What causes small red painful spots on the leg, and what should I do about it?

Generally, painful red spots on the legs may be caused by mosquito bites, friction injuries, folliculitis, erythema nodosum, or thrombophlebitis. Depending on the specific situation, improvements can be achieved through general care, medication, or surgical treatment. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Mosquito bites: When mosquitoes inject saliva into the skin, it triggers a local inflammatory reaction, resulting in red spots accompanied by stinging and itching. Wash the affected area with soapy water and apply menthol ointment to soothe discomfort. Avoid scratching to prevent infection.

2. Friction injury: Tight clothing or intense physical activity can cause skin abrasion and local congestion, leading to painful spots. Switch to loose, soft clothing, reduce leg movement, clean the area with warm water, and apply moisturizer to protect the skin.

3. Folliculitis: Bacterial infection of hair follicles causes inflammation, resulting in red, painful papules around the follicles. Topical treatments such as mupirocin ointment, fusidic acid cream, or clindamycin gel may be used under medical guidance. Keep the area clean and dry.

4. Erythema nodosum: An immune disorder causing inflammation in the subcutaneous fat layer, presenting as tender red nodules. Follow medical advice to take ibuprofen sustained-release tablets, indomethacin enteric-coated tablets, or methotrexate tablets. Rest in bed during acute episodes.

5. Thrombophlebitis: Damage to the vein wall leads to blood clot formation, causing painful red spots or cord-like hard lumps along the veins. Medications such as aspirin enteric-coated tablets, warfarin sodium tablets, or rivaroxaban tablets may be prescribed. Severe cases may require thrombectomy surgery.

In daily life, protect the legs by avoiding mosquito bites and excessive friction; wear breathable clothing and maintain skin cleanliness. Avoid squeezing any painful red spots. Monitor changes and seek timely medical evaluation if symptoms worsen to ensure accurate diagnosis.