Red Dots on Skin

When we talk about skin problems, the usual discussion revolves around pimples or fluid filled blisters that endlessly trigger itching sensation. However, not every skin issue is marked by this annoying irritation. Some skin disorders that manifest in the form of tiny red dots on skin are not associated with itchiness and usually disappear without any medical treatment.

Causes

Petechia
Red dots on body may indicate petechia. Petechia refers to a condition in which the blood vessels just below the skin are damaged and so the blood they carry spells out in the inner layers of the skin (dermis). As a result, the blood accumulates in certain areas under the skin. For a viewer, this is visible as flat spots on skin. Although, bleeding below the skin can occur anywhere, the most common sites are the ankles and the feet. However, when the blood leakage in the dermis layer of the skin is widespread, then small red dots on skin might appear all over the body. This usually happens because the blood is lacking in platelet, which are an important constituent of blood. These are cell fragments (irregular shaped bodies) that promote blood clotting. The surfaces of these platelet is sticky and so help to form blood clots and prevent bleeding.

A number of factors can lead to deficiency of platelets in blood. The condition that refers to less than normal concentration of platelets in the blood is known as thrombocytopenia. Also referred as low blood count, thrombocytopenia can occur in people suffering from lupus, leukemia, measles or rheumatoid arthritis. Small children diagnosed with thrombocytopenia indicates that their diet is deficient in vitamin K.

Cherry Angioma
The term angioma refers to benign skin tumors that develop just below the superficial skin. A cherry angioma is basically a clump of dilated blood vessels that develops under the topmost layer of the skin. As the name suggests, they are cherry red in color and generally occur in the elderly. The risk of occurrence of cherry angioma increases with age. These are harmless skin growths and hence people tend to ignore them.

Sun Exposure
Although vitamin D present in our body is sourced from sunlight, too much exposure to sun is not good for skin health. Sun bath for prolonged periods of time cannot be tolerated by the skin. So, besides causing hyperpigmentation and other skin problems, red dots can also appear when the skin comes in contact with UV rays for considerable amount of time. Itchy red dots from sun damage, resemble a rash but honestly speaking it is not a heat rash.

Red dots appearing due to sun damage can always be avoided by using appropriate sun screen lotions. However, as skin condition like petechia can be a symptom of a number of medical problems, it cannot be ignored. Petechia does not resolve on its own unless the underlying cause is treated successfully. On the other hand, cherry angiomas are rarely a cause for concern and so, treatment isn't necessary. Cherry angiomas are not at all bothersome as they do not cause irritation or trigger any itchy sensation. However, for some, cherry angiomas can be embarrassing, if they appear on exposed areas of the skin. In such cases, cryotherapy is used to get rid of those benign tumors. The procedure involves application of liquid nitrogen on the affected area of the skin. The liquid nitrogen freezes the skin tissue, which helps in removing the angioma.