If you often check your skin, like I do, for any unusual bumps or spots, you might have noticed small red dots appearing suddenly. At first, it can be scary, so it’s natural to wonder what they are. The good news is that red dots on the skin are quite common and can happen for many reasons.
One reason is petechiae or purpura, tiny red spots caused by tiny blood vessels that have been damaged. Sometimes they appear after coughing hard or due to stress or certain medicines. Usually, these are harmless but can occasionally signal other health issues.
You might also see cherry angiomas—small, bright red raised spots that come from extra blood vessels growing. These are harmless and often appear as people get older.
Heat rash is another cause, especially in hot weather. When sweat gets trapped under the skin, it can cause itchy red dots that go away once the skin cools.
Allergic reactions to foods, medicines, or insect bites can cause red, itchy rashes too. Another cause is folliculitis—when hair follicles get infected, leading to red, sometimes pus-filled dots that might be sore.
More serious conditions include cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection causing redness and pain, which needs medical treatment. Impetigo, common in kids, causes red sores that ooze and crust. Vasculitis, inflammation of blood vessels, can also show up as red dots and might be linked to immune system problems.
Some red marks like hemangiomas are birthmarks from blood vessel growth, usually harmless but sometimes needing treatment.
While many red spots are harmless, see a doctor if your red dots come with fever, pain, worsen quickly, or happen alongside weakness and dizziness.
