What can cause red dots to appear on the skin

Contact dermatitis occurs when a person comes into contact with a substance that irritates their skin or triggers an allergic reaction.

What’s Causing Pinprick Red Dots on Your Skin?

Kelly Burch is a freelance journalist who has covered health topics for more than 10 years. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and more.

Corinne Savides Happel, MD, is a board-certified allergist and immunologist with a focus on allergic skin disorders, asthma, and other immune disorders.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents

Pinpoint red dots on the skin can be caused by many things, including heat rash, contact dermatitis, or simply scraping your skin against a rough surface. But the appearance of a cluster of pinprick red dots that are flat against the skin and not itchy may be due to a condition known as petechiae .

Petechiae occurs when tiny blood vessels beneath the surface of this skin (called capillaries) suddenly burst, causing a localized grouping of tiny red, brown, or purple dots.

The last 20 years have seen the cost of medical care increase about 70% faster than the rate of general inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Research Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Healthcare inflation dropped to a historical low after 2010 but is again on the rise as of 2018, according to Bloomberg.

Petechiae is not a condition but a symptom of other conditions, including liver disease, bacterial meningitis, blood-clotting disorders, sepsis, and leukemia. Even prolonged straining and certain medications can cause skin capillaries to spontaneously rupture.

This article looks at some common and uncommon causes of petechiae, including the signs you should worry about and those that require immediate medical care.

What Is Petechiae?

Petechiae are red or purple dots appearing on the skin. They occur when blood vessels break beneath the surface of the skin, creating what is known as a petechial rash.

Petechiae are usually less than 2 millimeters in diameter. The spots are non-blanching, which means they do not disappear when you apply pressure to them.

Petechial rash is a dangerous situation because it is caused by internal bleeding and often indicates a serious underlying medical condition. Petechiae can be caused by a host of conditions that affect the cardiovascular or circulatory systems, including:

• Meningitis
• Liver disease
• Cancer
• Viral infection
• Blood or clotting disorder

Because many of these are serious disorders that require acute medical care, you should contact a healthcare provider immediately if you or your child have a pinprick rash that is not itchy.

How to Tell If You Have Petechiae

If you’re wondering whether a rash is petechial, you can press a clear glass to the surface of the skin. If the spots disappear under pressure, they are blanching, and therefore not petechiae. If the spots remain even under the pressure of the glass, they are non-blanching and likely petechiae.

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 doesn’t always occur, so if you have other symptoms of meningitis—like a stiff neck and headache—be 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.

Sepsis and Petechiae

A petechial rash is a common symptom of sepsis, a bacterial blood poisoning that can turn deadly quickly. As with meningitis, a sepsis rash can begin with a pinprick appearance, before progressing into a more bruise-like appearance.

Other symptoms of sepsis, also known as septicemia, include:

• Fever
• Sweating
• Rapid heart rate and breathing rate
• Lethargy
• Changes to alertness or consciousness

People in the following categories are at higher risk of sepsis:

• Those with recent infections of the lungs, skin, intestine, or urinary tract
• Those with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes
• Babies less than 1 year old
• Adults more than 65 years old

Sepsis is extremely serious and can lead to septic shock, which is deadly. If you have petechiae or any other symptoms of sepsis, reach out to a healthcare provider immediately.

A Word From Verywell

Rashes are often harmless, more irritating than dangerous. However, a rash that presents as pinprick red dots on your skin that don’t itch can indicate a serious, potentially deadly, cause.

If you or your child have this type of rash, reach out to your healthcare provider immediately. They can determine whether you have a dangerous infection causing the rash and can help treat the rash and any underlying health conditions that may be causing it.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. 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
2. MedlinePlus. Bleeding into the skin.
3. Meningitis Research Foundation. What is the ‘meningitis rash?’
4. Johns Hopkins Health. Septicemia.

By Kelly Burch
Kelly Burch is has written about health topics for more than a decade. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and more.

What can cause red dots to appear on the skin?

A person may notice red dots on their skin for a number of reasons, ranging from allergic reactions to heat exposure.

Many causes of red dots on the skin are harmless and resolve on their own. Others may require at-home or over-the-counter (OTC) treatment.

In this article, we discuss some of the possible causes of red dots on the skin, their treatment options, and when to contact a doctor.

Skin rashes come in a variety of sizes, colors, and textures.

Not all rashes require emergency medical treatment. However, people should seek immediate medical attention if they have a rash and notice any of the following symptoms:

• a rash that covers the entire body
• fever
• blisters or open wounds
• difficulty breathing, speaking, or swallowing
• swelling of the face, eyes, or lips
• stiff neck
• light sensitivity
• seizures
• drowsiness or unresponsiveness

People should also seek immediate attention for any new rashes that are painful and that affect the eyes, inside of the mouth, or genitalia.

When in doubt, a person should seek the opinion of a primary care provider or board-certified dermatologist.

Heat rash, or miliaria, occurs when the sweat glands become blocked, trapping sweat in the deep layers of the skin.

While anyone can have heat rash, this condition is most common among infants and young children with immature sweat glands.

Symptoms of heat rash include:

• clusters of small red bumps called papules
• firm, flesh-colored bumps
• itchy or prickly sensation
• mild or absent sweating in the affected area
• inflammation and soreness
• dizziness
• nausea

Treatment

Heat rash usually goes away within 24 hours .

Treatment typically involves using lotions to soothe the itching, irritation, and swelling.

People can also keep the skin cool and avoid tight-fitting clothing.

Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a common skin condition that causes tiny red, white, or flesh-colored bumps on the skin.

It most often affects the outer parts of the upper arms. It can also affect the forearms and upper back, but this is less common.

Symptoms of KP include:

• skin that feels rough or dry
• patches of small, painless bumps on the skin
• itching

Treatment

People can treat the symptoms of KP with:

• moisturizers containing urea or lactic acid
• alpha hydroxy acid
• glycolic acid
• lactic acid
• retinoids
• salicylic acid
• laser or light therapy

Contact dermatitis occurs when a person comes into contact with a substance that irritates their skin or triggers an allergic reaction.

Contact dermatitis symptoms vary depending on the trigger and the severity of the reaction.

Symptoms of contact dermatitis include:

• a rash that appears in geometric patterns or shapes
• dry skin that flakes and cracks
• a bright, flushed skin rash
• clusters of small red dots on the skin
• hives, or extremely itchy welts on the skin
• intense itching, tightness, or burning sensation
• fluid-filled blisters that ooze and crust over
• dark, thickened skin
• sensitivity to sunlight

Treatment

Treatment for contact dermatitis depends on the cause and severity of a person’s symptoms.

Mild to moderate symptoms improve when a person avoids contact with the irritant or allergen. If possible, people should:

• avoid skin care products that contain harsh or irritating chemicals
• avoid nickel- or gold-plated jewelry
• avoid foods or medicines that cause allergic reactions
• wear protective clothing in work environments or areas with poisonous plants

If the dermatitis is limited to a small area, a person can apply 1% hydrocortisone cream.

A doctor can prescribe stronger topical or oral antihistamines for people who do not respond to OTC medication.

Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition.

There are many different types of eczema, including:

• Follicular eczema: This type of eczema affects the hair follicles.
• Papular eczema: This presents as small red bumps on the skin that healthcare professionals refer to as papules.

Alongside red bumps on the skin, eczema can cause:

• extremely itchy skin
• warmth and swelling of the skin
• dry, flaky skin
• clusters of small, fluid-filled blisters
• blisters that leak fluid and crust over

Treatment

People can manage atopic dermatitis symptoms and even prevent flare-ups with the following treatments:

• taking prescription medications, such as steroids and antihistamines
• undergoing phototherapy or light therapy
• applying a moisturizer to treat dry, cracking skin
• using unscented, nonirritating laundry detergent
• avoiding triggers, such as dry air, stress, and allergens

For severe atopic dermatitis that does not respond to the above treatment options, a person should see a board-certified dermatologist.

Taking bleach baths, which require using half a cup of bleach per 40-gallon tub, 1–2 times per week may also help.

Rosacea is a skin condition that causes skin irritation, redness, and small pimples.

Although anyone can develop rosacea at any point in their lives, this condition most often occurs among adults aged 30–60 years , people with fair skin, and those going through menopause.

Symptoms of rosacea include:

• irritated or red skin on the forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin
• blood vessels that are visible under the skin
• clusters of small bumps or pimples
• thick skin on the face
• red, itchy, or watery eyes
• inflammation of the eyelids
• blurred vision

Treatment

People can treat rosacea with various strategies and medication. Some strategies that can help relieve rosacea include:

• avoiding triggers, such as ultraviolet light, alcohol, and harsh chemicals
• washing the face with pH-balanced cleansers
• frequently using moisturizers
• wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher

People should also avoid caffeinated products and spicy foods, as these can also trigger rosacea.

Medical treatments for rosacea include:

• brimonidine tartrate
• azelaic acid
• metronidazole
• electrosurgery
• light therapy
• topical ivermectin
• oral tetracyclines

Certain infections can also lead to red dots on the skin.

If a person suspects an infection of the skin, they should consult a doctor.

Examples of these include:

Chickenpox or shingles

The varicella-zoster virus causes these infections, which produce red, itchy, fluid-filled blisters that can appear anywhere on the body.

Chickenpox usually occurs in infants and young children. However, adolescents and adults can also develop chickenpox.

Shingles occurs in adults who have already had chickenpox. According to the National Institute on Aging , shingles usually affects one area on one side of the body.

Rubella

This contagious viral infection causes a distinctive rash of small red or pink dots.

The rash usually starts on the face before spreading to the trunk, arms, and legs. Rubella infections also cause a fever, a headache, and swollen lymph nodes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that rubella is a relatively rare infection in the United States due to the widespread use of the MMR vaccine. The vaccine is available for infants and children aged between 9 months and 6 years.

Meningitis

Meningitis is a medical emergency. It is the inflammation of the membranes that cover the spinal cord and brain. It typically occurs due to a bacterial or viral infection.

Symptoms of meningitis include:

• fever
• stiff neck
• headache
• nausea
• light sensitivity
• confusion
• vomiting

A rash does not always appear. However, if it does, a person might notice small pink, red, brown, or purple pinpricks on the skin. Also, it will not fade when a person rolls a glass over it.

MRSA (staph) infection

The CDC define Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as “a type of bacteria that is resistant to several antibiotics.”

MRSA often infects the skin, leading to painful areas of inflamed skin. People may also experience pus drainage from the affected skin and fever.

Other bacterial infections of the skin may also cause painful and inflamed areas of the skin. If a person suspects that they are experiencing a skin infection, they should consult a doctor.

Scarlet fever

Streptococcus bacteria cause this infection.

These bacteria naturally inhabit the nose and throat. They cause a red rash on the neck, under the armpit, and on the groin. The rash consists of small red dots that are rough to the touch.