Red spots on skin not itchy: 17 Causes, Treatments, Home Remedies
Red spots on skin not itchy can make you worried a lot as you tend to think of various causes of it. Let’s explore why it occurs and how to treat them.
Your skin is prone to bumps, blemishes, and rashes of all types. Usually, such outbreaks are not harmful and will go away on their own. However, it may not be the case all the time.
Therefore it is always better to understand the symptoms and their common causes which are responsible for such outbreaks. This way you will be able to manage and treat the symptoms in a better way.
Non-itchy red skin spots are common, and many of us have experienced such spots in our skin at some point in our life. Let us discuss the common causes of not itchy red spots on your skin.
We often think that it is normal, but in the true sense, it is not. Non-itchy does not mean that it is harmless. There may be many reasons behind the appearance of these spots. Know about the reasons that may trigger the development of such spots and understand when to consult a physician if there is something serious.
Common causes of red spots on skin not itchy:
Acne:
Red skin spots often result from acne, a very common skin condition that may be mild or severe. Acne usually presents itself as bumps on the skin that often becomes swollen and red.
Birthmarks:
These are also coloured marks on the skin that present after the birth of a baby. Sometimes these marks can be red known as a vascular birthmark that happens because of abnormal blood vessels present in the skin.
Keratosis pilaris:
This is another harmless condition of the skin which develops from the overproduction of keratin, a type of protein usually present in hair and nails. The condition produces hard but small bumps around the hair follicles, particularly those present on the upper arms, buttocks, and thighs.
Angiomas:
These are growths on the skin that can happen in any area of your body. They appear as domed red bumps and are caused by clumped blood vessels. They are also called papules, and they may appear beneath or on your skin.
Allergic reaction:
An allergic reaction is one of the most common causes of red spots or rashes on the skin. The reaction can be triggered by different allergens like laundry detergent, skin care products, cosmetics, pollens and other airborne allergens, different foods and other irritants.
Your physician may opt for a patch test to understand what type of allergens is responsible for the reactions on your skin.
Boils:
This is a skin infection involving the oil glands and the hair follicles where a firm and red bump is observed which is usually filled with pus. In general, boils do not need medical intervention and go away when the liquid or pass is drained out after it bursts open.
Pityriasis Rosea:
This is another red rash on the skin caused by a viral infection. The condition usually goes away after 6 to 12 weeks and is characterized by mother patch, which is much bigger with smaller daughter patches surrounding it. The rashes are usually red or pink in appearance with scaly and raised texture.
Heat rash:
This type of rash happens because of trapped sweat inside clogged pores of your skin. They appear as red bumps with no itchy or tingly feelings. During hot and humid climate this becomes a common condition and generally heals once the temperature of the skin gets cooler.
Dermatofibroma:
These are small nodule like red skin rashes that appear mostly in the lower legs of women. However, it can appear in men and also other parts of the body of both men and women.
The nodules are usually brown or red in colour and harmless. They commonly appear in more than one in number.
Intertrigo:
These types of rashes are seen in the skin folds of men and women. They are commonly seen on the genitals, under the breasts, in the armpits, and other areas on the torso with skin folds.
The rashes are more common in obese or overweight people as they occur because of increased moisture and heat, skin friction and other skin irritations.
Bug Bites:
They appear mostly as round red bumps which are not always itchy (some of them may be itchy as well) and may become swollen. Bed bugs and mosquitoes are the common culprits. The rashes due to mosquito bites are larger than the bed bug bites.
Blood spots or Petechiae:
They are red and round spots appearing on the skin because of the bursting of capillaries (small blood vessels) under your skin. Their appearance is flat and can be resulted due to different circumstances such as sunburns, straining, or injuries.
Irritant Contact Dermatitis:
These types of rashes also happen because of substance-related irritations. However, they are different from rashes resulted from allergic reactions in the fact that they are immunity related irritations. They usually take place because of repeated exposure to some mild irritants such as some forms of acid or alkaline solutions, detergents or soaps.
Rosacea:
This is another chronic condition of the skin where tiny red pimples appear, or only redness of the skin takes place. This happens typically on the face, and often small blood vessels can be observed on the skin surface.
Hives:
These red rashes with bumps usually may occur suddenly on any area your skin. They are also caused by allergens and last typically for a few hours to several days. They generally do not need any treatment.
Skin cancer:
Bumpy red rashes can also appear on your skin because of several skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma or melanoma. The appearance of the spots can be like moles, scaly plaques or simple red spots.
It is important to consult your physician if you feel that the rashes on your skin are not normal. When you are unsure or suspicious about your skin rashes, follow the general guideline to consult physicians and do not delay. Delaying things can aggravate the disease and treatment may become difficult.
Other situation of red rashes:
Other comparatively less common causes for red bumps, patches, spots, and rashes appearing on your skin are:
- Lyme disease
- Syphilis
- Scarlet fever
- Scabies
- Staphylococcal infection
- Genital warts
- Genital herpes
- Chickenpox
- Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
- Kawasaki disease
- Lupus
- Disorder in bleeding
- Impetigo
- Rubella
Home-based treatment for red spots on skin not itchy:
Depending on the cause you can treat most of the contact skin problems like bumps, spots and rashes. Following home remedies can be effective in speeding up the healing process and providing relief from the discomfort:
- Avoid taking a bath with fancy or scented bath soaps; instead, use gentle and mild cleansers
- Do not wash your skin and hair with hot water, instead use warm water
- Do not rub the rashes or red spots in your skin. Try to dry them by gently patting the rashes.
- Try not to cover the rashes with heavy clothing. They need to be in contact with the air maximum time possible. Keep them uncovered as far as feasible.
- Do not use lotions or cosmetics on the affected area as they may aggravate the rashes.
- If you feel to use moisturizing lotion on the rashes, then use the unscented ones
- Do not scratch the rashes as that can worsen the condition and cause further infection
- Hydrocortisone creams which are readily available over the counter can be applied to the rashes in case they are causing discomfort and have an itchy feeling. You can also make use of calamine lotion to get relief from poison oak, poison Ivy or chickenpox rashes.
- Having an oatmeal bath can also help provide soothing feeling to the rashes
- Regularly wash your scalp and hair with dandruff shampoo if the rashes are associated with dandruff. Your physician may prescribe you a stronger dandruff shampoo than the ones available in the general store
Over-the-counter medicines for the treatment of red spots on skin not itchy:
Some of the common over the counter medicines available to treat rashes are ibuprofen and acetaminophen. But take advice from your physician before applying any over the counter medicine to the rashes and never apply them for an extended period as they may have side effects.
Consult your physician to know how long you can administer those medicines specifically if you have a history of disorders of kidney or liver or stomach ulcers.
If you have the following conditions along with red rashes on your skin then seek medical help immediately:
- The rashes or bumps are not healing even after considerable time
- The nature of the rashes is changing and the condition is worsening
- You have no idea why you are having the rashes
- You are suspicious of cancer or other infections
- The discomfort and pain in the rashes are increasing
- You are feeling itchiness or tightness in your throat or a sore throat
- You are having difficulty in breathing
- Experiencing swelling in the extremities and face
- You have high fever associated with the rashes
- You have severe pain in joints, neck or head
- You are having dizziness and confusion
- You are suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting
- You have recently experienced animal bite or tick bite
- There are tender areas or red streaks near the rashes
References:
- https://www.healthline.com/health/rashes
- Skin Disease E-Book: Diagnosis and Treatment. Elsevier Health Sciences
- The occurrence and course of skin symptoms on the hands among female cleaners. Contact Dermatitis