What Are The Red Dots On My Skin

Use Good Cosmetics And Personal Hygiene Products

Excessive and prolonged use of artificial cosmetics and chemical-based personal hygiene products, like lipsticks, powders, soaps, lotions, etc., especially the ones of inferior quality, can be harmful to the skin.

They can contain corrosive and unhealthy ingredients. Use nutrient- and natural extract-rich cosmetics instead of their chemically packed counterparts to avoid ill effects like rashes, allergies, acne, red spots, etc. Dont forget to check the expiry date of these products before applying them to avoid harmful chemical reactions on the skin.

What Does Petechiae Look Like

Petechiae are flat and look like pinpoint-sized red, brown, or purple dots. Clumps of them on your skin look like a rash. But unlike many rashes, when you press on the spots they dont turn white. And if the spots are larger and red or purple, you may have another type of bleeding problem called purpura.

Petechiae can form just about anywhere on your body, even your eyelids or inside your mouth.

Your Pimples Might Be An Allergic Reaction

Some skin products can clog pores and cause acne, but even many non-comedogenic products may cause rashes and allergic reactions that can look like acne.

“An allergic reaction could cause red bumps that may look similar to pimples. An allergic reaction tends to itch, while acne doesn’t cause itching,” explained Dr. Jaliman.

Dr. Jaliman advised that people with sensitive skin should avoid products with fragrance, as it’s a common source of skin sensitivity and skin allergy.

Preservatives used in makeup can also cause allergic reactions, and some people may experience skin problems as a reaction to certain foods or allergens like pollen.

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Tips To Care For Red Spots On The Skin

Do Red Skin Marks Go Away

Image Source: nubobeauty

Most red skin marks will eventually go away on their own. However, depending on the cause of the mark, some may require treatment. For example, marks caused by acne may require topical medications or even oral antibiotics. If you are concerned about a red skin mark, it is best to consult with a dermatologist to determine the best course of treatment.

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What Does Red Spots On Skin Mean

Red spots on the skin can mean anything from an acute skin infection to a chronic condition. Knowing what causes red spots on the skin will make treatment easier. Some of the common conditions that cause red spots include:

• Heat Rash: Heat rash can cause small red, itchy, and prickly spots on the skin. It usually occurs in skin folds where sweat accumulates, like the groin, chest, back, arms, and armpits .

• Contact Dermatitis: It is a common skin condition that occurs when you come in contact with an allergen or an irritating substance. The reaction may show up as an itchy, red rash on the skin .
• Ringworm:It is a fungal skin infection that causes red, itchy, circular rashes with raised edges and red spots. It can appear anywhere on the skin but is mainly found on the legs and arms .

• Drug Rash: An allergic reaction to a medication can cause a drug rash on the skin. The reaction may appear as small, red bumps or hives and blisters. It may sometimes spread all over the body.
• Petechiae: These are small red dots on the skin formed when the blood vessels under the skin burst. They may occur on the legs, arms, buttocks, and stomach .
• Swimmerâs Itch: These are small, reddish pimples that form on the skin after swimming in water contaminated with parasites. They may sometimes cause itching and burning .

Red Bumps Trace Your Steps

Outbreaks of itchy red skin bumps are very common and have many different causes. If youre experiencing outbreaks, there are a couple of things you should consider before talking to a doctor. Having these things in mind will help the doctor make a more accurate diagnosis.

Itchy Red Bumps What is the cause?

Recent Contact?

First of all, you should think about anything unusual youve come into contact with recently. This list can include both natural materials and artificial ones . Then you should check to see if anything on that list stands out to you: maybe you ate a fruit that you dont normally eat, or used a new soap that you just bought. If something jumps out, its likely that you have allergy related hives.

A remote doctor can confirm a case of allergy related hives in just a few minutes . After getting your case diagnosed, you should ask your primary doctor about getting a blood allergy test. The blood allergy test can look at your sensitivity to hundreds of different allergens and give you a full picture of your allergies. You can use that information to avoid outbreaks in the future.

Disease of Infection?

If your rash doesnt seem related to an outside source, the next most likely cause is a disease or infection. Infection related rashes are easy to spot because they normally come with other symptoms. They also usually appear after contact with an infected person.

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When To Call The Doctor

• The prescribed antihistamine medicine does not relieve the itching.
• The hives or itching becomes worse or new symptoms develop.
• Your child develops hives after being stung by an insect or after taking a new medicine or eating a certain food. He may need an EpiPen® to treat a more serious reaction next time.

HH-I-82 11/89, Revised 11/17, Nationwide Childrens Hospital

Next Steps

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How To Clear The Bumps On Your Childs Skin

While some bumps will clear on their own, getting an accurate diagnosis is essential. It can be difficult to know whats causing your childs rash. Bumps on the skin can look alike. Could you tell the difference between long-lasting hives and atopic dermatitis? The pictures shown here look alike, dont they?

It often takes years of in-depth medical training and experience to spot the differences. Your pediatrician or board-certified dermatologist can give you an accurate diagnosis. To become board certified, a dermatologist must know how to diagnosis and treat more than the 3,000 conditions that affect the skin.

Are all dermatologists board certified?

No. See what it takes to become board certified.

Images1,6, 8,9,11,12: Images used with permission of the American Academy of Dermatology National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides.

2, 7, 10: Used with permission of DermNet New Zealand Image Library.

3,4: Getty Images

5: Image: J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 69:736-41

ReferencesAlai AN. Keratosis pilaris clinical presentations. Medscape. Last updated June 19, 2014.

Belazarian L, Lorenzo ME, et al. Exanthematous viral diseases. In: Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, et al. Fitzpatricks Dermatology in General Medicine . McGraw Hill Medical, New York, 2008: 1867-9.

Blauvelt A. Pityriasis rosea. In: Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, et al. Fitzpatricks Dermatology in General Medicine . McGraw Hill Medical, New York, 2008:362-6.

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Campbell De Morgan Spots

Campbell de Morgan spots, also known as cherry angiomas, are common, benign skin lesions of middle to older age, formed by proliferating, dilated capillaries and post capillary venules. They are named after an English surgeon, Campbell de Morgan .Aetiology

• Chemical exposure causes multiple lesions to develop.
• Pregnancy and prolactinomas are associated with the development of lesions, implicating hormonal mediators.
• Numbers increase with age, so factors associated with the ageing process may be relevant.
• Single studies have reported increased incidence in tropical climates, diabetes, transplant patients and those who are immune-compromised.

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Small Red Dots On Skin Treatment

It is important that if you see some signs of small red dots on your skin, you seek the help of a doctor immediately. You will not know what treatment you should do unless you already know the exact cause.If in case you are just paranoid that you will get some red dots on your skin, you can prevent this from happening by making sure that you will keep yourself protected. Try to limit your exposure to the harmful rays of the sun.You may also want to get yourself get thoroughly checked annually so that if in case there is something wrong with you, it will be detected early and treatments can be done easily. You also need to be extra careful because bumping into different hard objects or exposing yourself to insects will increase your chances of acquiring small, red dots on your skin.Of course, in order to counter some serious health conditions, it is important that you will pay attention to your current lifestyle. Pay attention to the type of food that you eat. Do you only eat healthy food products? If your current diet consists of a lot of a lot of fast food then you can already count on having a lot of other conditions that you might not even get to see on your skin.

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To Calm The Itching Or Prickly Feeling

• apply something cold, such as a damp cloth or ice pack for up to 20 minutes
• tap or pat the rash instead of scratching it
• do not use perfumed shower gels or creams

DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/146559/view

Science Photo Library https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/494291/view

Skin thats itchy, dry and cracked may be atopic eczema. Its common behind the knees, elbows and neck, but it can appear anywhere.

Speak to a GP if you think your child has eczema.

Bacterial Meningitis And Petechiae

Meningitis is the infection of the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

One symptom of meningococcal meningitis is a headache accompanied by a petechial rash, known as the meningitis rash. Although the rash is common, it doesnt always occur, so if you have other symptoms of meningitislike a stiff neck and headachebe sure to seek medical care immediately.

The meningitis rash is a petechial rash. At first, you might notice petechiae on the arms or other areas of the body. These may be blanching if you try the clear glass test mentioned above, but as the rash becomes more pronounced it will become non-blanching. The meningitis rash can progress from petechial to a purpuric rash, which looks more like bruising than pinpricks.

Petechial rashes can be hard to spot 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.

Meningitis is a serious disease that progresses quickly. If you have a petechial rash, especially if it is paired with other meningitis symptoms like headache or stiff neck, seek immediate medical attention.

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Spots On Different Skin Tones

Spots may not look the same on different skin tones. For example, acne can look red on lighter skin tones but look like dark spots on darker skin tones. Research has also shown that because medical textbooks often lack diverse skin examples when they teach about skin conditions, providers may have a harder time identifying them.

Sebaceous Hyperplasia Can Look Like Large Pimples

Sebaceous hyperplasia takes the form of small bumps that grow in hair follicles with enlarged sebaceous glands. Though it is technically considered a tumor, sebaceous hyperplasia is totally harmless and not cancerous.

These benign growths often appear reddish with a hint of yellow or white, Dr. Potozkin explained. They tend to be inherited and most commonly appear on the face of older adults, though they can occur at any age.

If you wish to have sebaceous hyperplasia treated, your dermatologist will likely use light electrocautery or laser vaporization to remove individual lumps.

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How Are Petechiae Treated

Treatment for petechiae varies depending on the cause. For straining or a skin injury, you may not need any treatment. If there is a more serious cause, you may need:

• Antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection.
• Corticosteroids to reduce swelling in the blood vessels.
• Drugs that suppress the immune system.
• Vitamin C supplements.

Causes Of Red Spots On Skin

Cristina Mutchler is an award-winning journalist with more than a decade of experience in national media, specializing in health and wellness content. A multilingual Latina, Cristina’s work has appeared on CNN and its platforms, local news affiliates across the country, and in the promotion of medical journal articles and public health messaging.

Casey Gallagher, MD, is board-certified in dermatology and works as a practicing dermatologist and clinical professor.

• Frequently Asked Questions

Red spots on the skin have a variety of possible causes. For example, contact with something irritating can cause dermatitis, a fungal infection is responsible for ringworm, burst blood vessels cause spots known as purpura, and some autoimmune conditions can cause rashes.

Some spots will go away on their own, but others may need treatment.

This article reviews 13 possible causes of red spots on the skin and whether they are cause for concern, as well as when to seek immediate medical care.

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How To Treat Keratosis Pilaris

Although thereâs no cure for KP, at-home strategies can help minimize symptoms. To tackle these bumps, Dr. Nagler suggests cleansing with a gentle, non-abrasive soap. We like Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash, which is fragrance-free and contains soothing ingredients like aloe vera.

Next, exfoliation can help âunplugâ those built-up dead skin cells so the bumps can heal. Dr. Shamban recommends looking for products that contain chemical exfoliators such as glycolic acid and alpha hydroxy acids , while Dr. Nagler prefers products with lactic or salicylic acid.

When in doubt, you canât go wrong with anything from DermaDoctorâs KP Duty line, a range of products specifically formulated to fight keratosis pilaris. The brandâs KP Duty Body Scrub contains glycolic and lactic acids to slough away dead skin right in the shower.

Physical exfoliation can help, too. In a previous interview with Health, New York City-based dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD, recommended a Clarisonic Brush to gently soften skin unfortunately, Clarisonic went out of business.

You can find amazing alternates that work just as well on Amazon, like this Olay Regenerist Facial Cleansing Brush. For an even more affordable option, try a simple loofah sponge. âMy experience has shown me that the best treatment is exfoliating with a loofah,â said Dr. Shamban.

Do You Get Red Spots On Skin During Pregnancy

Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy is a condition that leads to itchy patches including small, red dots or bumps on the skin. This condition usually develops in the third trimester. As per a study by the American Academy of Family Physicians, 1 out of 130 to 300 people develop PUPPP. It initially appears as itchy red patches on the stomach and spreads to the arms, legs, and buttocks.

PUPPP is more common in women with first pregnancies . It may also be noticed among those with multiple pregnancies. However, it tends to go away after delivery. In most cases, topical corticosteroids, oral antihistamines, and oral prednisone are prescribed to treat this condition.

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What Causes Meningococcemia

Neisseria meningitidis, the bacteria that cause meningococcemia, can live harmlessly in your upper respiratory tract. Simply being exposed to this germ isnt enough to cause disease. Up to 10 percent of people may carry these bacteria. Fewer than 1 percent of those carriers become sick.

A person with this infection can spread the bacteria through coughing and sneezing.

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Are Petechiae A Rash

Petechiae may look like a rash, but theyre not. These pinpoint red dots on the skin are caused by broken capillaries, tiny blood vessels under the skin. They are not itchy or painful.

If you press on petechiae, theyll stay purple, red or brown. But if you press on a rash, it will turn pale or lighter.

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What To Expect At Your Office Visit

Your provider will examine you and ask questions about the bleeding, such as:

• Have you recently had an injury or accident?
• Have you been ill lately?
• Have you had radiation therapy or chemotherapy?
• What other medical treatments have you had?
• Do you take aspirin more than once a week?
• Do you take Coumadin, heparin, or other âblood thinnersâ ?
• Has the bleeding occurred repeatedly?
• Have you always had a tendency to bleed into the skin?
• Did the bleeding start in infancy ?
• Did it start with surgery or when you had a tooth pulled?

The following diagnostic tests may be performed:

• Coagulation tests including INR and prothrombin time

Ecchymoses Skin spots â red Pinpoint red spots on the skin Petechiae Purpura