Vasculitis, or blood vessel inflammation, can cause petechiae. You may not have enough platelets or they may not be working properly.īlood disorders that can cause petechiae include: These are the blood cells that form clots and stop bleeding. Many of the blood disorders that cause petechiae are an issue with your platelets. Streptococcal infections (like strep throat) Infectious mononucleosis (usually on the roof of the mouth)īacterial infections can also cause petechiae. Some viral infections associated with petechiae include: Infections can cause blood vessel damage that lead to petechiae. This often occurs in newborns, but it’s sometimes associated with malnutrition. This can cause the capillaries under the skin to bleed.Ī deficiency in vitamin K can also lead to petechiae. Low levels of vitamin C can make the walls of the blood vessels weaker and more prone to damage. Vitamin C is an important building block for collagen in the walls of healthy blood vessels. Vitamin C and vitamin K are two of the most common vitamin deficiencies associated with petechiae. Trauma (like vomiting, straining, or accidents)Ī poor diet can lead to an increased risk of petechiae. Vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels) Many factors contribute to the small blood vessel damage that leads to petechiae. This helps to tell the difference between petechiae and other common skin disorders like viral rashes and hives. That means if you press down on the spots they don’t fade away or turn white. The most common areas where petechiae appear include the:Īnother feature of petechiae is that they don’t blanch. But in general, petechiae aren’t painful. On rare occasions they can be tender to touch. They’re usually flat and not raised or bumpy. Petechiae don’t typically have symptoms other than appearing as spots on the skin. On darker skin tones, petechiae may appear brown or purple in color. Sometimes they’re in a group and may look like a rash on the skin. Petechiae are less than 2mm in size (about the size of the tip of a crayon). This usually happens from damage to your capillaries - the smallest blood vessels in the skin. Petechiae appear when small blood vessels bleed underneath your skin. Petechiae are small, pinpoint-sized red dots on the surface of the skin. If you develop new spots on your skin, your healthcare provider can help find the reason for your skin changes. Usually there’s an identifiable cause for petechiae. One small study reports that close to 30% of healthy infants may develop one or more petechiae. But they’re not always a cause for concern. These tiny red spots are sometimes a sign of a serious underlying medical condition.
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