Red pin dots on skin
Pinprick Red Dots on Skin That Aren't Itchy: Causes, Next Steps
Red or purple spots on your skin may be hives or acne. But they can also indicate a health condition, including an infection or autoimmune disease.
Your skin’s health and appearance shifts all the time depending on your environment, lifestyle, and health conditions, among other factors.
Sometimes skin problems have an obvious cause, like sunburn or a mosquito bite. But other times rashes or dots appear on your skin that are harder to identify.
Petechiae are red, purple, or brown dots on the skin that are generally painless and itch-free. These dots form when your tiniest blood vessels, called capillaries, break and leak blood under the skin. This blood pools under the surface, creating the appearance of spots.
Petechiae aren’t considered a medical condition on their own. They’re often a symptom of another underlying health problem, such as infection, allergic reaction, or autoimmune disease.
In this article, we will explore some common potential causes of petechiae, symptoms to watch out for, and when to see a doctor.
You can develop petechiae for a number of different reasons, including injuries and infection. In many of these cases, petechiae are a symptom of an underlying health issue.
Here’s an overview of common causes of petechiae:
Medication
An allergic reaction to certain medications may cause clusters of red dots to appear on your skin. This could be petechiae or hives. Hives are often itchy, raised welts that are generally larger than petechiae. Medications known to cause petechiae in rare cases include:
- antiplatelet medications
- aspirin
- steroids
Infections
Both viral and bacterial infections can cause red dots or other rashes to appear on your skin. Common infections linked to petechiae include:
- enterovirus infection
- parvovirus B19 infection
- dengue virus infection
- meningococcal infection (meningitis)
- scarlet fever
- infective endocarditis
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever
- septicemia/sepsis
- congenital TORCH syndrome (concurrent infection with toxoplasma gondii, other agents, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus)
Blood-related disorders
These include blood cancers, chronic conditions, and blood-related congenital disorders.
- thrombocytopenia
- leukemia
- types of anemia
- platelet dysfunction
- coagulation disorders
- vascular diseases
- Bernard-Soulier syndrome
- Glanzmann thrombasthenia
Other chronic conditions
Petechiae may come and go as a result of a chronic disease or illness. This includes autoimmune conditions, and certain congenital and connective tissue disorders. For example:
- Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS)
- lupus
- chronic liver disease
- Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
Acute injuries, allergic reactions, and a vitamin K deficiency are also associated with the symptom of petechiae.
Does COVID-19 cause petechiae?
Each new variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, seems to appear with new symptoms. Different variants of the virus have caused some level of skin symptoms, including petechiae. This is believed to be related to bleeding and coagulation changes brought on by COVID-19.
Although petechiae has been observed in people with COVID-19, it’s not the most common skin manifestation. One study estimated that only about 3% of people with COVID-19 develop this symptom.
Petechiae may not always appear alongside other noticeable symptoms. These tiny dots are usually flat, red, brown, or purple in color, and measure less than 2 millimeters (mm).
A hallmark of petechiae is that they’re nonblanching. This means they don’t fade away or disappear when you apply pressure to your skin.
Size is what differentiates petechiae from purpura. Purpura are also caused by broken capillaries leading blood to pool under your skin, but they’re larger than petechiae (over 2 mm).
Although you may itch, be sore, or have a fever alongside petechiae, these symptoms are usually related more to the issue that caused your petechiae than these spots themselves.
Treatment for petechiae depends on the underlying cause, since the dots are usually a symptom of another condition.
Petechiae that appear from an injury or infection usually resolve on its own in 2 to 3 days. You’ll likely need to rest and take antibiotics for a bacterial infection. Treatment for most viral infections includes rest and over-the-counter pain medication (OTC NSAIDs).
If you have a blood-clotting disorder, your doctor will design an individualized treatment plan. This could include taking reversal agents to counter anticoagulation medications.
Steroids, chemotherapy, and immunosuppressant drugs may also be used to control a variety of autoimmune or inflammatory disorders that could be causing you to develop petechiae.
Immunosuppressant drugs work by suppressing or modifying your immune system so it doesn’t cause inflammation to joints, tissues, and organs.
Learn about ways to prevent petechiae.
If your petechiae (or your child’s) develops alongside other symptoms like fever, talk with your doctor.
Febrile (feverish) conditions that appear with petechiae are especially common in children, accounting for about 2.
5% of visits to the pediatric emergency department each year.
In these children, doctors will usually evaluate for a meningococcal infection first.
In a 2018 study, between 7% and 11% of cases of petechiae and fever in children were caused by meningococcal disease, and about 10% were caused by Group A staphylococcus infection. Overall, about 60% of these cases were linked to viral illnesses.
Learn more about when to see a doctor for petechiae.
There are many conditions that can cause red dots on your skin. You may need your doctor to help you differentiate between these conditions and petechiae.
Other conditions that can produce dots or skin irritation similar to petechiae include:
- hives
- acne
- bug bites
- eczema
- heat rash
- rosacea
Petechiae are usually a symptom of another health issue. These spots form after blood leaks from your capillaries. They don’t itch and won’t disappear if pressed.
Common causes for petechiae include infections, certain chronic diseases, and even injuries.
Your doctor may have to run several tests to identify what’s causing the dots to appear on your skin. Treatment depends entirely on the underlying cause.
Most of the time, these red, purple, or brown dots will resolve in a few days, especially if the condition causing them has been addressed and managed.
Pinprick Red Dots on Skin That Aren't Itchy: Causes, Next Steps
Red or purple spots on your skin may be hives or acne. But they can also indicate a health condition, including an infection or autoimmune disease.
Your skin’s health and appearance shifts all the time depending on your environment, lifestyle, and health conditions, among other factors.
Sometimes skin problems have an obvious cause, like sunburn or a mosquito bite. But other times rashes or dots appear on your skin that are harder to identify.
Petechiae are red, purple, or brown dots on the skin that are generally painless and itch-free. These dots form when your tiniest blood vessels, called capillaries, break and leak blood under the skin.
This blood pools under the surface, creating the appearance of spots.
Petechiae aren’t considered a medical condition on their own. They’re often a symptom of another underlying health problem, such as infection, allergic reaction, or autoimmune disease.
In this article, we will explore some common potential causes of petechiae, symptoms to watch out for, and when to see a doctor.
You can develop petechiae for a number of different reasons, including injuries and infection. In many of these cases, petechiae are a symptom of an underlying health issue.
Here’s an overview of common causes of petechiae:
Medication
An allergic reaction to certain medications may cause clusters of red dots to appear on your skin. This could be petechiae or hives. Hives are often itchy, raised welts that are generally larger than petechiae. Medications known to cause petechiae in rare cases include:
- antiplatelet medications
- aspirin
- steroids
Infections
Both viral and bacterial infections can cause red dots or other rashes to appear on your skin.
Common infections linked to petechiae include:
- enterovirus infection
- parvovirus B19 infection
- dengue virus infection
- meningococcal infection (meningitis)
- scarlet fever
- infective endocarditis
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever
- septicemia/sepsis
- congenital TORCH syndrome (concurrent infection with toxoplasma gondii, other agents, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus)
Blood-related disorders
These include blood cancers, chronic conditions, and blood-related congenital disorders.
- thrombocytopenia
- leukemia
- types of anemia
- platelet dysfunction
- coagulation disorders
- vascular diseases
- Bernard-Soulier syndrome
- Glanzmann thrombasthenia
Other chronic conditions
Petechiae may come and go as a result of a chronic disease or illness. This includes autoimmune conditions, and certain congenital and connective tissue disorders.
For example:
- Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS)
- lupus
- chronic liver disease
- Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
Acute injuries, allergic reactions, and a vitamin K deficiency are also associated with the symptom of petechiae.
Does COVID-19 cause petechiae?
Each new variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, seems to appear with new symptoms. Different variants of the virus have caused some level of skin symptoms, including petechiae. This is believed to be related to bleeding and coagulation changes brought on by COVID-19.
Although petechiae has been observed in people with COVID-19, it’s not the most common skin manifestation. One study estimated that only about 3% of people with COVID-19 develop this symptom.
Petechiae may not always appear alongside other noticeable symptoms. These tiny dots are usually flat, red, brown, or purple in color, and measure less than 2 millimeters (mm).
A hallmark of petechiae is that they’re nonblanching.
This means they don’t fade away or disappear when you apply pressure to your skin.
Size is what differentiates petechiae from purpura. Purpura are also caused by broken capillaries leading blood to pool under your skin, but they’re larger than petechiae (over 2 mm).
Although you may itch, be sore, or have a fever alongside petechiae, these symptoms are usually related more to the issue that caused your petechiae than these spots themselves.
Treatment for petechiae depends on the underlying cause, since the dots are usually a symptom of another condition.
Petechiae that appear from an injury or infection usually resolve on its own in 2 to 3 days. You’ll likely need to rest and take antibiotics for a bacterial infection. Treatment for most viral infections includes rest and over-the-counter pain medication (OTC NSAIDs).
If you have a blood-clotting disorder, your doctor will design an individualized treatment plan. This could include taking reversal agents to counter anticoagulation medications.
Steroids, chemotherapy, and immunosuppressant drugs may also be used to control a variety of autoimmune or inflammatory disorders that could be causing you to develop petechiae.
Immunosuppressant drugs work by suppressing or modifying your immune system so it doesn’t cause inflammation to joints, tissues, and organs.
Learn about ways to prevent petechiae.
If your petechiae (or your child’s) develops alongside other symptoms like fever, talk with your doctor.
Febrile (feverish) conditions that appear with petechiae are especially common in children, accounting for about 2.5% of visits to the pediatric emergency department each year.
In these children, doctors will usually evaluate for a meningococcal infection first.
In a 2018 study, between 7% and 11% of cases of petechiae and fever in children were caused by meningococcal disease, and about 10% were caused by Group A staphylococcus infection. Overall, about 60% of these cases were linked to viral illnesses.
Learn more about when to see a doctor for petechiae.
There are many conditions that can cause red dots on your skin. You may need your doctor to help you differentiate between these conditions and petechiae.
Other conditions that can produce dots or skin irritation similar to petechiae include:
- hives
- acne
- bug bites
- eczema
- heat rash
- rosacea
Petechiae are usually a symptom of another health issue. These spots form after blood leaks from your capillaries. They don’t itch and won’t disappear if pressed.
Common causes for petechiae include infections, certain chronic diseases, and even injuries.
Your doctor may have to run several tests to identify what’s causing the dots to appear on your skin. Treatment depends entirely on the underlying cause.
Most of the time, these red, purple, or brown dots will resolve in a few days, especially if the condition causing them has been addressed and managed.
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- Red dots on the body: causes and treatment
Angioma is a benign tumor that may consist of blood vessels or lymphatic spaces.
The former are called true angiomas or hemangiomas, the latter are called lymphangiomas. Angiomas can be internal and external; they are formed, respectively, on the internal organs or on the skin.
It is necessary to distinguish between angiomas and red spots on the skin. Angiomas rise slightly above the dermis, look like red moles, and red dots are a consequence of malfunctions of individual body systems and resemble skin rashes without swelling .
There are several causes of angiomas and red dots:
- Microtrauma and skin damage. Appear due to damage to the blood vessels.
- Pathology of the cardiovascular system.
- Violation of the liver, gastrointestinal tract. Deep failures in the system lead to a decrease in the production of necessary enzymes, which leads to a deterioration in the condition of the skin.
- Violation of the metabolic process in the body.
- Diseases of bones, joints. Most often, red dots appear in patients with arthrosis, arthritis, are clearly visible on the arms, legs and in areas of constant inflammation.
Angiomas and points in this case are evidence of an immune response to the disease. - Fungal diseases, dermatitis. In this case, brown spots appear on the skin, which provoke local hemorrhages.
- Hormonal failure. In women, hormonal failure can be assessed by a gynecologist.
- Allergy. A rash in the form of red dots is not angiomas, it is treated with antihistamines.
Not all red dots are angiomas, but to be sure of the safety of formations, you need to consult a doctor. Today, the mechanism of formation of benign tumors is not fully understood, for example, angiomas can also appear in newborns, which is associated with intrauterine development disorders.
Should angiomas be treated and when should you see a doctor? Hemangiomas are a consequence of the pathology of blood vessels, lymphangiomas - the lymphatic system of the body. Their localization depends on the type of formations:
- Hemangiomas appear anywhere in the dermis.
Superficial ones look like slightly swollen spots, the color can be red or purple, it all depends on the shade of blood accumulated in the capillaries. The sizes are different, they do not cause much inconvenience. - Lymphangiomas are formed in the localization of the lymph nodes. Most often this is the neck area under the jaw, groin, armpits.
When it comes to visiting a doctor, the patient decides everything. Formations in the groin area, armpits, other parts of the body with constant friction, can irritate, hurt, itch. Rubbing the skin leads to sweating, damage to the formation. The wound turns into an ulcer, becomes covered with a crust, opens up access to infections. Therefore, it is better not to delay such formations, but go to the doctor as soon as possible and start treatment.
Angiomas (hemangiomas) of the internal type are detected during a deep examination. They do not bother a person at all, but can be dangerous due to damage and bleeding.
The abundant formation of external hemangiomas is often the result of the appearance of internal ones, which also serves as a signal for an early visit to the doctor.
It is extremely important to monitor the size and color of formations. If hemangioma, lymphangioma began to grow, change color, itch, this is an alarming sign that you need to contact a specialist .
Treatment is prescribed after a thorough examination, identification of the clinical picture of the disease. The doctor determines the type of therapy: medical, surgical (removal) or laser (also removal, but minimally invasive). Folk methods are irrelevant, especially when it comes to abundant rash, the presence of internal formations.
If red dots appear in the form of an allergic rash, during exacerbations of arthrosis, for unknown reasons, but in small quantities and not particularly disturbing, the patient is recommended to undergo preventive examinations - this is enough to maintain health.
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Why red dots and spots appear on the body and what they mean - 18 April 2022
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Red dots are not always as harmless as they seem that require immediate treatment. How to understand the nature of the appearance of red dots and whether they need to be treated - our colleagues from Wday.ru figured out together with the surgeon, candidate of medical sciences Valery Guryanov.
The reasons for the appearance of points can be different. For example, these skin formations may appear due to microtrauma received during epilation. The thing is that when exposed to the skin, the walls of the capillaries are damaged, the blood goes into the subcutaneous fat layer and a microhematoma is formed . A lack of vitamins such as C and K can also cause vascular fragility and lead to the formation of small red dots on the body. The number of points will increase from any falls or, for example, skin rubbing against fabric.
If you notice dots on your body, consult a doctor, because they can be hemangiomas , that is, benign vascular tumors. They come in different diameters - from a few millimeters to several centimeters.
— Hemangioma is a congenital formation. It begins to actively manifest itself in a child during the first year of life. Often doctors intimidate patients with this diagnosis, - explains the surgeon, candidate of medical sciences Valery Guryanov.
- Many people think that hemangioma is a tumor that can develop into oncology. On the Internet, you can read various horror stories about the failure of the functioning of organs and the urgent need to be operated on. But there is no need to rush. Yes, it is a tumor, but benign.
According to the expert, such a tumor cannot become malignant. The surgeon says it's a pretty innocent vascular lesion that can appear anywhere. Including in the spine, especially in the thoracic and cervical regions. Most people over 40 will have at least one hemangioma. On the tomogram, it is visible as a white spot. There is nothing to do with this formation, only to observe.
- I advise you to do an MRI once a year. Currently, conservative treatment is used. There are a number of drugs and ointments, after which everything disappears, explains Guryanov.
According to the surgeon, you need to worry when the hemangioma increases in size, bleeds and becomes inflamed.
If you notice that small dots appear on the body that have capillary ramifications, this may be a sign of viral hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver.
In this case, you need to urgently consult a doctor.
Also, diseases of the pancreas can be the cause of the rash of red dots on the body. More often, formations appear on the back, chest and abdomen. When pressed, they do not disappear. Such points also require expert advice.
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In this video, we tell you in detail what to do with red dots
Video: Wday.ru
Let's imagine that the cause has been identified. Now you need to fix this defect. The method of treatment will directly depend on the nature of the origin. For example, if the points are due to external influences on the skin, you must first of all try to avoid further injury.
If the reason lies in the deficiency of vitamins, start taking vitamin complexes. In addition, eat foods rich in these organic compounds. For example, vitamin C is found in rose hips, cauliflower, green peas, orange, mountain ash, parsley, wild garlic, garlic, apples, tomatoes, kiwi.
