If you’re anything like me, you’ll regularly check your body over for lumps, bumps, bruises and all else that’s out of place.
Call me paranoid or overcautious, but I like to know what’s going on with my body, and I like to be ready to seek medical advice if I ever find something that suggests an inexplicable change.
And it turns out red dots on the skin aren’t all that uncommon. In fact, there’s a number of causes, so I thought it would be helpful to list them here for anyone who might find themselves in the same situation.
Now, it’s important to note that red dots on the skin can come in a number of sizes, shapes and hues, and what they denote can be equally broad. Some are completely harmless; others can have potentially serious causes.
Petechiae and Purpura
Taking the appearance of tiny red dots on the skin, these are the result of damaged blood vessels or capillaries. Causes can include stress, coughing, or certain medications. They are typically harmless, though can indicate underlying medical conditions such as platelet disorders.
Cherry Angiomas
These are seen as small, raised, bright red bumps, and come from an overgrowth of blood vessels. Cherry angiomas are completely harmless in the main, and are often more common as we age.
Heat Rash
Simple and fairly common depending on the environment. The ‘rash’ occurs when sweat becomes trapped in sweat ducts, producing a pattern of itchy, red dots on the skin.
Allergic Reactions
Self-explanatory. A result of an allergic reaction to food, substances, medications, or insect stings or bites, leading to skin redness and an itchy rash.