelling on the skin is itchy.
- It is the best way to avoid scratching an itchy inflammation
7. Chamomile
Chamomile tea has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. It will reduce the swelling and soreness of the red spots. It also hastens the healing process.
Requirements
- Chamomile tea bags
- Warm Water
- A-Basin
- A clean piece of cloth
What to do
- Pour warm water in a basin
- Add or 2 teabags of chamomile tea in the water
- Let the tea bag steep for sometime
- Ensure the affected area is clean and dry
- Remove the teabag from the water and squeeze out the excess water
- Press the teabags against the affected area for 10 minutes.
- Wash off the chamomile tea from your skin and dry your skin using a clean piece of cloth
- Repeat the process 3 times a day
8. Calendula Flowers
Calendula flowers are antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory agents as well as an astringent. They reduce the swelling, soothes the itchiness, and prevent secondary infection on the rash.
Requirements
- Calendula flowers
- A Pestle & a mortar
- A knife
- A clean piece of cloth
- Water
Preparation and application
- Wash the calendula flowers
- Cut them into big chunks with a knife
- Place them in the mortar
- Pound with a pestle to form a paste
- Ensure that the affected area is clean and dry
- Smear the paste of calendula flowers on the rashes
- Let it settle for 20 minutes and dry up
- Rinse it off with warm water
- Repeat this procedure 2 times a day
9. Coriander
Coriander is not only a food additive but also a home remedy for rashes on the skin. It has got wonderful properties that will reduce the inflammation and soothe the rashes until they go away.
What you need
- Coriander leaves
- A Pestle & a mortar
- A knife
- Water
What to do
- Wash the coriander leaves to get rid of any soil on them
- Cut them into big chunks with a knife
- Place them in the mortar
- Pound with a pestle to form a paste
- Ensure the affected area is clean and dry
- Smear the coriander paste on the affected area
- Let it settle for 20 minutes
- Rinse it off with cold water
- Add the paste to your food when cooking or after cooking it
- Repeat this procedure 3 times a day
- Use coriander leaves as often as you wish.
- You can also blend green juice using coriander and drink it daily
10. Neem
Neem is a natural plant that can treat over 40 different diseases. It is ideal for getting rid of rashes like eczema, heat rash, allergies, and psoriasis. It is rich in antioxidants that are able to rejuvenate the skin back to its healthy state after healing.
What you need
- Warm Water
- A bucket
- A sieve
Preparation and application
- Boil water and pour it in a bucket
- Add neem leaves to the water and cover the bucket with a tight lid
- Let the leaves steep for sometime
- Sieve the leaves to separate them from the water
- Let the water cool
- Take a shower with clean pure water
- Then use the water you obtained from sieving the neem leaves for a final rinse of your body as you concentrate on the affected area.
- Dry your body completely with a towel
- Repeat this daily until your rash heals
11. Coconut oil
Has a soothing effect that stops the rash from itching and reduces inflammation overnight.
Requirements
- Coconut oil
- A Cotton Ball
- Water
What to do
- Take a shower before you go to bed
- Soak a cotton ball with coconut oil
- Apply coconut oil on the affected area using the cotton ball
- Let it stay overnight on your skin.
- Repeat this process every night until you see a change
12. Natural Yoghurt
Yoghurt has a soothing effect that relieves the pain and itching caused by some rashes like heat rash and insect bites.
What you need
- Natural yogurt
- A Cotton Ball
- Water
What to do
- Take a shower
- Soak a cotton ball with natural yogurt
- Apply the natural yogurt on the affected area using the cotton ball
- Let it dry up
- Rinse it off with clean water
- Repeat this process 4 times a day until you see a change
When to See a Doctor
Little red spots on skin can be a mild issue but there are some alarms to watch out for. When these spots occur in clusters they are known as a rash. You should visit your doctor if you experience any of the following;
- If you develop a rash after taking medication
- If you have a red rash on face or lips and experience trouble breathing.
- If rashes appear on your entire body
- If you have rashes accompanied by fever and pain.
- If you have blisters that are filled with yellow or green fluid.
- If the rash worsens or lasts longer than 6 weeks
- When your angiomas bleed all the time
Treatment
Tiny red spots on skin can be treated using simple home remedies since most of them are not caused by serious infections, they are just skin conditions. But if they are a symptom of an underlying health issue then the bumps will go away once you cure the disease.
Skin moisturizers that are rich in vitamin E can help in soothing these bumps and getting rid of them with time. Vitamin E rejuvenates the skin. It is ideal for skin conditions like eczema.
Little red spots on the skin that are itchy can be controlled using corticosteroid cream like Deltasone that can be purchased over the counter.
Allergies and stress rash can be treated using over-the-counter antihistamine e.g. diphenhydramine, celestine, cetirizine, fexofenadine, and Claritin.
A cold compress is able to prevent itching caused by mosquito bites and even reduce the swelling.
Angiomas can be permanently cured via surgery. The following are the types of surgery options for angioma;
- Electrocauterization – The angiomas are burnt using electric current.
- Cryosurgery – The angiomas are frozen using liquid nitrogen
- Laser surgery – A pulse dye laser is used to destroy the angiomas
If your rash is caused by stress, this may be a sign that you need to reduce some of the stressors in your life. There are many methods to help ease your mind and relieve stress, including:
• Going to therapy
• Practicing meditation or yoga
• Making time for personal hobbies
And once you find techniques that help you to relax, you may find that your skin condition also improves. Some more relief measures to try are Cold compress. One of the fastest and easiest ways to stop the pain and itch of a rash is to apply cold. Oatmeal bath, Aloe Vera (fresh), Coconut oil, Tea tree oil, etc. are the easiest ways to stop the pain and itch of a rash.