What should you know about bumps under skin on legs?

Small, rough bumps around hair follicles may fit keratosis pilaris, while red or tender bumps centred on hairs can occur with folliculitis. Heat, sweat, and friction may cause a prickly eruption. Firm, flat-topped or purple-red bumps can have other explanations, including lichen planus. Tiny pearly white bumps are often milia, although milia are more typical on the face than the legs. A photo and examination are useful when the pattern is unclear.

Wash gently, pat dry, and avoid picking, squeezing, or scrubbing the area. Loose clothing can reduce rubbing, and a plain moisturiser may help roughness. Pause a new shaving product or fragranced lotion if the bumps appeared after using it. Note whether they itch, hurt, drain, spread, or change colour. Do not freeze or apply strong acids to an unidentified bump at home. A clinician can match treatment to the cause; options may include an antihistamine for selected itch or a procedure such as cryotherapy for a suitable lesion.

Arrange a medical review if a bump grows, bleeds, becomes persistently painful, repeatedly returns, or does not settle. Seek prompt care for rapidly spreading redness, warmth, pus, fever, severe swelling, or red streaks. Urgent assessment is also sensible for sudden leg swelling with pain or breathlessness, because that pattern is not a routine skin bump.

Could the bumps be folliculitis, keratosis pilaris, or another condition? Should I stop shaving or a particular product? What changes would mean I need a follow-up? If one bump is removed, will it be examined?