Small balls in the arm that affect adults or children usually do not indicate any serious illness, although it can be very uncomfortable. The 4 main causes of this symptom are keratosis pilaris, pimples, folliculitis and allergy to the skin. To identify exactly what it is should be taken into consideration where they arise and if there are other symptoms such as itching or redness of the skin in the same place or in other parts of the body.
The doctor who is most likely to know the cause of the skin balls and which treatment is appropriate is the dermatologist, but the pediatrician is the most appropriate to evaluate the children, and the general practitioner can also identify what is happening in adults.
Here we indicate the most common causes of the appearance of balls in the arm:
1. Karyatosis pilaris
The balls that appear mainly on the side and back of the arms or on the butt due to excessive production of keratin by the skin. This change is a genetic trait, and therefore has no cure, but when not properly treated it can ignite if the person is moving with dirty hands, and lead to darkening of some regions of the skin.
- What to do: The polka dots tend to appear more often in the summer due to sweat and the use of tight jeans. Therefore, it is recommended to wear fresh clothes, which let the skin "breathe" and do not exfoliate, as they can aggravate the condition. The use of body hydrates based on urea, glycolic acid or salicylic acid is indicated to control the production of dead cells and confer the necessary hydration.
Learn all about keratosis pilaris.
2. Pimples or blackheads
The red dots can be pimples or blackheads when they are darker. This affects more teenagers and youngsters, especially in the summer and can even cause some itching, especially when the body is sweaty.
- What to do: It is advised to use anti-acne products to control the oiliness of the skin and prevent the pimples from becoming larger and inflamed. In relation to blackheads one should resist the urge to squeeze, because this habit can generate small scars that are then difficult to remove. You can take a shower normally but then apply a pimple cream such as acne, vitanol A or another indicated by the dermatologist.
Learn the best ways to combat blackheads and pimples.
3. Folliculitis
Ingrown hairs are another common cause of the appearance of small balls or small disks on the arms, groin, legs and armpits. They are usually related to razor waxing, but can also happen when you wear very tight clothing, which rubs against the skin, making it difficult for hair to grow.
- What to do: You should exfoliate the skin before doing the epilation and always wear clothes that are not too tight to the body. When there is suspicion that the site has infected the doctor may prescribe the use of some antibiotic ointment to apply for 7 to 10 days.
See all about folliculitis.
4. Skin allergy:
Allergy in the skin can cause intense itching, which can lead to even the formation of small crustones or even injure the skin. The allergy can be caused by animal hair, clothing fabric, some different cosmetic product, or some pet that came into contact with the skin, for example. Allergy to some food can also cause itching throughout the body.
- What to do: Your doctor may recommend taking an anti-allergy such as Hydroxyzine and to supplement you can wash the area with a soothing lotion like Pruriced, for example. Learn more examples of allergy remedies.
