Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesTreatmentWhen to Seek Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Treatment
When to Seek Care
This article details the most frequent causes of pimples and bumps on elbows. It also covers treatment options, and explains when to see a healthcare provider.
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Acne
Acneis a skin condition that causes pimples. When a pimple appears, the hair follicles that are located under the skin are clogged. Pimples can form on most places of the body, including the neck, back, face, shoulders, and elbows.
Although stress and diet are not known to cause acne, they can make it worse.
Keratosis Pilaris
The bumpy skin is usually painless, rough, and dry. Keratosis pilaris usually gets better on its own.
Boils
If left unbothered, it should break down on its own over time. Boils should not be squeezed or picked at, as this may spread the infection. In some cases, a doctor may be needed to drain the boil.
Folliculitis
Folliculitisis inflammation or infection of the hair follicles. It can show up anywhere on the skin where there are hair follicles, including the elbow. It occurs when the hair follicles are damaged. It may not have symptoms, or the skin may feel itchy or painful.
Ingrown Hair
Aningrown hairis inflammation due to a hair curling as it is growing and then penetrating the skin with the hair tip. It is more common in people who have curly hair, but it can happen to anyone. It is more common on the face and groin but could happen on the elbow.
When an ingrown hair occurs, there is redness, the area is inflamed, and pus may form. Symptoms may vary, depending on the person. Ingrown hairs can be similar to other skin conditions, so speak with a healthcare professional to get the right diagnosis.
Warts
Wartsare small, round growths on the surface of the skin that develop when the skin is exposed to human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts rarely grow larger than the size of a pencil eraser and may be light grey, skin-colored, yellow, brown, or grey-black. They are typically painless.
In most cases, warts disappear within a year or two. However, there are more than 150 strains of HPV, some of which can stay dormant in the body for years.This means it is possible for a wart to disappear, and then re-emerge months or even years later.
Eczema
Eczemacauses itchy, dry skin and rashes. Also called dermatitis, this condition typically appears on the face, behind the knees, and on the elbows, hands, and feet. Eczema is not contagious.
Babies and children typically get a type of eczema called atopic dermatitis. Adults can get it too. There are other common types of eczema as well. Although the cause is unknown, environmental and genetic factors are known to play a role.
This condition can improve over time or get worse. Speak with a healthcare professional for diagnosis and a plan to manage symptoms.
Psoriasis
Psoriasisis a skin condition that affects the knees, elbows, back, face, palms, scalp, and other parts of the body. Psoriasis causes sore patches of thick, discolored skin with silvery scales.
Individuals with psoriasis are known to have issues with the immune system. Depending on the severity, lifestyle habits, and person, psoriasis can come and go. This condition can look like several skin diseases.
It is important to speak with a healthcare professional so they can give a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
Dermatitis Herpetiformis
People with DH develop an itchy, blistering, burning rash after eating gluten. This rash is often mistaken for eczema and typically develops on the elbows, forearms, knees, and buttocks.DH tends to develop suddenly and may last for weeks or months, or until gluten is completely removed from the diet.
What Dermatitis Herpetiformis Looks Like
Vitamin A Deficiency
Vitamin A deficiency is rare. When it happens, it needs to be treated, as it can lead to blindness and even death.If you develop signs of phrynoderma and/or vision problems, see a healthcare provider right away.
Lichen Nitidus
The condition is harmless and resolves on its own. It is not painful, although in rare cases it may itch. The exact cause of lichen nitidus is unknown, although it often develops on skin areas where there was a previous injury.
It’s not common, but skin cancer could also appear as a bump on the elbow.
Whilepopping a pimpleis the first instinct for some, it is important to let it run its course and use proper treatments to help the pimple go away. Popping a pimple can cause infection and scarring. There are over-the-counter treatments, medication, and home remedies that can help.
Home Remedies
A warm compress may help open the pores and allow the pimple to drain naturally.
There are a number of home remedies and essential oils that can help ease pimples on the elbow. They include:
Over-the-Counter Treatments
Acne treatmentsthat you can apply to the skin for pimples include:
For eczema and some other conditions, hydrocortisone cream may be used.
Medication
Depending on whether your elbow pimple is due to acne or another condition, your healthcare professional may prescribe medication. Prescription acne treatments may include:
Lifestyle Changes
If you have a pimple on your elbow, it is important to keep the area clean. A healthcare professional can give the proper suggestions regarding specified treatment depending on the condition. The proper way to clean and treat the area depends on the diagnosis. It is important to keep the area clean, use clean washcloths, and be gentle.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you have a pimple on your elbow and it does not bother you, allow it to run its course. If it increases in size or has pus in it, call your doctor to be on the safe side. Depending on the skin condition, it could be another issue.
There are some skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, that need additional treatment. Depending on the severity, the doctor can determine the type of treatment needed. It is important to follow the doctor’s plan and treatment recommendations for certain skin conditions.
It is important to see a doctor if you have any questions or concerns about the pimple. If your pimple is bleeding, infected, warm, or painful, or if there is an unusual amount of discharge coming from it, call a healthcare provider.
Summary
A pimple could appear on your elbow due to acne. Other conditions that may produce a pimple-like bump in the area include boils, eczema, folliculitis, and psoriasis. A normal pimple will go away on its own. If you see a bump that concerns you, don’t hesitate to call your healthcare provider. It could need professional treatment, or indicate a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis that can be managed with medication.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Penn Medicine.What is acne?.Wang JF, Orlow SJ.Keratosis pilaris and its subtypes: Associations, new molecular and pharmacologic etiologies, and therapeutic options.Am J Clin Dermatol.2018;19(5):733-57. doi:10.1007/s40257-018-0368-3Alberta.Boils.American Association of Dermatology Association.Acne-like breakouts could be folliculitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ingrown hairs.Harvard Health Publishing.Getting rid of common warts.Mount Sinai.Warts.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Atopic dermatitis.Penn Medicine.Psoriasis.Mount Sinai.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Yale Medicine.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Rao P, Upputuria B, Hemalatha R.Associated nutritional co-morbidities among children attending at Nutrition Clinic, Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad, India.Indian J Paed Dermatol. 2016 Jun;17(2):108-111. doi:10.4103/2319-7250.175657World Health Organization.Vitamin A deficiency.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Lichen nitidus.Orchard A, van Vuuren S.Commercial essential oils as potential antimicrobials to treat skin diseases.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:4517971. doi:10.1155/2017/4517971
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Penn Medicine.What is acne?.Wang JF, Orlow SJ.Keratosis pilaris and its subtypes: Associations, new molecular and pharmacologic etiologies, and therapeutic options.Am J Clin Dermatol.2018;19(5):733-57. doi:10.1007/s40257-018-0368-3Alberta.Boils.American Association of Dermatology Association.Acne-like breakouts could be folliculitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ingrown hairs.Harvard Health Publishing.Getting rid of common warts.Mount Sinai.Warts.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Atopic dermatitis.Penn Medicine.Psoriasis.Mount Sinai.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Yale Medicine.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Rao P, Upputuria B, Hemalatha R.Associated nutritional co-morbidities among children attending at Nutrition Clinic, Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad, India.Indian J Paed Dermatol. 2016 Jun;17(2):108-111. doi:10.4103/2319-7250.175657World Health Organization.Vitamin A deficiency.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Lichen nitidus.Orchard A, van Vuuren S.Commercial essential oils as potential antimicrobials to treat skin diseases.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:4517971. doi:10.1155/2017/4517971
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Penn Medicine.What is acne?.Wang JF, Orlow SJ.Keratosis pilaris and its subtypes: Associations, new molecular and pharmacologic etiologies, and therapeutic options.Am J Clin Dermatol.2018;19(5):733-57. doi:10.1007/s40257-018-0368-3Alberta.Boils.American Association of Dermatology Association.Acne-like breakouts could be folliculitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ingrown hairs.Harvard Health Publishing.Getting rid of common warts.Mount Sinai.Warts.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Atopic dermatitis.Penn Medicine.Psoriasis.Mount Sinai.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Yale Medicine.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Rao P, Upputuria B, Hemalatha R.Associated nutritional co-morbidities among children attending at Nutrition Clinic, Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad, India.Indian J Paed Dermatol. 2016 Jun;17(2):108-111. doi:10.4103/2319-7250.175657World Health Organization.Vitamin A deficiency.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Lichen nitidus.Orchard A, van Vuuren S.Commercial essential oils as potential antimicrobials to treat skin diseases.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:4517971. doi:10.1155/2017/4517971
Penn Medicine.What is acne?.
Wang JF, Orlow SJ.Keratosis pilaris and its subtypes: Associations, new molecular and pharmacologic etiologies, and therapeutic options.Am J Clin Dermatol.2018;19(5):733-57. doi:10.1007/s40257-018-0368-3
Alberta.Boils.
American Association of Dermatology Association.Acne-like breakouts could be folliculitis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ingrown hairs.
Harvard Health Publishing.Getting rid of common warts.
Mount Sinai.Warts.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Atopic dermatitis.
Penn Medicine.Psoriasis.
Mount Sinai.Dermatitis herpetiformis.
Yale Medicine.Dermatitis herpetiformis.
Rao P, Upputuria B, Hemalatha R.Associated nutritional co-morbidities among children attending at Nutrition Clinic, Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad, India.Indian J Paed Dermatol. 2016 Jun;17(2):108-111. doi:10.4103/2319-7250.175657
World Health Organization.Vitamin A deficiency.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Lichen nitidus.
Orchard A, van Vuuren S.Commercial essential oils as potential antimicrobials to treat skin diseases.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:4517971. doi:10.1155/2017/4517971
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