What are red spots?

Red spots can be caused by a variety of conditions, including infections, allergic reactions, and inflammatory processes. Red spots can appear anywhere on the body. Red spots can be harmless or benign, or they may be a sign of a serious disease such as leukemia. They can appear suddenly or develop over a longer period of time, depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Red spots may be tiny to large in size and cover a small to sizable area of the body. Red spots can be itchy or painful, flat or raised, and vary in color from pink to bright red to a purplish red color. Tiny pinpoint red dots called petechiae are due to broken blood vessels just underneath the skin and may indicate a life-threatening condition, such as meningitis. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have red spots accompanied by a stiff neck, change in alertness, high fever, difficulty breathing, bloody stools, or swelling of the face or tongue.Seek prompt medical care if the red spots are persistent or you are concerned about your symptoms.

What other symptoms might occur with red spots?

Red spots may be accompanied by other symptoms, which vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. For example, you may have a fever if the red spots are caused by an infectious or inflammatory process, such as measles or rubella.

Skin symptoms that may occur along with red spots

Red spots may occur with other skin-related symptoms including:

  • Blistering and oozing of discharge that crusts over and dries
  • Irritation
  • Itching
  • Pain
  • Pustules
  • Rash
  • Scaling
  • Swelling

Other symptoms that may occur along with red spots

Red spots may occur with symptoms related to other body systems including:  

  • Decreased appetite
  • Flu-like symptoms (fatigue, fever, sore throat, headache, cough, aches and pains)
  • Irritability in infants and children
  • Joint pain
  • Red eyes
  • Sneezing and runny nose

Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition

In some cases, red spots may occur with other symptoms that might indicate a serious or life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these symptoms:

  • Change in level of consciousness or alertness, such as passing out or unresponsiveness
  • High fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
  • Major rectal bleeding, bloody stool, bloody urine, or vomiting blood
  • Rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
  • Respiratory or breathing problems, such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, labored breathing, wheezing, not breathing, or choking
  • Severe headache
  • Spontaneous bleeding
  • Stiff neck
  • Sudden swelling of tongue, mouth, lips or face

What are red spots?

Red spots can be caused by a variety of conditions, including infections, allergic reactions, and inflammatory processes. Red spots can appear anywhere on the body. Red spots can be harmless or benign, or they may be a sign of a serious disease such as leukemia. They can appear suddenly or develop over a longer period of time, depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Red spots may be tiny to large in size and cover a small to sizable area of the body. Red spots can be itchy or painful, flat or raised, and vary in color from pink to bright red to a purplish red color. Tiny pinpoint red dots called petechiae are due to broken blood vessels just underneath the skin and may indicate a life-threatening condition, such as meningitis. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have red spots accompanied by a stiff neck, change in alertness, high fever, difficulty breathing, bloody stools, or swelling of the face or tongue.Seek prompt medical care if the red spots are persistent or you are concerned about your symptoms.

What other symptoms might occur with red spots?

Red spots may be accompanied by other symptoms, which vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. For example, you may have a fever if the red spots are caused by an infectious or inflammatory process, such as measles or rubella.

Skin symptoms that may occur along with red spots

Red spots may occur with other skin-related symptoms including:

  • Blistering and oozing of discharge that crusts over and dries
  • Irritation
  • Itching
  • Pain
  • Pustules
  • Rash
  • Scaling
  • Swelling

Other symptoms that may occur along with red spots

Red spots may occur with symptoms related to other body systems including:  

  • Decreased appetite
  • Flu-like symptoms (fatigue, fever, sore throat, headache, cough, aches and pains)
  • Irritability in infants and children
  • Joint pain
  • Red eyes
  • Sneezing and runny nose

Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition

In some cases, red spots may occur with other symptoms that might indicate a serious or life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these symptoms:

  • Change in level of consciousness or alertness, such as passing out or unresponsiveness
  • High fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
  • Major rectal bleeding, bloody stool, bloody urine, or vomiting blood
  • Rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
  • Respiratory or breathing problems, such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, labored breathing, wheezing, not breathing, or choking
  • Severe headache
  • Spontaneous bleeding
  • Stiff neck
  • Sudden swelling of tongue, mouth, lips or face