Red Dots on Your Skin: Causes and What They Could Mean

Red dots on the skin are common and can have various causes. Here’s a simplified list of potential causes:

1. Petechiae and Purpura: These “tiny red dots appear due to damaged blood vessels” and can result from stress or medications. They may indicate platelet disorders.
2. Cherry Angiomas: Small, raised, bright red bumps that are “generally harmless” and more common with age.
3. Heat Rash: Occurs when sweat gets trapped in ducts, leading to red, itchy dots.
4. Allergic Reactions: Can be triggered by food, substances, or insect bites, causing redness and itchy rashes.
5. Folliculitis: Inflammation of hair follicles, often due to bacterial or fungal infections, resulting in red, pus-filled dots.
6. Cellulitis: A bacterial skin infection that “requires medical attention and treatment with antibiotics.”
7. Impetigo: A contagious bacterial infection with red sores that “ooze fluid” and later form a crust.
8. Vasculitis: Involves inflammation of blood vessels and can be “associated with autoimmune disorders.”
9. Hemangiomas: Harmless birthmarks caused by abnormal blood vessel growth, though occasionally medical intervention may be needed.

If red dots are accompanied by fever, pain, or other symptoms, consult a doctor. “Better to be safe than sorry.”