Overview

Skin conditions such as folliculitis or razor burn can cause red pimple-like bumps to appear on your legs. These bumps can be painful and difficult to hide. There are things you can do to treat these bumps, but first you need to determine what caused them to show up on your legs.

Symptoms

According to the Mayo Clinic website, a variety of symptoms can accompany red bumps; these include itchiness, pain, inflammation, tenderness and swelling. Clusters of red bumps can develop white tips that contain pus; the bumps can burst and cause crusting. Scarring can occur after the inflammation and infection subside. Red bumps on the legs can clear up after just a few days, but they can last longer or recur chronically.

Causes

According to The Go Ask Alice! website, shaving can cause pimple-like bumps on the legs. When shaved hair regrows back into the hair follicle, your immune system reacts as if the hair were a foreign body and creates an inflamed red bump. Red bumps also can be the result of folliculitis, which occurs when the hair follicles on the legs become infected by a virus, fungi or a bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus. Excessive sweating, shaving, tight clothes, dermatitis and acne can all contribute to folliculitis.

Treatment

To treat inflamed bumps on the legs, "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Women" recommends placing a damp compress to the affected area to encourage draining. A 1 percent hydrocortisone cream can also help reduce irritation, pain and redness. Acne medications containing benzoyl peroxide might be beneficial. For chronic red bumps on the legs, your doctor might prescribe a topical or oral antibiotic such as dicloxacillin or mupirocin.

Prevention

Tight, constrictive clothes such as jeans can chafe the skin and encourage the formation of folliculitis and razor burn. In addition, if you shave your legs too quickly or with a dull razor blade, you can irritate and nick the skin, causing red bumps. Hot tubs also can also cause pimple-like bumps on the legs, so be sure to clean and treat hot tubs properly.

Dangers

Red bumps on the legs are not typically cause for concern. But if they are chronic or left untreated, you can develop staph infections, painful boils, permanent discoloration of skin and raised scars. In addition, the infection can spread to the lymph nodes and bloodstream.