Question about Petechia

Hello,

1) Is there a difference between a Petechia and an angioma?

2) Do they both look the same, or are they easily visually distinguishable?

3) Over the course of the last 3 months I have noticed many what appears to be angiomas on my body. Most are ver small dots, never noticed this many on my body however. Is this something to be concerned about? Do angiomas stay on the skin forever or are they supposed to go away?

4) Over the course of the last 3 months I also began to develop a rash on my armpits and sides of my body. it appears in the form of multiple red dots, usually look like pimples with no white head, about 3 to 5 at a time, then they go away on their own within 3 to 5 days before new ones appear. My doctor said it's some kind of a folical bacteria infection from being in a jaccuzi (which I've only been in about 3 times over the last several months).

One of these red dots appeard a month ago and developed into a skin tag. Is any of this something to be concerned about?

Thank you very much!!

Tom  

[Jasmina Jankicevic, MD, MSc, CCRP]

Welcome to the Dermatology Expert Forum, Tom!

- Petechia is a small, pinpoint purpura (from extravasated red blood cells). Purpura is a flat lesion that differs from surrounding skin because of its red color. However, that red color degrades to purple, yellow-green, brown and finally disappears.

- Angioma is a benign tumor derived from cells of vessel walls. It is above surrounding skin and colored bright red. Sudden appearance of high number of angiomas requires prompt evaluation by a dermatologist who will assess skin, correlate with medical history and decide whether further diagnostics is necessary or not.

- Cherry angiomas often get pedunculated, do not tend to go away, but are benign and should not concern you at all. However, if you are bothered by them, they can be removed.

- Pimple-like red dots in axillar (armpits) region (if centered by hair) are most likely caused by inflammation of hair follicles. Sweating, shaving with blunt razor, wearing tight clothes made of synthetic materials, etc. are all potential causes of such a disorder. No reason to be scared but should be treated.

- Skin tags are benign tumors, most often seen on skin in neck and axillar area, and easily removed electrosurgically.


Wishing You Optimal Health,
Dr. Jasmina Jankicevic

[ninadraw64]

My husband has a lump under the skin on the point of its chin (not under, on, and towards the left). Its diameter is between 1/3 and 1/2 of an inch. He says it has grown to that size over a period of a month and then stabilized. It is not painful, no sign of redness, hard and pebble-like to the touch, moving under the skin (not attached to the bone). He dismissed it as a lipoma (he has many on his body), but he is at last having this checked by a dermatologist in a few weeks. I am a bit worried, since it grew somewhat quickly to a noticeable size. Could it be a lipoma or a sebaceous cyst or could it be something worse? Thank you for your help.

[Kimmi1565]

Petechiae are very small.  They are typically flat (not raised).  Trademark of petechiae is that they do not blanch when pressure is applied because they are from broken capillaries.  They tend to fade away after awhile.

Angiomas vary in size.  Some large some small.  They can be raised (I know all of mine are).  They are typically red in appearance.  I believe they stay for the rest of your life unless you make a decision to have it removed.

Angiomas are not of any concern, but petechiae should be investigated by a doctor because some of the causes are major, but some minor too (such as a vitamin k deficiency)