RED DOTS

I'm a 40 year old male.  I notice today on my stomach very small red dots ( about 3-4 scattered.  I also notice one on my arm.  For all I know they been there forever.  For a couple of months now I have had bouts of itching through out parts of my body including the genital area.  Doctors I have seen feel that there is no need to worry.  Can these red dots be Petechiae?  Is it something to worry about?  Can it be related to my itching?  If I was having a problem with my Platelets what signs would I see?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

If your platelets were low, you might get bruising, but bruises (petechiae) are generally purplish rathet than red.  I'm not sure, of course, because I haven't seen your spots, but if they've been there for a while (and you just didn't notice them), then they're possibly collextions of blood vessels, called angiomas, or else "clogged pores" called folliculitis.  Neither is serious or requires treatment.

If the doctors who reassured you aboty the itching haven't seen these spots, or had them brought to their attention, I suggest you show the spots to them, just so you can be sure and reassured.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[scared red]

I agree with the above comment. I have ITP, a condition where my platelettes are chronically low so sometimes if I scratch too hard or even toweling off after a shower makes my blood vessels break under the skin. Sometimes the are dark and sometimes faint but usually go away after a few days, just like a bruise. Nothing serious but maybe go to your doc. and ask for a platelette count on your blood, that's all it might be. Good luck!