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What Causes Itching Skin Bumps?

Anna T.
Anna T.

Itching skin bumps may be the result of a number of things, including allergies, insect bites, or skin conditions like eczema. There are also certain medications that occasionally cause side effects, which may include itching skin bumps. It is often hard to determine the exact cause of itchy bumps, but in most cases simply examining the appearance of the bumps and thinking about the events leading up to the outbreak might give a person a clue as to the cause. Some skin bumps will go away in a few days on their own, but there are some that may continue to be a problem until the underlying cause of the bumps is dealt with.

People occasionally find that they are allergic to soaps or lotions that they use on their skin when they break out in itchy bumps. In most cases, the bumps are a result of one specific ingredient in a product they are using and will go away if a person switches products. Any time that someone breaks out into a rash or develops itchy skin bumps just after trying a new product, she may need to immediately stop using the product to see if the irritation goes away. If it does, that probably means that the product was to blame for the skin reaction.

Mosquito bites can cause itching skin bumps.
Mosquito bites can cause itching skin bumps.

Bug bites are also a common culprit of itching skin bumps. With bug bites, particularly mosquito bites, the bumps will itch and swell up right after a person is bitten, and then the symptoms will taper off until the bite fades away. Bug bites are usually not a reason for concern unless a person is allergic to a specific type of insect, in which case his reaction might be much more severe. There are certain types of bugs, like arachnids such as spiders and scorpions, that can cause itching skin bumps while also making a person very sick, in which case medical attention may be crucial.

Itching skin bumps can be a result of a number of things, such as allergies, insect bites, or eczema.
Itching skin bumps can be a result of a number of things, such as allergies, insect bites, or eczema.

Other things that cause itching skin bumps are common skin conditions such as eczema, which many people have. People with eczema typically have very sensitive skin, and avoiding unnecessary ingredients in products like fragrance and some chemicals can help them to avoid flare-ups. Itchy skin bumps may also appear when a person takes various types of medication. This could either be caused by a side effect of the medicine or an allergic reaction that a person has to it. Any bumps that appear on the skin as a result of taking certain medicines should probably be reported to a doctor even if the problem is not severe.

Discussion Comments

anon994075

When I handle raw shrimp and crab, my hands break out in itchy white bumps, but eating them doesn't affect me.

ddljohn

@SteamLouis-- It could also be hand soap or something like that. Even extreme dryness can cause itching and skin bumps. It happens to my sister sometimes in winter. I, on the other hand, are allergic to most of the liquid hand soap on the market. The chemicals and perfumes used in them cause me to break out and itch. I have to use an organic hand soap.

ZipLine

@SteamLouis-- Have you seen your doctor about this? I'm sure that your doctor will give the best advice.

I'm not an expert but I think it's possible for food allergies to cause skin bumps and itching on the hands. Usually, food allergies show symptoms on the face, lips or the tongue. Allergies can cause lips and face to swell and itch. It can also cause the tongue and throat to swell which is very dangerous and can lead to death through anaphylaxis.

Symptoms on skin like skin on the hands is most often due to contact dermatitis. So you would get these issues after touching something that you are allergic too. But someone once told me that they get a weird, flaky, itchy rash on their hands after eating eggs. If that's true, then it's also possible to get an itchy rash on the hands after eating seafood that you are allergic to.

Like I said, see your doctor and get the necessary allergy tests to get to the bottom of this.

SteamLouis

Can food allergies cause itching and skin bumps on the hands?

I woke up yesterday with small bumps on my hands that are also itchy. I have no idea what happened. I don't remember touching something that can cause allergies. I did have some seafood recently but I've never been allergic to seafood. I'm just confused.

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    • Mosquito bites can cause itching skin bumps.
      By: hjschneider
      Mosquito bites can cause itching skin bumps.
    • Itching skin bumps can be a result of a number of things, such as allergies, insect bites, or eczema.
      By: nebari
      Itching skin bumps can be a result of a number of things, such as allergies, insect bites, or eczema.
    • Itching skin bumps can be a symptom of eczema.
      By: quayside
      Itching skin bumps can be a symptom of eczema.
    • Scorpion stings can cause itching skin bumps and require medical attention.
      By: StanOd
      Scorpion stings can cause itching skin bumps and require medical attention.
    • Beyond the itching skin bumps, bug bites are not a cause for concern unless the person is allergic to a specific type of insect.
      By: jedi-master
      Beyond the itching skin bumps, bug bites are not a cause for concern unless the person is allergic to a specific type of insect.
    • Exposure to a material such as latex can cause itching in those who are allergic to it.
      By: Radu Razvan
      Exposure to a material such as latex can cause itching in those who are allergic to it.
    • A poison ivy rash may appear as a red, itchy rash marked by bumps.
      By: librakv
      A poison ivy rash may appear as a red, itchy rash marked by bumps.
    • Acne might cause skin to be itchy.
      By: Ocskay Bence
      Acne might cause skin to be itchy.