Tiny Red Dots On Palms

[Hankhill77]

I am a male, 32 y/o.

A few months ago I noticed I have some tiny red dots on my palms and some finger tips.  Mostly in the outter "meaty" areas. You can only really see them if you look close,  they look sort of like broken blood vessles under the skin.  

I found this picture of someone who appears to have the exact same thing (not the scar/bruise she has) but if you look closely at the meaty "padded" areas you can see she has these little red dots.  Thats exactly what mine look like.

http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/51/8e/518e9d091c3e8a8148f034a65c0a7906.JPG?itok=9lOUE8Xs

No other symptoms.

Any ideas?

[Hankhill77]

Thanks for your feedback!

From the pictures I found on the internet it looks the most like janeway lesions, but mine are less severe then most of the pics I have seen.  I hope not.

I made a doctors appointment for tomorrow morning with my dermatologists.

Thanks again!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Thanks for posting your query.

I can understand your concern for these tiny red dots on the palms. I have checked the photograph as well. From the symptoms and photograph there are a few possibilities which need to be ruled out. These include:

1) Irritant contact dermatitis which occurs when chemicals or physical agents damage the surface of the skin. These irritant can be everyday things as water, detergents, solvents, acids etc.

2) The second possiility is of petechiael spots. Petechiae are pinpoint-sized red dots under the surface of the skin common after skin trauma. They are common after skin trauma and viral infections. They should go away in a few days. But if they persist then please consult a physician and get other causes ruled out which include allergic reaction, autoimmune diseases, thrombocytopenia, ITP or leukemias.

3) The third possibility is of erythema multiforme which comes from an allergic reaction especially to medicines or infection.

4) another possibility could be of Janeway lesions are which are non-tender, small erythematous lesions on the palms or soles only a few millimeters in diameter that are indicative of infective endocarditis which is a condition of the heart.

You need to get it examined physically from a dermatologist to confirm the diagnosis. He/ she may even do a biopsy palm by taking a small skin scraping from the effected skin to confirm the diagnosis.

Till then wash the hands with a mild soap like Cetaphil and wear appropriate gloves to protect against irritants in your home and work environment.

Hope that this information helps and hope that you get better soon.

Wishing you good health.