Pimples are a common skin condition for people of all ages. While pimples on the face, back, neck, chest, and shoulders are more common, pimples can occur on the arms as well.
If you find red bumps or pustules on your arm, there’s a good chance that you have a typical pimple on your arm. However, it could be an indication of a more serious underlying condition.
A pimple, a symptom of acne, is caused by the opening of a pore. This allows bacteria, dead skin, or oil to enter the pore, which can then trigger a response from your body.
Your body begins to fight the foreign substances in your pore, and that’s what causes a red bump to form. Sometimes the red bump will form a pus-filled head.
Our skin can be very sensitive. This means that there are many causes and contributing factors to pimples on the arms. The National Institutes of Health reports that every four out of five people have been affected by acne in their teens and early adult life.
Common causes of pimples include:
Treating a pimple on your arm is pretty simple. A pimple normally heals on its own, but if you have a large number of pimples on your arm, you may want to consider prescribed treatment from a dermatologist. If you don’t already have a dermatologist, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.
Here are some tips to help a pimple heal:
Pimples are very common! The good thing about that is that there are plenty of ways you can prevent pimples from occurring. Some common ways to prevent pimples include:
If you have a bump on your arm, it’s likely to be a pimple. However, there are other skin conditions that can look like pimples.
Keratosis pilaris
Keratosis pilaris appears as small, rough bumps. They may have a slight pink ring around them. They’re caused by excess keratin which plugs up hair follicles. You can treat this by moisturizing or using steroid creams.
Hives
Hives can appear as red, raised bumps. If your bumps are itchy, they may be hives rather than pimples. Hives are caused by stress or an allergic reaction and will usually go away on their own.
Pyogenic granuloma
Pyogenic granuloma are smooth, red bumps that appear on the skin. These bumps bleed easily. The cause of them is currently unknown, but they usually go away on their own. Serious cases are treated by surgery, lasers, or creams.
Staph infection
Staph infections are usually caused by skin-to-skin contact with someone infected with the staphylococcus bacteria. This is a serious infection and needs to be treated by a medical professional.
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While pimples on your arm, or anywhere on your body, can be embarrassing, the good news is that they usually go away on their own. Often, they can be prevented by implementing a good skin care routine and washing after physical activity or anything that causes oil to build up on your skin.
If the pimples — or what appear to be pimples — on your arm are severe or are causing you stress, be sure to consult a dermatologist for treatment.