What should you know about large red bumps on the skin?

A red bump may follow a new product, plant, adhesive or medicine and fit contact dermatitis. Heat and sweating can produce heat rash. Sunburn causes redness and tenderness after ultraviolet exposure. Rosacea may cause facial redness and inflamed bumps, while psoriasis can produce raised, scaly areas. Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that presents with a painful, warm, expanding red area and may cause fever.

The symptom does not determine its cause. A clinician considers where the bumps are, how quickly they appeared, whether they itch or hurt, whether the surface is scaly or blistered, and whether illness is present.

Stop any newly introduced product that may be irritating the area, keep the skin cool, and cleanse gently. Avoid scratching, tight clothing and unadvised steroid or antibiotic creams, particularly on the face. A cool compress may ease discomfort. Photographing the change and noting exposures, heat, sun and new medicines can help during an appointment. Treatment depends on the cause; an IPL photofacial is a specialist option for selected persistent redness, not a substitute for diagnosing infection or active inflammation.

Seek same-day medical advice for rapidly expanding redness, marked warmth, significant pain, pus, red streaking or fever. Get urgent help for facial swelling with breathing difficulty, a severe blistering reaction, confusion or feeling faint. A rash near the eye, mouth or genitals also deserves prompt assessment.

Ask what pattern the bumps fit, whether infection needs ruling out, which products or medicines to stop, what treatment is safe for your skin, and what change should trigger urgent review.