What Causes Small Red Bumps With White Tip On Arms And Face?

Posted on Tue, 28 Oct 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 Answered on

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : MY DAUGHTER HAS A RAPIDLY SPREADING RASH THAT STARTED ON HER TRUNK AND IS NOW ALSO ON HER ARMS NECK AND FACE. THE RASH IS SMALL RED BUMPS SOME WITH A WHITE TIP AND MOSTLY IN WELT LIKE CLUSTERS. SHE SAYS IT DOES NOT ITCH AND I HAVE NOT SEEN HER SCRATCHING. NOTICED THE FIRST WELT ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND IT WAS ALONE UNTIL TWO DAYS AGO WHEN SHE BEGAN COLD SYMPTOMS. CONGESTION, FEVER, SORE THROAT AND UPSET STOMACH. UPON CHECKING HER RASH TONIGHT IT HAS DOUBLED SINCE THIS MORNING. SHOULD I TAKE HER TO AN URGENT CARE FACILITY TONIGHT?

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (50 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Pyoderma or staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome

Detailed Answer:
Hi....I have gone through the history/ information you provided and also the image. It looks like a pyoderma - a skin and soft tissue infection or a staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome - a bacterial toxin mediated disease.

Both require antibiotics either orally or intravenously depending on kid's general condition at the time of examination.

I suggest you take the kid to the nearest emergency room as the rash has increased.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar