What could be the cause of small, raised, itchy red or white bumps on elbows and knees? Psoriasis and eczema are among the possible cause of elbow bumps. In this page, we shall provide you with the possible causes, symptoms of these conditions, images and how best to get rid of elbow bumps.
A number of both medical and environmental factor might lead to the formation of bumps on elbows and other parts of the body including the knees. Elbows are exposed to irritants like soap, skin irritation from clothes and dangerous rays from sun exposure.
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1. Itchy Elbows Causes, Rash, Bumps and How to Get Rid
What causes bumps on my elbows?
Bumps on elbows can upper due to a number of reasons. The causes will range from skin rashes to abscess which fluid filled bumps are caused by bacterial infection on the skin. Each cause will have its own symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. The bumps will also vary in size depending on the underlying cause.
Some of the condition causing these bumps can be treated at home whereas others will require a visit to a dermatologist. If you tray treating the bumps at home and they fail to respond to the remedy, you will have to visit the health care for diagnosis. Below are some of the common causes of the bumps.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin condition known to cause red, itchy, scaly patches. Psoriasis is a chronic auto immune skin condition that causes rapid buildup of skin cells. There is at least five types of psoriasis with varying signs and symptoms.
Psoriasis can be shown as red raised inflamed patches, itching, burning sensation and painful sores can all be symptoms of psoriasis. The condition is not contagious. It is however related to the immune system and at times genetically linked.
The condition can be treated using topical corticosteroids, topical retinoid or skin moisturizers.
Scabies
Scabies is a contagious skin diseases characterized by itchy small raised red spots. Scabies s common in urban areas than in rural areas. It is also common n children and women than inn men. Those with scabies will experience itching, burning sensation and a continue urge to scratch the rash.
Eczema (atopic dermatitis)
Though common in children, atopic dermatitis can occur to anybody. It is an allergic condition that causes the skin become itchy and red. Painful itchy bumps can also develop on skin. Topical ointment are the best way to relieve and soothe the skin.
Contact dermatitis
Just like eczema, contact dermatitis is caused by allergic reaction of the skin to substance that comes in contact with the skin. Avoiding these allergic allergens will help reduce the inflammation and bumps. Seek medical attention if the cause of the bumps is unknown.
Viral infections
Viral infection like chicken pox, shingles and impetigo can also cause these bumps to develop on elbows. As in the case of shingles and chicken pox, a vaccine can be used to prevent the infection to hose not infected before.
Bumps on elbows and knees
Bumps on elbows and knees can occur to anyone regardless of age or gender. Hard bumps are however common to people with dry skin compare to those with those with gentle and soft skin. Dry skin is an uncomfortable condition marked with scaling, itching and cracking. Hard skin can occur due to a number of reasons.
The condition is common in winter weather. Steamy shower can also rid your body of the natural oils leaving it dry. Harsh bathing soap can also rob off these oils leaving your skin dry. With bumps on knees and elbow, the skin will swell turn red and blotchy. The bumps might also be accompanied with an itchy rash that can worsen the condition even further.
When the skin, in this cases the elbows comes in contact with allergic substances, it might result in an adverse reaction that causes skin inflammation. This is known as contact dermatitis. The reaction can be caused by chemical components in soap, detergents or fragrance. For instance, you could develop a very itchy and painful rash accompanied with bumps by wearing clothes washed by these kind of detergents.
Exposure to metals or plants like poison ivy can also cause these bumps to develop on your elbows. Medical condition like scabies, psoriasis and viral infection can also cause these bumps to develop on elbows, knees and other parts of the body.
In children and young adults, scabies and psoriasis are the main cause of these bumps on skin. Scabies is a contagious skin disease marked with small raised red spot. The condition is caused by the itch mite. On the other hand, psoriasis is a skin condition marked by itchy red, scaly patches and spots on skin. Psoriasis is an auto immune condition known to cause rapid build-up of skin cells.
Bumps on elbows picture
For diagnosis, we have provided some images below and throughout this article to help you diagnose the condition causing bumps on your elbows. Remember, the images are only for illustration and cannot be substituted for a professional diagnosis. You need to have a doctor diagnose the condition to establish what the underlying cause of the bumps is.
Itchy bumps on elbows
Itchy bums on elbows can be painful and discomforting. Below are some of the possible cause of these bumps.
a) Boils on elbows
A boil is a deep infection of the hair follicle. It is caused by a bacterial infection and is known to cause painful bumps filled with pus. Antibacterial soaps and maintaining high levels of hygiene can help treat and prevent the formation of boils.
b) Abscesses
This is a swollen area of skin within body tissues that contain an accumulation of pus. Abscess can be said to be uninfected boils.
c) Dermatitis herpetiformis
Though the name might suggest a possible relation to herpes or herpes virus, medics say there is no relation whatsoever. The condition is known to cause extreme itchy rash with painful bumps and blisters.
d) Olecranon bursitis
Informally known as liquid elbow, the condition is characterized by pain, redness and swelling. Tee condition is caused by the inflammation of the elbow bursa. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac lined by synovial membrane with inner capillary of viscous fluid. This condition is common du to single injury to the elbows
Little or small bumps on elbows
There exist a number of skin condition that might cause little or small bumps. These will include condition like eczema also known as atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, impetigo and dry skin.
Most of these condition will include itching, a burning sensation and painful irritation on the skin around the infected area. For mild cases, the symptoms can be managed at home or you could develop “a wait and see” approach and let the symptoms clear on their own. Topical ointments can be used to relieve the itching and inflammation. See a doctor if the symptoms take long to clear or do not respond to medication.
Red bumps on elbows
Red bumps on elbows can occur on anybody regardless of the age and gender. The condition is more common in children than in adult. In children and infants, the bumps can be caused by psoriasis, scabies or eczema. Psoriasis is a skin condition known to cause redness, itching and scaly patches. Scabies also causes itching and small raised itchy spots. Scabies is caused by an itch mite.
Eczema or atopic dermatitis is an allergic skin condition. It causes the skin to become rough and inflamed. Eczema can also be accompanied by painful blisters that itch and bleed. Other cause of these bumps can include the irritation of the immune system. These can be caused by drug or food allergy.
Red bumps can also be caused by impetigo. Impetigo is a contagious bacterial skin infection forming pustules and yellow crusty sores on skin. Impetigo is a rarely serious and usually resolve on its own with a couple of weeks. To prevent complication in children, most doctors will insist on treating the condition with topical or oral antibiotics.
White bumps on elbows
White bumps on elbows can be itchy and painful causing a lot of discomfort especially for children. Bumps are common in both children and adult. In children the common cause is atopic dermatitis also referred to eczema. This is a condition in which patches of the skin becomes rough and inflamed. The condition is in most cases accompanied with painful itchy blisters known to cause itching and bleeding. Eczema has no known obvious external cause.
White bumps can also be caused by allergic reaction to food and medicines. This is common in people with diabetes, auto immune disorder or any form of allergy. That is why it is advised to avoid self-medication and over the counter medication.
Contact dermatitis can also be the cause of the white bumps on elbow, knee and other body parts. Contact dermatitis is an itchy rash that occurs when the body comes into contact with reactive allergens like soap and detergents. Most cases of contact dermatitis can be managed at home by avoiding further contact with the allergen or using simple natural home remedies like applying aloe Vera gel. Topical ointments can also be used to relieve the elbows of the itching.
Finally white bumps on your elbows can be caused by dry skin. Dry skin occurs when your skin is deprived of natural oils. The condition is common in winter and can also be caused by regular steamy showers. To prevent against this, you can apply topical emollients and sun screen before exposing your skin to direct sunlight.
Seek medical if the underlying cause of the white bumps is unknown, or the bump is accompanied by other unbearable symptoms.
Bumps on elbow not itchy
As started earlier, bumps on elbow can be itchy or itchy less. The common condition causing itchy less bumps will include skin cyst, Lyme disease caused by tick bites, granuloma annulare and shingles.
Raised bumps on elbows and knees
Are the raised bumps on elbows and knees worrying you? The answer to this rhetorical question should be yes for most people. Some people will get paranoid by a simple sight of raised skin bumps. Mild cases of these bumps will clear on their own with little or no medical intervention at all. Also, some of these bumps are not life threatening.
Raised bump will occur due to a number of reasons. The condition can occur due to a number of both genetic and external reasons as is the case with dermatitis. Irritation of the immune system or hyper activity might also cause raised bumps to appear on elbows and other body parts.
Scabies, a contagious skin infection is known to cause these bumps in children. The condition can be transmitted from an infected person to your kid through physical contact. Other causes known to cause skin rash accompanied by raised lumps are psoriasis and impetigo. Impetigo is a contagious bacterial infection forming pustules and yellow crusty sores.
You will realize we have not included cancer as a possible cause of the bumps. That is because, not all raised skin growths are caused by cancer. But that does not completely rule out cancer as a possible cause of the raised bumps. To confirm that, have a professional dermatology diagnose the bumps to be sure what the underlying cause of the bumps is.
How to get rid of bumps on elbows naturally, fast-Home remedies
For mild cases of these bumps, the symptoms can be managed and relieved at home using readily available natural home remedies. Below we have provided you with the common used remedies for the bumps on skin.
Be warned that these are just home remedies, they serve to soothe and relieve the skin of the symptoms. We do not guarantee of 100 percent result in terms of treating or healing the condition causing the bumps on elbows.
a) Exfoliating
Scrubbing to remove dead skin on knees and elbows can help get rid of the bumps. Natural sugar can effectively be used to scrub off the dead skin cells. To prepare the perfect remedy for the exfoliation. Mix 3 part of sugar with 1 part milk powder with a table spoon of raw organic honey.
Gently mix the ingredients and apply the paste on the infected part of the elbows or knee. Wait for some minutes before rinsing it off. Repeat this twice daily for optimal results.
b) Moisturize the skin
To prevent dry skin, you need to keep you skin moist and oily. Moisturizing creams and petroleum jelly can help you do that. Avoid regular steamy showers and apply these skin moisturizers twice a day.
c) Rub a banana to reduce dryness
Skin dryness can also be reduced by rubbing a peeled banana on the elbows. Banana are rich in vitamin C which is an important skin healing component. This is according to the Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry.
d) Lemon juice for the bumps
Lemon juice is a good remedy for swelling and inflammation. Squeeze a fresh lemon fruit to drain the juice in a cup. You can use a swab to apply the lemon on the infected area. Rinse the skin and apply a skin moisturizer after 30 minutes.
e) Cinnamon and honey
A paste of cinnamon and honey can be an effective remedy for bacterial infection on skin. Cinnamon is microbial whereas honey has antibacterial qualities, together they make a perfect home remedy for skin bumps with bacterial infection.
f) Apple cider vinegar
Raw cider vinegar contains strong anti-itching and anti-inflammatory qualities. When applied on inflamed bumps, it can serve to soothe the skin and relieve the itching and inflammation.
g) Baking soda paste
Baking soda paste can also help get rid of these bumps. Baking soda help in sucking out bacteria and other skin small microorganism causing infection.
h) Aloe Vera gel
Aloe Vera has been used since time immemorial for different skin conditions. Aloe Vera is said to possess strong antibacterial, anti-itching and anti-inflammatory properties. Thus when applied on bumps on skin it can help reduce the inflammation, the itching and the swelling.
Squeeze a fresh aloe Vera leave to get the gel. To make the remedy even more effective you can mix the gel with 2 table spoons of raw organic honey. Apply the paste on the elbows and wait for 20 minutes before rinsing it off.
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Sources and references
- Bumps on elbows: http://healthh.com/bumps-on-elbows/
- Lump on knee and elbows: http://www.treatnheal.com/bumps/elbow-bumps/bumps-on-elbows-itchy-white-red-rash-lump-get-rid/
- Bumps on elbows: http://www.lightskincure.org/bumps/bumps-on-elbows-knees-pimples-white-red-rough-get-rid/
- Skin bumps: http://symptomchecker.webmd.com/multiple-symptoms?symptoms=red-spots%7Cskin-rash&symptomids=271%7C185&locations=7%7C68
- Elbow bumps: http://www.healthyhowto.org/elbow/elbow-bumps/bumps-on-elbows-pictures-small-itchy-red-painful-how-to-get-of/