The sudden appearance of purplish-red spots forming lines on the skin can be a mind-boggling experience. It may look like a rash, but it is not. Nothing more than a dull ache may accompany this mark and it may heal without consequence; but it could be a sign of something quite serious.

Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart. The arteries branch into smaller arteries, and eventually into capillaries, where oxygen and nutrients leave the blood to nourish the tissues; and carbon-dioxide and wastes enter the blood to return back to the heart via venules and veins. Damage to the capillaries causes a discoloration in the skin, called purpura. Small, pinpoint discolorations are called petechiae (puh-TEE-kee-ee).


Petechiae Causes

Many things can cause petechiae to form. The following conditions are quite serious and require the attention of a physician:

• Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) – Red blood cells undergo self-destruction after a certain period of time. This allows the body to remove worn out blood cells in favor of new ones. With HUS, the blood cells self-destruct prematurely. This eventually leads to kidney damage. It may result from an Escherichia coli (E.Coli) infection.
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) – Platelets are blood cells that cause clotting. They are important for stopping the bleeding in cuts, scrapes, and bruising. The cause of ITP is unknown. It is the abnormally low number of platelets in the blood, which leads to easy and excessive bleeding causing bruising.
• Leukemia – The body produces an excessive number of abnormal white bloods cells that do not function properly.
• Lupus – The body attacks its own tissues with this autoimmune disorder. The blood cells may be a target.
• Measles – This is a highly-contagious viral infection that can be prevented with a vaccine. Measles may cause thrombocytopenia, a low platelet count, which can cause petechiae.
• Mononucleosis – This virus is transmitted through saliva. It commonly causes swollen lymph nodes and an enlarged spleen. Mononucleosis may cause petechiae, possibly because it can cause thrombocytopenia.
• Rheumatoid arthritis – This condition causes the lining of the joints to swell, often deforming the joints.

The Mayo Clinic article, “Petechiae,” cites other important causes, such as, “certain medications, including chemotherapy drugs and some oral diabetes drugs.” Consider the benefits of medications against the side effects and consider alternatives including the benefits that lifestyle changes may bring. “In infants, causes may include infantile scurvy and vitamin K deficiency.”

According to the article, “Nausea and Vomiting,” from the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, “Sometimes forceful vomiting (caused by any disorder or condition) causes petechiae on the upper torso and face.” It could show up simply as little, pinpoint, purple spots under the eyes.

Exercise-Induced Petechiae or Purpura

Exercise-induced petechiae, or purpura, can occur in perfectly healthy individuals. In “Exercise Induced Vasculitis,” Albert-Adrien Remelet notes that while the condition is not well-documented, it is not uncommon among walkers and marathoners. It may be accompanied by pain, itching, or burning.

It is believed that muscle failure leads to diminished venous return, and then venous stasis, which is blood that simply sits in the vein rather than moving forward. This can cause pupura. “Skin specialists seldom observe such patients, as the condition fades within a few days and occurs during leisure,” says Remelet.

It makes sense that using another muscle group to the point of exhaustion can induce petechiae. This condition has been reported by exercisers on many weight-training websites. It can appear as red, dotted lines on a body part such as the shoulders.

Tweet