What does petechiae on legs mean?
Tiny blood vessels (capillaries) link the smallest parts of your arteries to the smallest parts of your veins. Petechiae appear when capillaries bleed, leaking blood into the skin. A number of things can cause this bleeding, including: Prolonged straining.
What can cause purpura on legs?
What are the most common causes of purpura?
- Drugs or medications that affect platelet function or clotting.
- Immune disorders such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) or immune thrombocytopenia.
- Infections in your bloodstream.
- HIV, hepatitis C or certain viral infections like rubella and Epstein-Barr.
Can you get petechiae on your legs?
The rashes resemble patches of pinpoint red or purple spots, known as petechiae. These red spots may be raised or flat on the skin. They can appear anywhere on the body but are more common on the neck, arms, and legs.
What do petechiae and purpura indicate?
Purpura and petechiae are discolored spots on the skin that appear in rash-like clusters. Both result from blood vessels breaking and leaking. Purpura are larger than petechiae. They may develop when numerous petechiae join together.
What causes my legs to be red and purple blotchy?
Livedo reticularis is thought to be due to spasms of the blood vessels or a problem of the blood flow near the skin surface. It makes the skin look mottled in sort of a net pattern with clear borders. The condition most often shows up on the legs. Sometimes livedo reticularis is simply the result of being chilled.
What is difference between petechiae and purpura?
Petechiae are small (1–3 mm), red, nonblanching macular lesions caused by intradermal capillary bleeding (Figure 181-1). Purpura are larger, typically raised lesions resulting from bleeding within the skin (Figures 181-2 and 181-3).
What does vasculitis of the legs look like?
Common vasculitis skin lesions are: red or purple dots (petechiae), usually most numerous on the legs. larger spots, about the size of the end of a finger (purpura), some of which look like large bruises. Less common vasculitis lesions are hives, an itchy lumpy rash and painful or tender lumps.
What causes little red dots on lower legs?
The most common causes of what looks like a rash or red dots on the lower legs are either immune-mediated inflammation like eczema or psoriasis, or a skin infection like cellulitis. Other causes of red blotches on the lower legs can arise from an allergic reaction to certain foods or contact with poisonous plants.
When should you worry about petechiae?
Petechiae are tiny spots of bleeding under the skin. They can be caused by a simple injury, straining or more serious conditions. If you have pinpoint-sized red dots under your skin that spread quickly, or petechiae plus other symptoms, seek medical attention.