Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAre Red Dots Petechiae?Common CausesSerious Causes
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Are Red Dots Petechiae?
Common Causes
Serious Causes
Petechiae happens when tiny blood vessels under the surface of this skin (capillaries) suddenly break open, causing a group of tiny red, brown, or purple dots to form.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
Petechiae vs. Purpura
Is It Petechiae?
Petechiae dots are usually less than 2 millimeters in diameter.The spots do not disappear when you put pressure on them (non-blanching).
There are several disorders of the cardiovascular or circulatory systems that can cause a petechial rash, including:
These are serious medical conditions that need treatment as soon as possible. If you or your child have a pinprick rash that is not itchy, call your healthcare provider immediately.
How to Tell if You Have PetechiaeIf you’re wondering whether a rash is petechial, press a clear glass to the surface of your skin.If the spots disappear under pressure, they are blanching. This means they arenot petechiae.If the spots remain visible under the pressure of the glass, they are non-blanching. This means they arelikely petechiae.
How to Tell if You Have Petechiae
If you’re wondering whether a rash is petechial, press a clear glass to the surface of your skin.If the spots disappear under pressure, they are blanching. This means they arenot petechiae.If the spots remain visible under the pressure of the glass, they are non-blanching. This means they arelikely petechiae.
If you’re wondering whether a rash is petechial, press a clear glass to the surface of your skin.
If the spots disappear under pressure, they are blanching. This means they arenot petechiae.
If the spots remain visible under the pressure of the glass, they are non-blanching. This means they arelikely petechiae.
What Does Skin Blanching Mean?
Common Causes of Red Dots on the Skin
One of the most common reasons you’ll see dots on your skin is from an injury or irritation. This may include bumping your arm or leg, getting a heat rash, or having contact dermatitis. Straining for a long time and certain medications can also cause skin capillaries to burst spontaneously.
Some causes of red dots on your skin are more serious. For example, infections of all kinds can cause pinprick red dots on the skin, including:
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Certain health problems can also lead to red spots on the skin, especially if these conditions are related to your blood. For example:
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Serious Causes of Red Dots on the Skin
There are also some less common but potentially very serious causes of red dots on the skin.
While they’re less likely to happen, it’s important to be aware of these possible causes because they can be deadly if not diagnosed and treated quickly.
Are Red Dots on the Skin a Sign of Cancer?Some kinds of cancer, especially those of the blood or bone marrow, such asleukemia, can cause red dots on the skin.However, red dots on the skin alone do not mean a person has cancer; usually, they will also have other signs and symptoms.
Are Red Dots on the Skin a Sign of Cancer?
Some kinds of cancer, especially those of the blood or bone marrow, such asleukemia, can cause red dots on the skin.However, red dots on the skin alone do not mean a person has cancer; usually, they will also have other signs and symptoms.
Some kinds of cancer, especially those of the blood or bone marrow, such asleukemia, can cause red dots on the skin.
However, red dots on the skin alone do not mean a person has cancer; usually, they will also have other signs and symptoms.
Bacterial Meningitis
Meningitis is the infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meninges).
The meningitis rash is petechial. At first, you might notice petechiae on the arms or other areas of the body. These spots can be blanching if you try the straightforward glass test. However, as the rash becomes more pronounced, it will become non-blanching.
Red Dots on Different Skin TonesPetechial rashes can be hard to see on people with darker skin tones. Look for the rash on lighter areas like the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands. It can also appear on the roof of the mouth or the inside of the eyelids.
Red Dots on Different Skin Tones
Petechial rashes can be hard to see on people with darker skin tones. Look for the rash on lighter areas like the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands. It can also appear on the roof of the mouth or the inside of the eyelids.
The meningitis rash can progress from petechial to apurpuricrash, which looks more like bruising than pinpricks.
The rash is common, but it does not always occur. That said, meningitis is a serious disease that progresses quickly. If you have a petechial rash paired with othermeningitis symptomslike headache or stiff neck, seek immediate medical attention.
Warning Signs of Bacterial Meningitis
Sepsis
A petechial rash is a common symptom of bacterial blood poisoning (sepsisorsepticemia) that can turn deadly quickly.
As with meningitis, a sepsis rash can start with a pinprick appearance before progressing to look more bruise-like.
Other symptoms of sepsis include:
Some people are at a higher risk for sepsis, including:
Sepsis can lead to septic shock, which can be deadly. If you have petechiae or any other symptoms of sepsis, don’t wait to get medical attention.
What Is Septic Shock?
Summary
Skin rashes that cause red dots on the skin are often harmless and more irritating than dangerous. However, a rash that looks like pinprick red dots on your skin and does not itch can be a sign of a serious, even deadly, health problem.
If you or your child have this type of rash, get medical care immediately. A healthcare provider can determine if a potentially dangerous infection is causing the rash and start the proper treatment.
When Should I Worry About a Rash?
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Thomas AE, Baird SF, Anderson J.Purpuric and petechial rashes in adults and children: Initial assessment.BMJ. 2016 Mar 22;352:i1285. doi:10.1136/bmj.i1285MedlinePlus.Bleeding into the skin.Meningitis Research Foundation.What is the ‘meningitis rash'?Nemours KidsHealth.Scarlet fever.National CMV Foundation.CMV symptoms.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About rocky mountain spotted fever.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Infective endocarditis.Singh H, Kaur H, Singh K, Sen CK.Cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19: A systematic review.Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2021;10(2):51-80. doi:10.1089/wound.2020.1309National Organization for Rare Disorders.Acquired aplastic anemia.Seifer CM, Glaser A, Gesiotto Q, Waknin R, Oller KL.Petechiae, purpura, and a pandemic: A recipe for scurvy.Cureus. 2020;12(10):e10960. Published 2020 Oct 15. doi:10.7759/cureus.10960Yang J, Okpe A, Pathak A.In every man, there is a child: Henoch-Schönlein Purpura in an adult with liver cirrhosis.Cureus. 2021;13(9):e18270. Published 2021 Sep 25. doi:10.7759/cureus.18270American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.Penn Medicine.Allergic vasculitis.Jumean K, Arqoub AA, Hawatmeh A, Qaqa F, Bataineh A, Shaaban H.Warfarin-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis and proteinuria.J Family Med Prim Care. 2016;5(1):160-162. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.184643Mawalla WF, Iddy H, Kindole CA, Nasser A, Schuh A.Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome with normal platelet volume in a low-income setting: A case report.Therapeutic Advances in Rare Disease. 2021;2:263300402110099. doi:10.1177/26330040211009905Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.Is petechiae a sign of leukemia?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Septicemia.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Thomas AE, Baird SF, Anderson J.Purpuric and petechial rashes in adults and children: Initial assessment.BMJ. 2016 Mar 22;352:i1285. doi:10.1136/bmj.i1285MedlinePlus.Bleeding into the skin.Meningitis Research Foundation.What is the ‘meningitis rash'?Nemours KidsHealth.Scarlet fever.National CMV Foundation.CMV symptoms.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About rocky mountain spotted fever.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Infective endocarditis.Singh H, Kaur H, Singh K, Sen CK.Cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19: A systematic review.Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2021;10(2):51-80. doi:10.1089/wound.2020.1309National Organization for Rare Disorders.Acquired aplastic anemia.Seifer CM, Glaser A, Gesiotto Q, Waknin R, Oller KL.Petechiae, purpura, and a pandemic: A recipe for scurvy.Cureus. 2020;12(10):e10960. Published 2020 Oct 15. doi:10.7759/cureus.10960Yang J, Okpe A, Pathak A.In every man, there is a child: Henoch-Schönlein Purpura in an adult with liver cirrhosis.Cureus. 2021;13(9):e18270. Published 2021 Sep 25. doi:10.7759/cureus.18270American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.Penn Medicine.Allergic vasculitis.Jumean K, Arqoub AA, Hawatmeh A, Qaqa F, Bataineh A, Shaaban H.Warfarin-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis and proteinuria.J Family Med Prim Care. 2016;5(1):160-162. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.184643Mawalla WF, Iddy H, Kindole CA, Nasser A, Schuh A.Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome with normal platelet volume in a low-income setting: A case report.Therapeutic Advances in Rare Disease. 2021;2:263300402110099. doi:10.1177/26330040211009905Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.Is petechiae a sign of leukemia?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Septicemia.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Thomas AE, Baird SF, Anderson J.Purpuric and petechial rashes in adults and children: Initial assessment.BMJ. 2016 Mar 22;352:i1285. doi:10.1136/bmj.i1285MedlinePlus.Bleeding into the skin.Meningitis Research Foundation.What is the ‘meningitis rash'?Nemours KidsHealth.Scarlet fever.National CMV Foundation.CMV symptoms.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About rocky mountain spotted fever.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Infective endocarditis.Singh H, Kaur H, Singh K, Sen CK.Cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19: A systematic review.Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2021;10(2):51-80. doi:10.1089/wound.2020.1309National Organization for Rare Disorders.Acquired aplastic anemia.Seifer CM, Glaser A, Gesiotto Q, Waknin R, Oller KL.Petechiae, purpura, and a pandemic: A recipe for scurvy.Cureus. 2020;12(10):e10960. Published 2020 Oct 15. doi:10.7759/cureus.10960Yang J, Okpe A, Pathak A.In every man, there is a child: Henoch-Schönlein Purpura in an adult with liver cirrhosis.Cureus. 2021;13(9):e18270. Published 2021 Sep 25. doi:10.7759/cureus.18270American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.Penn Medicine.Allergic vasculitis.Jumean K, Arqoub AA, Hawatmeh A, Qaqa F, Bataineh A, Shaaban H.Warfarin-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis and proteinuria.J Family Med Prim Care. 2016;5(1):160-162. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.184643Mawalla WF, Iddy H, Kindole CA, Nasser A, Schuh A.Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome with normal platelet volume in a low-income setting: A case report.Therapeutic Advances in Rare Disease. 2021;2:263300402110099. doi:10.1177/26330040211009905Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.Is petechiae a sign of leukemia?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Septicemia.
Thomas AE, Baird SF, Anderson J.Purpuric and petechial rashes in adults and children: Initial assessment.BMJ. 2016 Mar 22;352:i1285. doi:10.1136/bmj.i1285
MedlinePlus.Bleeding into the skin.
Meningitis Research Foundation.What is the ‘meningitis rash'?
Nemours KidsHealth.Scarlet fever.
National CMV Foundation.CMV symptoms.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About rocky mountain spotted fever.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Infective endocarditis.
Singh H, Kaur H, Singh K, Sen CK.Cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19: A systematic review.Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2021;10(2):51-80. doi:10.1089/wound.2020.1309
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Acquired aplastic anemia.
Seifer CM, Glaser A, Gesiotto Q, Waknin R, Oller KL.Petechiae, purpura, and a pandemic: A recipe for scurvy.Cureus. 2020;12(10):e10960. Published 2020 Oct 15. doi:10.7759/cureus.10960
Yang J, Okpe A, Pathak A.In every man, there is a child: Henoch-Schönlein Purpura in an adult with liver cirrhosis.Cureus. 2021;13(9):e18270. Published 2021 Sep 25. doi:10.7759/cureus.18270
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Penn Medicine.Allergic vasculitis.
Jumean K, Arqoub AA, Hawatmeh A, Qaqa F, Bataineh A, Shaaban H.Warfarin-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis and proteinuria.J Family Med Prim Care. 2016;5(1):160-162. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.184643
Mawalla WF, Iddy H, Kindole CA, Nasser A, Schuh A.Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome with normal platelet volume in a low-income setting: A case report.Therapeutic Advances in Rare Disease. 2021;2:263300402110099. doi:10.1177/26330040211009905
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.Is petechiae a sign of leukemia?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Septicemia.
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