Bump On Stretch Mark – 5 Major Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

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A bump or bumps on your stretch marks could be due to several causes. Major causes for these skin bumps include boils, PUPPS, cysts, dermatofibromas, folliculitis, Lipomas, Keratosis Pilaris, and Neurofibromas. Each skin condition has different treatment options available based on its symptoms. Refer to your doctor for the correct diagnosis.

When the skin stretches, the likelihood of developing stretch marks increases. Many factors contribute to the development of stretch marks among people.

It could be due to genetics, adding weight abruptly, pregnancy, rapid weight loss, using anabolic steroids, and breast enlargement surgeries, among others.

These stretch mark areas are susceptible to developing bumps since they appear as scar tissue. Depending on your condition, these areas may have many causes of stretch marks.

If you often develop bumps on stretch marks, keep reading this article to learn about a few causes and treatment options.

What are the symptoms of stretch marks?

You must be sure that the stretched skin develops stretch marks. Stretch marks come with the following symptoms.

  • Indented lines on breasts, back, abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, and other places on the body.
  • You may develop purple, pink, or black streaks.
  • Bright body streets that start fading to lighter body color
  • Colored streaks covering a wide body area
  • Streaks or lines that sometimes itch

5 major causes for bumps on stretch marks

A close-up of a female stomach with multiple stretch marks vulnerable to bump-causing skin conditions.

Stretch marks make the affected skin vulnerable to various bump-causing conditions.

The following skin conditions could be the reason behind the bump you see on your stretch marks.

1. Boils

Sometimes, we may develop stretch marks on areas prone to friction. These places become hot spots for developing boils too.

So, you may develop stretch marks on friction-prone areas like thighs, armpits, neck, breasts, or buttocks.

As the friction continues, the stretch mark gets tender, and staph bacteria on the skin cause the onset of a boil. You may then feel a bump on the stretch mark as the boil develops.

The hair follicle or oil gland around this stretch mark area gets infected with the bacteria, causing a boil to develop.

Over the years, boils have become more common since staphylococcus aureus bacteria became methicillin-resistant.

Treating it has become a challenge owing to the increasing development rates of boils among the people in the US and beyond.

Boil symptoms

  • Development of a small red itchy bump
  • The bump starts to hurt
  • Puss fills the bump with a few days
  • It develops a white tip that bursts, letting out the contents
  • Ill feeling
  • Fatigue
  • Fever

Boil treatment

It’s advised not to pop or squeeze a boil. Squeezing or popping it may spread the bacteria to internal parts of your skin, thus spreading it internally.

Applying warm compressions with a clean cloth or cotton wool for an at-home remedy helps drain the boil.

The American academy of dermatology (AAD) advises compressing the boil area with a warm, clean cloth and covering it with gauze. Wearing loose clothes helps reduce friction in the affected areas.

You need to visit your doctor if the boil gives you a fever and other serious symptoms.

Standard treatment methods for severe boils include incisions, drainage, and ultra-sound for under-the-skin boils. You may be given oral antibiotics or admitted for intravenous antibiotics if the condition deems serious.

2. Dermatofibromas

If the lump on your stretch mark appears purple, red, or brown, it could be dermatofibromas.

The bumps mostly appear on the arms and legs and could be stretch marks on these areas, and they feel like a hard bump on the skin.

Dermatofibromas symptoms

  • Itchy
  • Tender
  • Tender
  • Sometimes painful

Dermatofibromas treatment

Small benign lumps may not require any treatment, and a surgeon may remove large ones via surgical excision and cryotherapy.

3. Folliculitis

The lump could result from folliculitis if you have stretch marks around hairy areas.

With folliculitis, the bump on your stretch mark causes inflammation on the hairy body parts like the armpits and inner thigh region.

These lumps result from an infection or physical or chemical irritation.

These lumps affect diabetic, obese, or immune-compromised people more than the general public.

Folliculitis symptoms

  • Red lump on the armpits or other hairy parts of the body
  • It may be painful or cause an itchy feeling

Folliculitis treatment

These lumps get treated using oral or topical antibiotics.

Sometimes, your doctor may prescribe antifungal medication. If the doctor finds a cause, try eliminating it, especially if dietary.

4. Keratosis Pilaris

Keratosis Pilaris occurs mostly in winter when the humidity gets low, and the skin dries.

These conditions may result in bump-like pimples on your stretch marks.

As winter passes and humidity rises, you may notice that these lumps automatically disappear.

Keratosis Pilaris symptoms

  • Small white and red bumps
  • The bumps don’t itch or hurt

Keratosis Pilaris treatment

A young pregnant woman applying cream to avoid extreme skin dryness and reduce stretch marks.

These bumps don’t necessarily require treatment, and they often disappear on their own.

The bumps appear mostly in people below 30 years. Once you reach 30 years, they often stop occurring, especially during winter.

Use moisturizing cream during winter to avoid extreme skin dryness. Medicated creams with alpha-hydroxy acids or urea prove helpful for severe conditions.

5. Keratoacanthoma

If you notice a red, thick, dome-shaped bump on your stretch mark, it could be Keratoacanthoma.

Keratoacanthoma bumps appear with craters at the center, resulting from the abnormal growth of hair follicles.

These bumps commonly result from minor skin injuries. Most injuries that may cause a bump to develop on a stretch mark or other body parts include small cuts or insect bites.

Also, they may occur after exposure to UV rays.

Keratoacanthoma symptoms

  • The bump appears thick, red, and dome-shaped, with a crater-like appearance at the center.

Keratoacanthoma treatment

The doctor often treats this condition by freezing the bump with liquid nitrogen in a cryotherapy process.

The bump also gets surgically removed through a curettage procedure.

Other causes of bumps on the stretch mark or the rest of the body include the following:

  • Lipomas
  • Neurofibromas
  • Skin cysts

Other causes of bumps on the stretch mark or the rest of the body include the following.

  • Lipomas
  • Neurofibromas
  • Skin cysts

Do I have a PUPPP rash?

Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) occur as an itchy rash on the tummy during pregnancy.

Since the stomach develops stretch marks during pregnancy, the rash may cause bumps on them. The hive-like itchy bumps disappear once the baby is born.

It may spread to other parts of your body but won’t harm you or the unborn baby. Visit your doctor to get some relief medication to lessen the itching.

FAQs

Should you squeeze a boil?

No, squeezing a boil may cause the infection to spread under the skin to other internal organs.

How do I know if it’s a boil or a cyst?

Although boils and cysts may look alike, cysts don’t spread, while boils may spread due to bacteria or fungi. If the lump extends to another area, then it’s a boil.

What does PUPPP rash look like?

The bumps due to PUPPS may be small, itchy, red, and raised. They look like small and pink pimple-like spots in the stretch marks, resembling hives.

If not tended to in time, it may come together and form large, red, plaque-like areas.

Can you have PUPPS and not be pregnant?

No, so if you have PUPPS-like bumps and are not pregnant, it could be due to another cause.

Conclusion

If you notice a bump on your stretch mark, it could be due to simple causes like pimples or serious cases like boils.

You should see the doctor to determine the cause and not pop or squeeze. If the bump contents result from bacterial or fungal infections like in boils, the bumps may spread.

Also, avoid wearing tight clothes on friction-prone areas like armpits and thighs. We have found hygiene to help prevent these boils from spreading.

So if you find one, keep the site clean as you seek medical advice.

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Nudrat Naheed
Hi, I am Nudrat, The Heart And Brain author, IR student, and painter. Writing about health fascinates me because it helps me to explore a new healthy routine and share it with others. I write primarily about general health, pregnancy, postpartum, and allergies here. If you don't find me writing, I'm busy painting or reading on global politics.

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